Wine News

Try before you buy at high-tech new wine bar at Legacy Hall in Plano

Would you rather try a glass of wine for $20 or spend $400 and take a chance on the bottle.

Photo courtesy of Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

A high-tech new wine bar and wine shop hybrid is opening at Plano's Legacy Hall that'll let you try pricey wines in small sips before you drop a bundle on a whole bottle.

Called Vinotopia, it's a new concept from FB Society, the company behind the food hall as well as restaurants such as Whiskey Cake, Sixty Vines, Velvet Taco, Ida Claire, and Haywire. According to a release, it'll open on April 30. It's located on the ground floor under the stairs, between Son of a Butcher and Buttercup Love Me Tenders.

Vinotopia lets you try any wine in their inventory of approximately 60 bottles in a variety of size sips. They're using the same wine dispensing technology used at their wine-centric Sixty Vines concept:

Wine Station smart dispensers, which mete out tastes in one-, two and a half-, or five-ounce self-serve pours
Coravin wine preservation system, which guarantees the wine is at the correct temperature and is not oxidized

Sommeliers will be onsite daily to offer advice.

Wine has become an increasingly meaningful category for the company, says FB Society founder and chairman Randy Dewitt.

"My wife, Michelle, is a sommelier and we"ve both been wine collectors for many years," Dewitt says. "We found ourselves seeking a concept that would allow us to sample wines before committing and spending hundreds on a bottle that we may not love. And so, Vinotopia was born."

He anticipates that some customers may come simply for the wine bar experience, but still wants to offer collectors an avenue to find coveted wines for their at-home cellar.

"We believe this concept is a precursor to how people will discover and purchase wine in the future," Dewitt says.

You'll be able to find the Vinotopia stall by its live art demonstration made from repurposed wine bottle capsules from local artist Ryan Sorrell. You buy a Vinotopia tasting card and use it to buy a glass of your favorite, or to sample a $400 bottle of wine for $20.

The release says that the Plano shop will be a preview of what is an eventual flagship location, whose address they do not divulge. What a tease.

wine

Craft Beer News

Dallas Stars owner to open beer-centric Craft restaurant in the U.S.

Craft

Food and beer from Craft.

A restaurant concept from Canada is opening its first U.S. location in little old Dallas: Called Craft Restaurant & Beer Market, it's a small chain with an emphasis on craft beer and elevated casual dining opening in Preston Center at 5974 W Northwest Hwy.

That location is a former medical office, across the street from the Starbucks at the corner of Kate Street. According to a release, it will open in in early 2026 — their first in the American market.

The concept was founded in 2019 by craft beer wunderking PJ L'Heureux, who is partnered with Tom Gaglardi, owner of the Dallas Stars and the Moxies chain. It will feature more 100 beers on tap including local Texas brews, along with cocktails, wine, and a fresh, globally inspired menu.

L'Heureux calls Dallas "a natural fit" for Craft.

"Our large restaurant footprint, commitment to local products, and dedication to community are what Texas is all about," L'Heureux says in a statement. "Texas and specifically the Preston area of Dallas, with its booming economy, diverse culture, and love for craft cocktails and beer, is the perfect place for us to begin this exciting new chapter."

Craft will occupy a state-of-the-art, 10,500 square-foot space with a modern yet welcoming interior, featuring warm woods, industrial accents, and a massive 360-degree bar as its center.

The space will also include a 5,250 square-foot rooftop patio with a full bar, booth seating, lush greenery, and a games area — suitable for casual gatherings and special celebrations.

Craft president Scott Frank says that the chain, which has nine locations across Canada and is no relation to the Craft restaurant concept by chef Tom Colicchio, likes to create unique menus and partnerships in each of the communities they are in.

"Craft has always been about bringing people together, and we're thrilled to share our passion for craft beer, exceptional dining, and community building with our friends in the Texas market," L'Heureux says.

Gaglardi previously brought Moxie's Grill & Bar, his glossy Canadian sports-bar restaurant, to Dallas in 2016 — the first in the U.S. He's since opened locations in Plano, Southlake, and Houston.

craft beer openings