Neighborhood coffee house helping folks wine down
A cozy fireplace is the first thing that greets you walking into Latte Da’s 1901 digs
Scott Flury opened Latte Da Coffee House and Wine Bar in what he describes as uptown, uptown Vancouver, back in June of 2011 and since then it’s become a gathering place for the surrounding neighborhood and cozy lunch spot for area business people.
The wine bar at Latte Da’s is the one laptop-free room in the house, encouraging an intimate, personal atmosphere.
Scott had my attention at ‘Wine Bar’ and the fact that he and his girlfriend, Sarah, renovated a 1901 home to house their establishment in. Lovingly-restored homes-turned just about anything always catch my eye. Adding to the boxes of mine he, unknowingly, ticked is the outdoor space which I’ve lounged in numerous times with my husband and pups when the sun’s shining and a perfectly-chilled white hits the spot. They took full advantage of the corner lot by keeping a huge privacy arborvitae row, and lots of outdoor seating that’s even nice in inclimate weather since much of it is covered and heated plus one room that appears to have been the garage was converted into this terrific solarium that’s opened up in the summer months.
By now artwork is gracing the freshly-painted walls of Latte Da’s newly-added wine bar room
While Latte Da Coffee House and Wine Bar has always served wine, Scott’s really been upping his game in that area this year and, just last week, they began staying open until 10 pm Thursday-Saturday as a further commitment to the ‘Wine Bar’ portion of their vision.
Monthly wine tastings are offered from 5-7 pm typically the third Thursday of each month in a recently-renovated room now repurposed as the wine bar though wine can be enjoyed in any of the cozy indoor and outdoor spaces of Latte Da. A real bonus to Latte Da’s wine list is that all wines can be purchased by the bottle to consume off property and Scott offers a reduced price for that option as opposed to drinking on-site.
The converted garage-come-solarium is just off the wine bar, offering an outdoor feeling all year long.
I was there for his Thanksgiving wine pairing and people were coming in to taste for their family dinner and buy bottles to take home. It’s a huge added convenience for the neighborhood and folks popping in on their drive up the I-5 (Latte Da sits two blocks west of the 39th Street exit).
More proof of his desire to highlight the wine portion of Latte Da is the list. With the help of local wine representative, Fred Rehm, familiar bottles such as 14 Hands were taken off the menu and replaced with exciting new options like a Spanish Cava (sparkling wine), Piesporter Michelsberg (a light-bodied riesling from the acclaimed Mosel region of Germany), Torii Mor Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) and a Rioja Gran Reserva (tempranillo-based Spanish wine aged a minimum of five years before release).
The day-to-day food menu of quiche, panini, wraps, deli sandwiches and tempting pastries has also been expanded to include an appetizer menu focusing on more wine-friendly bites like an olive plate, stuffed mushrooms and antipasto platter ($3-$12).
The day-to-day food menu of quiche, panini, wraps, deli sandwiches and tempting pastries has also been expanded to include an appetizer menu focusing on more wine-friendly bites like an olive plate, stuffed mushrooms and antipasto platter ($3-$12). In the wine bar computers are off-limits, encouraging an intimate, unhurried, personal atmosphere. I’m already looking forward to meeting a friend there for the sparkling wine tasting on December 18th from 5-7 pm.
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Viki
I am a Clark County native. I am Level 2 WSET (wine and spirit education trust)-certified and enjoy pairing wine with my passion for travel and fondness of food. My most prized possessions are the memories of places I've been with my husband, the chance encounters we've been blessed to have along the way and my carry-on bag. I can often be seen around town and in tasting rooms with our two beautiful, double-Merle Australian shepherds, Challenge and Baby Girl.