A Wine Cellar, Tropical Lounge, English Pub, and More Restaurants Are Opening at the Rio | Eater Vegas

"Housed in a Tuscany-inspired, cave-like room whose original stone was imported from Italy, the Wine Cellar is an immersive experience that first opened in 1997, closed during the pandemic in March 2020, and has quietly reopened to rapturous interest; in its heyday it stored a museum-like collection once described as worth more than $2.2 million, and the reopened cellar now showcases some 10,000 bottles valued at more than $10 million. Hung Nguyen, who has run the space for 17 years, developed extensive wine and spirit tasting menus (including whiskey, bourbon, tequila, and rum) paired with charcuterie plates and cheeses such as French Brie, creamy Camembert, and Hook’s 12-year-aged cheddar; he’s often happy to tailor tastings to a guest’s whims, the cellar hosts three-course wine dinners in partnership with VooDoo Steak and other Rio restaurants, and guests can purchase bottles or cases to be shipped home." - Ryan Slattery