Sarah reports on an exciting new Wynwood wine bar…
Finally, someone’s done it. Since moving to Miami in 2019, I’ve had the same wine-related question in mind: Why has nobody opened a wine bar in Wynwood, and called it Winewood?
It seems so obvious. Wynwood, with its street art, busy bars, and vibrant food scene is ripe for a wine bar. And how could everyone resist the winewood play on words for so long?
It would need to be done properly, though, I thought. A relaxed atmosphere and a fun wine list, ideally populated with personality-filled bottles. Maybe a natural wine edge, but not necessarily dominated by it. A generic, commercial wine-bar-but-not-really would be a waste in this corner of town.
This is why I was a little nervous when Jacqueline and I first received a message from Ruka co-founders and brothers, Leandro Cabanillas and Nicolas Buompadre. What if it wasn’t the winewood that I’d hoped for?
A hidden Wynwood Wine Bar
I quickly relaxed. The first point about Ruka is that it’s hidden away. A sign announcing its presence is strapped on to metal railing, surrounded by little light fixtures. It points you down a small path, past a garden (sometimes used for pre-wine yoga), and into a hidden courtyard. During the day it’s a café. In the evening, it’s Ruka.
The brothers, both from Argentina, opened Ruka on June 3rd, one of the rainiest nights in Miami this year: “Miami was completely under water that night. You can imagine that having an operation with 100% of its space outdoor made that rain a bit of a challenge”, says Leandro.
But they are still going strong. This is partly thanks to a lively events program. This week alone, they have a “paint and sip” evening, yoga and vegan burgers, and two DJ nights. (Stay tuned for a very special WGM event there on November 10th – details to follow in the newsletter.)
“Our objective is to have everyone who visits us feel like they are in their back yard having a great conversation with friends and family. No dress code, no covers, no pretentious stuff, just great wines and good energy. Hopefully we are able to achieve that”, Leandro adds.
A fun wine list
The wine selection is also on point. “Our wine selection is constantly changing. We focus on small producers, good quality wines, those wines that you will not find in your traditional grocery store. We have wines from Argentina (love them, and ofc had to), California, Italy, Spain, France, Slovenia and Moldova!”, Leandro reminds me via Whatsapp.
One WGM favorite is the Guimaro Mencia from Ribeira Sacra, which drinks like dirty martini meets wine. It’s laced with green olive flavours; delicious.
You can either enjoy this at the small indoor bar, or at a table outside, music playing. Food options are simple but satisfying: Cheese, charcuterie, olives. Don’t miss the homemade focaccia. It’s excellent.
So my hopes for a real-life Winewood have been met. Someone – well, two good people – have done it, and they’ve done it well.
Ruka Winewood is open Weds-Saturday 6pm-1am. Happy Hour ($8+ wine by the glass, 20% off food) runs 6-8pm. Follow them on Instagram here. For more tips, and to hear about our upcoming event at Ruka, join our mailing list.
51 NE 24th St Unit 104, Miami, FL 33137
Sarah is a freelance wine educator, writer and events host, based in South Beach. She holds the WSET Diploma in Wine & Spirits and is a current Master of Wine student.
