Revealed: The New Destination for Fresno Spot after Closure of Popular Wine Restaurant Chris Lehoux, February 22, 2024 When Vino Grille & Spirits closed last summer in northeast Fresno, its customers were heartbroken. The large restaurant that served a niche of wine lovers citywide — including with its specialty wine store and wine club — left a hole in the Fresno food and drink scene. But now a new restaurant is taking over the prime spot. Oak Hill Wine + Bistro is a restaurant, bar and wine store that promises to be a home for wine lovers. “It’s a great location,” said one of the partners, Brett Cardoza. “This area is a great area for a higher-level dining experience with wine.” The restaurant’s owners are still working on the building and hope to open this spring. The business is a partnership between several longtime restaurant industry people, including Cardoza and his wife, Stephanie. He worked in management at restaurants such as Yosemite Ranch and most recently was director of food and beverage at the Table Mountain Casino’s eight restaurants and its dining room that fed 600 employees daily. Raul Gutierrez Jr. and his wife Jovanie Mauricio are also partners in the business. They own the Papi’s Mex Grill locations and grew up in the restaurant business. Oak Hill’s menu will boast a variety of small plates and appetizers perfect for coupling with wine, along with main courses like steak. Your palate can anticipate treats like snow crab on toast or beef tartare (raw steak) on toast, as described by Cardoza. There will also be charcuterie boards complemented with local fruits and imported cheeses. “Our kitchen is committed to preparing everything from scratch,” he stated. “Our focus is to source as locally as we possibly can.” We will be serving both for lunch and dinner. As for wine, expect more than the usual go-to options, Cardoza said. “We want some specialty library wines that you can invest in, hold in your cellars if that’s what you like to do,” he said. Oak Hill will have a range of wine, including from wineries in Paso Robles, Napa and elsewhere. It will also have craft cocktails. The significant former Vino Grille site will undergo a slight alteration once it’s ready. Some changes have been made, and both the wine shop and the eatery will have distinct entrances. There are also plans to outfit the front terrace area with a adjustable pergola. This canopy can be adjusted to offer shade at various times during the day. New seating areas, plant holders, and plant life will be incorporated, along with group social spaces both inside and outdoors. Vino Grille & Spirits was situated on the premises from 2017 to 2023. Prior to this, the venture existed in various incarnations and sites, owned by Chuck and Jen Van Fleet. It originally opened as a wine outlet in 2006. The Van Fleets sold Vino Grille in 2022. It closed less than a year later, its new owner citing recovering from COVID-19, labor shortages and the rising cost of food. About the Author: Chris Lehoux Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored! Wine