Casa Vigil Miami Opens in Upper Buena Vista Miami | Eater Miami

"Dubbed the “Messi of Wines” by the Michelin Guide, Alejandro Vigil has launched the U.S. debut of his popular Argentine restaurant in Upper Buena Vista; I note the two-floor, rustic upscale space is clearly built with wine lovers in mind and offers a menu meant to complement a large selection of unique wines. Vigil is best known for wines that have earned top ratings on prestigious lists like Robert Parker’s 100-Point Wines, and the original Casa Vigil, which opened in Mendoza in 2015, was recently awarded one Michelin Star and a Michelin Green Star for its selection of affordable and rare wines from Mendoza and other wine-producing regions. Created by chef Cesar Gonzalez Aznar, the Miami menu features a five-course tasting accompanied by three tiers of wine pairings designed to augment flavors and introduce diners to wine regions, vintages, and styles; à la carte items include empanadas, tablas, rib eye Milanesa, 40-day dry-aged braised Angus costilla, burrata, Chilean sea bass, and the popular Basque cheesecake. The restaurant emphasizes wine education with tastings led by sommelier Miguel Martinez for both connoisseurs and novices, offering rare selections such as Chateau Petrus 2004 and Giancomo Conterno “Monfortino Riserva” 2006. Inspired by Dante’s “Divine Comedy,” the 150-seat venue is divided into La Cava—the main dining room with a wine cellar of over 700 labels—El Patio, an outdoor terrace, and El Cielo, a rooftop terrace scheduled to open in January 2024; it also features two 12-seat bars serving cocktails, plans to launch an on-site market selling wines, and is open Sunday–Wednesday noon–10 p.m. and Thursday–Saturday noon–11 p.m., with weekend brunch coming soon." - Olee Fowler