‘Life is too short to drink bad wine’, as Goethe famously said. In recent years, Milan has added a number of hidden (tiny), very particular enoteche to its eno-gastronomic portfolio. Case in point: Vino. Based in a quiet, residential side street in the heart of the Porta Romana district, this little gem isn’t usually discovered by chance — which is a real pity, since Martina Beccaria has infused all her bustling energy, passion, knowledge, spirit and ingenuity to create a very special place and share a fine, curated selection of bottles & delicious stuzzichini (finger food).

It’s not very original to name a winery ‘Vino’, one might think. On the contrary, it encapsulates everything you need to know about this spot. It’s a simple, pure, honest & authentic celebration of Italian food staples – wine, bread, olive oil, cold cuts, cheese & pickled veggies. Every product is hand-selected by Martina and directly sourced from small quality producers, mostly in organic or biodynamic quality.

The space itself is like its proprietor: relaxed, down-to-earth, welcoming, just the bare necessities required to experience, appreciate and learn about wine and the culture around it. Martina offers a unique selection of not only Italian, but also French labels, adding a fresh breeze of air to Milan’s winery scene.

If Goethe would pop by, listen to the live indie music (Wednesday), have a little chat with Martina or fellow guests while enjoying one of the 10+ daily choices of wine by the glass, he would probably be inspired to write Faust III.