For years, Stev George (head chef and co-owner of Olivea) and Robert Elvy mulled the idea of opening up an authentic Italian wine bar in downtown Kingston. When the perfect space across from Springer Market Square (326 King Street East) opened Bobbi Pecorino’s was born.
Wine, selected with care
Using 35 years of experience in the wine industry, Elvy carefully curated Pecorino’s selection of organic and biodynamic reds, whites, and rosés furnishing the wine bar’s back shelves and fridges. From the distinctive location where the grapes were grown to the origins of the families who planted them, each of the 120 bottles has a unique story, catalogued in the bar’s “wine bible.”
Elvy found the best Soave Superiore white wine he’s ever tasted at a quaint boutique winery in Franchetto, Italy. In the heart of Chianti Classico, he tasted Sangiovese–based wines made by the Cappellini family. Luigi Cappellini, whom Elvy affectionately refers to as the “Pope of Sangiovese,” imports his Mini-Tuscan wine to Pecorino’s exclusively.
Reinforcing the strong bond between the Kingston owners and winemakers across the Atlantic, pictures of Pecorino’s staff with Italian producers adorn the exposed brick walls.
The wine bar is even named after the moniker “Bobbi Pecorino,” which Elvy’s Italian friends gave him.
Top-notch service
Pecorino’s offers three-to-five-ounce glasses, allowing you to enjoy a variety of wines amid the elegant and timeless ambiance. At Pecorino’s, you’re encouraged to be “wine curious”–try a grape you’ve never heard of or purchase a bottle from a region that intrigues you.
Whether you’re a vino newbie or a connoisseur, well-trained waiters will guide you through your journey tasting a Pinot Blanc “Ser Chario” from Emilia-Romagna, Tempranillo “La Secreta” from Rioja Alavesa, Spain, or Grillo “Bianco Maggiore” from Sicily.
All staff at Pecorino’s balance their tasks behind the bar and in the small, open kitchen, mirroring the operations of authentic Italian wine bars.
Further emulating the service you’d encounter at a wine bar in Sicily or Sardinia, your first bottle of wine at Pecorino’s will come with a bowl of crispy potato chips. Good wine is supposed to be enjoyed with and complement food, a sentiment that Elvy shares with wine bar owners in Italy.
Authentic Italian food
With the help of Stev George, Elvy created Pecorino’s menu featuring crostini, soft bruschetta, flavourful panini, and more.
Their crostini is served on soft bread, delicately drizzled with olive oil, and topped with fresh ingredients such as soleggiati tomatoes, pesto, honey, stracchino cheese, or prosciutto.
You can taste their cheeses and meats, sourced from Italian farms, by ordering the Tagliere–a plate covered in delectable dairy options such as gorgonzola and meats like soppressata. They rotate their meats and cheeses, offering you the freshest seasonal options.
A must-try appetizer, the Bobbi Bruschetta comes with soft, salty tomatoes and bread rubbed with garlic and olive oil–just how the Italians like it.
Specialty bottle shop and wine club
After snacking on Pecorino’s panini with fresh mozzarella and enjoying a few beverages, you can take home a bottle of crisp white or deep red wine.
Purchasing wine in the bottle shop, located at the back of Pecorino’s, is cheaper than ordering it at the table. You won’t find these bottles at the LCBO, so be sure to grab one before you leave.
Pecorino’s also hosts a Sunday Wine Club at 2:30 pm; you’ll taste four wines plus several dishes from Pecorino’s menu. To enjoy this casual way to experience wine, food, and Italian culture, you don’t need to pay a membership fee, simply a flat rate of $75.
Come by Pecorino’s for a glass of wine while you wait for your table or a nightcap after dinner on Monday to Wednesday from 3 to 9 pm, Thursday to Saturday from noon to 10 pm, and Sunday from 2 to 9 pm.
Book your table on their website today.
