Nov. 12, 2024

Damon's Vision: Transforming Wine Storage into an Experience Pt. 2

Damon's Vision: Transforming Wine Storage into an Experience Pt. 2
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The Best 5 Minute Wine Podcast

Bottle Bank is revolutionizing wine storage by offering a modern, secure, and climate-controlled solution that goes beyond traditional cellars. Co-founder Damon Raque shares insights into how this innovative approach not only caters to wine collectors but also fosters a vibrant community around wine appreciation. The facility will feature private wine vaults, a lounge, tasting rooms, and various amenities designed to enhance the wine experience. Damon discusses his journey from a focus on utilitarian wine storage to a hospitality-driven concept, emphasizing the importance of creating an inviting atmosphere for members. With a commitment to inclusivity, Bottle Bank aims to appeal to a diverse audience, making wine enjoyment accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

Damon Raque, co-founder of Bottle Bank, shares his vision for a unique wine experience in the heart of Midtown Atlanta. The podcast delves into the concept of Bottle Bank, which aims to provide an extensive selection of wines by the glass and bottle, paired with gourmet cheeses, charcuterie, and desserts. Raque describes the vibrant, walkable neighborhood that will host their establishment, highlighting its cultural significance and artistic flair. He also discusses the collaborative partnership with his long-time friend Rich, emphasizing how their complementary skills have shaped the business's development. With an annual membership model in place, Bottle Bank promises to offer an exclusive yet accessible environment for wine enthusiasts to enjoy curated experiences and private events.

Your Host: Forrest Kelly is an experienced Radio/TV broadcaster who has interviewed some of Hollywood’s biggest celebrities, from Garth Brooks to Kevin Costner. A lover of wine who is fascinated by the science behind it.

Voted One of The Best Travel, Top 5 Minute, and Top Wine Podcasts.

Takeaways:

  • The discussion highlights the unique concept of Bottle Bank, a wine-oriented space in midtown Atlanta.
  • Damon Raque emphasizes midtown Atlanta's vibrant, artistic nature as the ideal location.
  • Membership will include access to a members-only lounge and various tasting experiences.
  • Bottle Bank aims to enhance the wine-drinking experience with curated food pairings and events.
  • The $2,500 annual membership includes exclusive amenities, making it a distinctive offering for wine enthusiasts.

Links referenced in this episode:


Links referenced in this episode:


Companies mentioned in this episode:

  • Vint.Co
  • BottleBank.com

Chapters

00:00 - None

00:00 - Welcome

00:06 - Introducing Bottle Bank

00:18 - The Concept of Bottle Bank

00:29 - Damon Raque's Background

01:36 - The Evolution of Wine Storage

03:30 - The Bottle Bank Experience

03:45 - Future Insights with Damon Raque

05:19 - Conclusion and Call to Action

Transcript
Host

Welcome.


Host

Welcome to the Best five Minute Wine Podcast with Forrest Kelly.


Co-Host

Traditionally, wine is stored in a cellar or basement.


Co-Host

But Bottle bank is revolutionizing this practice by offering a modern, secure, climate controlled solution with other amenities too.


Co-Host

We return to our engaging dialogue with Damon Rocky of Bottle Bank.


Damon Rocky

They can store it there and more importantly, they can enjoy it.


Host

That's five Minute Wine Podcast.


Co-Host

Putting this whole thing together, you did some research, right?


Damon Rocky

Correct.


Co-Host

Was it done through a company or your just own experiences and you just started putting them down?


Co-Host

How did you come into making a clear vision?


Damon Rocky

Really kind of on my own, it's morphed over time.


Damon Rocky

Initially it was I looked at strictly wine storage and there's a couple of folks in Atlanta that do traditional wine storage.


Damon Rocky

Just a warehouse at 55 degrees, basic utilitarian storage for folks that have outgrown their current cellaring situation.


Damon Rocky

And I was looking at wine storage literally all over the world.


Damon Rocky

So Australia, New Zealand, the uk, different places in Europe, all over the US and again that's when I kind of realized most of these places didn't have anything that allowed people to take advantage of a wine community.


Damon Rocky

You know, some had a small little tasting room or a tiny little lounge, but nothing really hospitality driven.


Damon Rocky

And in my former life I was in sales and consulting and financial services and did a lot of work with restaurateurs and chefs and those types of folks.


Damon Rocky

So had kind of had a background in hospitality from that side of it.


Damon Rocky

And I think it started out as more of a wine storage concept supported with hospitality.


Damon Rocky

And over time as we've conceptualized the business, it's really flip flopped.


Damon Rocky

Now it's more of a hospitality concept with a wine storage component.


Co-Host

So like a safe deposit box kind of situation where you when if you bring in a particular bottle you.


Co-Host

So I don't know if you've listened to the episode, but I talked to wine investors and where you can buy together with multiple people buy a $5,000 bottle of wine, say so Vint Co perhaps you buy this expensive bottle, you bring it to the bank.


Co-Host

Is it stored someplace else or is it in your actual storage part of the bank?


Damon Rocky

So each individual member.


Damon Rocky

So we're going to be a semi private concept.


Damon Rocky

So we are open to the public, but we also have an optional membership component.


Damon Rocky

So one of the benefits of membership is an individual private wine vault.


Damon Rocky

And we're going to have two different sizes.


Damon Rocky

We're still figuring out the exact capacity, but as it stands now we'll have one size that's going to be between three and four cases and a second size that will be smaller at one case.


Damon Rocky

So individuals will have the ability to source wine from us, but also more importantly, wherever they obtain their wine, if it's online, if it's at a local wine store, if it's via an allocation list or a wine club subscription, we can accept their shipments, they can come and pick them up, or they can say, leave the wine there.


Damon Rocky

At Bottle bank, we will stick it in their private vault.


Damon Rocky

They can store it there and more importantly, they can enjoy it.


Damon Rocky

So the overall size of the space is about 9,000 square feet, of which about 3,000 square feet is going to be the wine vault where members can store their wine.


Damon Rocky

And the remaining square footage is going to be again, a big lounge, tasting rooms, chef's table, tasting counter, some other fun kind of amenities that we've put together to kind of create the Bottle bank experience holistically.


Co-Host

In our next interview with Damon Rocky, co founder of bottlebank.com we will get into who their customer is.


Damon Rocky

I envision Bottle bank appealing to a variety of individuals and that's the great thing about wine.


Damon Rocky

You know, it's inclusive and it is connected.


Host

Who's bringing wine to the next big scene?


Host

It's David Rocky and he's living the dream.


Host

BottleBank.com he's co founder too.


Host

Damon Rock keep the name Bottle banks the game from fine wines to sellers he's changing the frame chandelier bar tasting night so divine Private events with the perfect wine Curated dinners and tasting so fine by the glass where you sip and shine Private cellaring events that impress with Damon Rocky you're sipping the best Damon Rocky the name Bottle banks the game from fine wines to sellers he's changing the frame chandelier bar tasting nights so divine Private events with the perfect one the best five minute one podcast.


Co-Host

Don'T forget my favorite part Please like and follow.