San Diego has plenty of wine shops. But shops run by an advanced sommelier fresh off her role as wine director of a three Michelin-star? A bit more rare.
That’s what’s coming to center city this spring when advanced sommelier Victoria O’Bryan opens Electric Wines, her new wine shop at 4241 Park Boulevard (in that what-part-of-town-is-this area on the edge of Hillcrest, North Park, and University Heights).
“[Electric will] be a little bit more expansive in selection, focusing more on international styles,” she explains, adding that while there are plenty of wine shops nearby, many specialize in local or natural wines. She wants Electric to add something new, not replicate. So it’ll be “as far reaching as possible to maximize value and quality.” Electric will be an evolving collection of her favorites from iconic Old World (France, Spain, Italy) plus lesser played regions (Portugal, Greece, Slovenia, Georgia, England, etc.). Same thing for New World (California and Pacific Northwest, but also Mexico, South Africa, Chile, New Zealand, etc).
O’Bryan lives in North Park, giving her a front-row seat to the area’s booming culinary evolution. After serving mostly visiting hotel guests at Addison, she says she’s been waiting for the chance to connect directly with her neighbors. “The audience is very different… It’ll be a learning experience.”
Electric will start small (about 200 different wines) and grow from there—with some minimal food, plus a small lounge to enjoy wines on-site. She hopes to launch tasting events and educational opportunities once she gets things going. Design is still a work in progress, but says the environment will live up to the name.
“I want something more exciting, more engaging. A lot of wine shops are going very minimalist these days… I’m leaning into a more colorful experience. [The name Electric is] about the general excitement that wine gives people, or at least used to. I’m trying to have a collection of very high energy wines that create a spark inside people.”
Electric Wines will open sometime in Q2 2025 at 4241 Park Boulevard, at the intersection of El Cajon Boulevard, Park Boulevard, and Normal Street across from The Winslow Apartments.
San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events
Taste of Third Returns to Chula Vista This March
The Chula Vista food scene is ascending. On Thursday, March 20, over 25 restaurants and bars will offer specials from 4-8 p.m. for CV’s annual Taste of Third. There will be live music, too. Check out the best of the area—Balboa South, Mmm… Cakes, Lime in the Coconut, La Nacional (get the chicharrones), Vogue Tavern, Don Pedro, you name it. Tickets go on sale January 10.
Beth’s Bites
- After 10 years in business, both Crushed in Pacific Beach and Lucha Libre in North Park have closed their doors. Lucha Libre’s Mission Hills location is still open, so you can get your tacos, nachos, and burrito totes starting every day at 9 a.m.
- Mothership’s new menu just launched, and it’s out of the world (joke groans go here). I’ve been on a jackfruit kick lately, so I’m particularly excited to check out the new al pastor jackfruit bao buns, with a star float cocktail that contains rum, more rum, creme de banana, and a bunch of other tropical goodness topped with soft serve. I’m a proud dessert drink girlie.
- It seems like Dry January options get better every year, from the city’s first non-alcoholic bottle shop Monday Morning to Puesto and Roma Norte’s new NA specials, like a nitro Carajillo with Cafe Moto cold brew and vanilla cordial, or the Nadachelada with NA Corona and housemade michelada mix. Did I mention they clarify the michelada? If there’s one thing Roma Norte’s head of bar Beau du Bois loves to do, it’s to clarify.
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