When I first moved to Turks and Caicos more than a decade ago, I was dismayed to find out that living in paradise came with a price.

While my new home had everything a girl could ever want: sugar-fine beaches, perfect turquoise waters, consistently sunny weather and a ratio of five men to every woman (not that that last point mattered to me I was and am happily married), it was impossible to get a decent glass of wine!  I moved to Turks and Caicos from California, so limiting my wine intake was a bit like telling a retriever not to fetch!  If and when I did find wine on a menu, the reds were usually served too cold and the whites too warm.   I compensated by preserving my wine drinking for when I traveled and stuck to the safe stuff here – Corona with lime.

Fortunately, times have changed dramatically and now getting a decent glass of wine is the least of my worries.  Most restaurants here have great wine lists and proper wine fridges! And, now we have our very own Wine Bar to add to our list of dining options.

You can imagine my excitement when Vino Tiempo finally opened its doors this past weekend. Located in the Regent Plaza in the heart of Grace Bay, Vino Teimpo is – yes you guessed it – everything a girl could ever want in wine bar.  First off, it’s central location in the shopping district makes it very convenient (it is the same complex as Jai’s – the best jewelry store on the island – IMHO).   It is easily accessible from most of the resorts in Grace Bay and it stays open late so you can pop in for an after dinner night cap or after a tough afternoon of shopping!

The decor is fresh, fun and alluring – just like the name (inspired by Italy the home of all things alluring and attractive!).  When you enter, the first thing you notice is the half-moon shaped bar that takes center stage and is dotted with cool lighting and stocked with a full-bar and extensive wine list (of course).  I like how the curved shape of the bar makes it easy to talk to others sitting there – especially if you are with a group of three or more. The way the bar is laid out, it is easy for everyone to be part of the conversation.

Then there is the menu, which was effectively designed to compliment the wines but it also surprises and delights.  While I haven’t sampled everything yet, I can recommend the Garam Marsala Oxtail springrolls…trust me it works!  There is also a flat bread with artichokes and spicy tuna that is pretty remarkable and the hummus is smooth as silk (we had to have seconds).   Once you’ve explored the creative food options by chef Peter, you’ll want to dig into the wine. You have two choices.   You can order as you’d expect – from the bartender and have your choice of wines by the glass or bottle.  Or, you can experience the self serve wine machine, where you purchase a wine card and then get to select from four whites and four reds how big of a glass you want.   You can get a taste– and by this they definitely mean taste as not much more than an ounce is dispensed in this mode or you can go up from there for a half glass or a full one.   The pricing for a taste starts at $2 and the money is just deduced from the card as the liquid is dispensed from the machine.   If you’ve never had wine from a machine, this can be fun, and it can only be  handy to have a wine card with “credit” on it.   However, like my friend pointed out, the odds of not using all the credit are really slim – especially when you see what they call a glass of wine!

One of the things I liked the most about Vino Tiemp is its atmosphere.   Complementing the modern colors and décor, there is a soft, nice, sophisticated feel to the place.   Aside from the bar, the seating options include cozy cocktail tables and cushy chairs and sofas, which work great for an intimate date as well as a gathering of friends. This is one place I see myself spending a lot of time and worth checking out on your next visit here.