Master sommelier Bobby Stuckey of award-winning fine-dining restaurant Frasca Food & Wine in Boulder, Colo., is combining two of his passions, records and wine, in a music-themed wine bar, Sunday Vinyl, slated to open in Denver this fall in partnership with Continuum Group.

Bobby Stuckey
Photo: Sunday Vinyl

Sunday Vinyl is set to open next to Tavernetta, another Stuckey restaurant, and will feature an eclectic wine program starting at around $8 per glass, as well as a menu of classic wine-friendly dishes like roast chicken and fillet of sole — a deliberate choice in contrast to the “light bites” and smaller plates that are more typically seen on wine bar menus.

The atmospheric highlight of the upcoming 2,000-square foot, 65-seat wine bar will be its extensive vinyl record collection and playlist, curated in collaboration with record-of-the-month company Vinyl Me Please.

“Historically, I have only been able to take Sundays off, and Sundays are when my wife and I drink red wine and listen to vinyl records,” Stuckey said, explaining his inspiration for his latest project. “Music and wine are a natural link and musicians tend to be lovers of wine.”

Don’t expect the music selection to follow a specific genre: Stuckey is interested in featuring a wide variety of music, from classic records like The Clash’s “London Calling” to international music that might not be as well-known in the United States, like Ethiopian funk.

Although the “elevated casual” space is not yet complete, Stuckey said he’s avoiding kitschy design choices like a wall of vinyl records or any other obvious theming. He wants to instead let the music do the talking.

“Our goal is to connect people emotionally to different forms of music,” Stuckey said.

Stuckey is bringing on board business partners and longtime employees from his hospitality group, Frasca Inc., for the project, including director of operations Justin Williams; general manager Curtis Landrum, who is currently a manager at Tavernetta; chef de cuisine Charlie Brooks, who joined the Frasca group in 2018 from culinary landmark Gramercy Tavern in New York City; and the company’s long-time wine director, Carlin Karr.

A specific opening date for Sunday Vinyl has not yet been set.

Contact Joanna Fantozzi at [email protected]

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