Bella Vino Wine & Cheese Market

Sharing Our Dream

Wine connoisseurs Brian and Cheryl Franzese, opened Bella Vino Wine & Cheese Market in December of 2005. Their dream was to build a store their neighborhood would be proud of and one which represented the area well. Located in Belleair Bluffs just a short distance from the beaches of Clearwater and Indian Rocks and across a bridge from the beautiful city of Tampa, Bella Vino is a central gathering place for Florida natives and European and Canadian tourists alike.

Bella Vino stocks a smart selection of over 1200 wines, imported and craft beers, premium cigars, artisan cheeses & meats, Riedel glassware, gift items, gift baskets, chocolates and more. The fresh cut-to-order cheeses compliment the global line-up of wines with winners such as Mimolette from France, Manchego from Spain and Mt. Tam from California. The staff at Bella Vino creates the most beautiful “Artisan” Cheese Platters for your entertaining pleasure. Inside Bella Vino is a European Espresso and Wine Bar which serves delicious espresso based drinks, premium wine, craft beer, artisan cheese, charcuterie and other light bites.

Bella Vino Wine & Cheese recreates “Bottle Shock” tasting

Saturday night, Brian Franzese of Bella Vino Wine & Cheese Market in Belleair Bluffs put together a fascinating tasting, which he called “The Judgement of Belleair.” Essentially, it was the “Bottle Shock” tasting, which was a simulation of a famous 1976 blind tasting in Paris in which two California wines came out on top, rocking the snooty French wine world in the process. It took place at the Sheraton Sand Key, with a dinner afterward prepared by chef John Harris. Wines were tasted blind.