LINDA BALL/Press Sarah and Russell Mann stand at the grapevine arbor entrance that leads to the tasting room at Enoteca, their fine wine and beer shop in Post Falls.

By LINDA BALL Staff writer

Couple takes over ownership of shop

POST FALLS — Enoteca, which means wine cellar in Italian, is what wine bars and tasting rooms are called in Italy, but it’s a pleasant surprise to find a well-stocked Enoteca in Post Falls.

Russell and Sarah Mann, 28 and 23 respectively, have taken over ownership of the wine shop, simply called “Enoteca,” at 112 E. Seltice just east of the White House grill.

The couple’s emphasis is strictly on fine wine and beer. There’s no deli or gift shop to distract the wine connoisseur — just rows and rows of intriguing labels from as near as a Post Falls winemaker, to exotic varietals from Italy, Spain, France, South Africa, South America, New Zealand and Argentina.

“I try to buy only the good stuff,” Sarah said.

Indeed, they deal with 11 distributors and have the ability to import wines from small vineyards.

Browsing through the shop is fun for even the novice enophile. A few rare finds include 40-year-old ports and just two bottles of 2001 Penfolds Grange Shiraz that run $280 a bottle.

“Penfolds is one of the oldest wineries in Australia,” Sarah said, noting they have sold several bottles of the rare Shiraz.

The Manns have no formal training in enology, but Sarah is an avid reader and is a sponge when talking to distributors. Sarah will teach a class on Spanish wines at the end of the month, with Angelos Italiano Ristorante catering the event. The cost will be about $50 per person. She also teaches classes on pairing food with wine.

“We have hardly any pretension to stand on, we just enjoy wine and sharing the knowledge,” Russell said.

Enoteca has wine tasting events every Friday evening from 4-8 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 8 p.m., often bringing winemakers to the event.

“We pour at cost so people can taste as much as possible,” Russell said.

Russell admits he is the “beer guy.” You won’t find a can of Bud anywhere in sight, rather unique beers from as far away as Germany. For example, for August members of their beer club, which is $20 per month, members receive two 750 ml bottles by Jolly Pumpkin brewery in Michigan. The LaRoja is an amber beer aged in oak barrels, and the Oro de Calabaza is a golden ale aged in oak. They have beer tastings once a month for $10.

Their wine club has four different levels, available in either red or white, which is for one bottle per month. Vintage members pay $15 per month, Reserve members pay $20, Premier members pay $30 and the anniversary red is $50 per month. The couple tastes all the wines before choosing them for the club. Currently they have 230 members.

Club members also receive 10 percent off bottles, 15 percent off case orders and 20 percent off on what Sarah calls “the orphan shelf” — wines they won’t get anymore.

Members or anyone who wants it also receive a newsletter by e-mail alerting them to special events and offerings.

Their only other employee is Russell’s father, Roger Mann. Russell is a 1997 graduate of Lakeland High School, and Sarah is originally from San Diego.

Enoteca is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

To learn more about Enoteca, visit www.corkjoy.com, e-mail service@corkjoy.com or call them at 457-9885.