Alexandra Gerteis, a wine seller from the eastern region of Alsace, in France, has been thinking about running her own wine bar for at least five years. If all goes well, she’ll be opening Vins Etcetera at 795 Valencia Street (at 19th Street) in less than a month.
In her travels around the world, Gerteis took note of what she liked and is now working to incorporate some of these elements into Vins Etcetera: the presentation of a wine list in a German bar, which includes detailed descriptions of the region and wine; the loungy feel of some London bars; the nautical theme of some pubs.
At Vins Etcetera, customers will find a ramp made from an old pole from a dock, a bar that resembles a boat deck and a wooden compass that’s part of her business logo.
“My passions are wine and traveling, ben voilà [there you have it],” Gerteis said after chatting with a Borderland Café barista about New Zealand wines and her favorite sauvignon blanc.
Gerteis studied international business in Bordeaux and got into wine through a local winemaker association. She’s now been in the industry for 10 years, working for distributors and importers in New York and San Francisco as well as in her native country.
To give people a sense of discovery and exploration, every two to three weeks Vins Etcetera will offer a different wine flight, focusing on a particular region of the world. Small plates that reflect that region’s cuisine will also be on the menu.
Although that menu has already been created by a chef who consulted on Gerteis’s project, a permanent chef has yet to be hired.
With descriptions of the regions and their wines, she hopes that people will learn about each area’s wine culture.
“So that by the time they want to order, they’ll already have an idea as to where the wine comes from and what to expect.”
Adaptability and organization are key when opening up a business, Gerteis said.
Knowing when to order everything from sinks to wood for the bar can save you time and money. Being a good neighbor is important too, she said.
“I’ve gone and introduced myself to businesses around here.”
And her manners have paid off already: When her sinks were delivered in her absence recently, an employee from Ali Baba restaurant next door signed for her.
In the future she’d like to get together with other businesses and organize a Valencia Street community event to bring more people to the area.
Gerteis wanted to open in the Mission District because she likes that it’s cosmopolitan, casual and accessible to all.
Three years ago she noticed that many businesses were opening up on Valencia Street, and started looking for a location.
“And to be honest, I love the sun. So it was Mission or Potrero Hill,” she said, laughing.
PS. It would be very nice to include cross streets as a reference when specifying addresses. Thanks!
You’re right, thanks for bringing that up. I added it to the story. It’s at Valencia and 19th Streets.