A Former Melisse Wine Director Opens a Dante-Inspired Wine Bar Deep in the San Fernando Valley

The bar takes its name from the sixth section of The Divine Comedythat adheres to Dante as he stirs up in the third circle of Heck where Cerberus towers above the hearts of the gluttons. Kalliel translated the gluttony of the sections to indicate a pursuit of great things, saying, “The gluttony aspect of that is extra regarding attempting to eat and drink the finest, not the most. So all of my red wines are of a greater restaurant quality; the wine maker, the rarity of it.”

Kalliel claims that, thus far, the area has welcomed what he is attempting to do with Canto VI. The first few evenings open were active, with a mix of citizens and those who drove in for the occasion. He’s still conscious that a much more high end idea like this has been mainly untried in this location of community. While 8one8 Developing has a sampling space nearby, most of the white wine bars in the Valley are closer to Ventura Blvd, in communities like Sherman Oaks and Workshop City. Kalliel is still wagering on his idea, which consists of an encouragement to dress for the celebration, free valet with an acquisition of $50, a discerning doorman, and customized service. Looking forward, he’s discovering other means to welcome the community into Canto VI including live songs evenings and red wine courses. “Among the things that I always hope to remain in right here is what I call the textile of the neighborhood,” Kalliel says. “In that we become part of the neighborhood and we’re an excellent place to go.”

While various other white wine bars might buy bottles wholesale for $20 or $25 a bottle and sell it at $18 a glass, Kalliel states his chardonnay costs $55 a bottle and he offers it at $25 a glass. He includes 10 white wines on the daily published menu, plus six more on a frequently transforming chalk food selection. “I never relied on having 20 white wines open,” Kalliel claims. “Since the genuine reality and trouble with that is, unless your bartenders are so great that they market each container you have, containers have actually been open for a few days, and I can’t look someone in the eye and offer them a wine that need to be put out or cooked with.”

Kalliel didn’t at first strategy on opening up a bar when he relocated to the Valley, however after fulfilling the proprietor of a neighborhood a glass of wine store that possessed a vacant structure close by, things fell right into place. “I don’t run red wine bar red wines since I’ve been in the red wine organization also long, and I have a little bit also much satisfaction concerning what I offer,” he states. I didn’t have average a glass of wine, like not one, so I do not have standard red wine bar white wines.”

Canto VI, a brand-new red wine bar and restaurant in the Valley, has actually opened up in the darkness of a Holiday Inn Express along an active stretch of Devonshire in Chatsworth. The bar comes from veteran sommelier Brian Kalliel, that was the red wine supervisor at Melisse for 15 years prior to helping open night life hotspot Delilah in Miami and Sherman Oaks white wine bar Augustine.

While other red wine bars might purchase containers wholesale for $20 or $25 a bottle and market it at $18 a glass, Kalliel claims his chardonnay sets you back $55 a bottle and he offers it at $25 a glass. While 8one8 Brewing has a sampling area nearby, most of the a glass of wine bars in the Valley are more detailed to Ventura Blvd, in areas like Sherman Oaks and Studio City.

The majority of nights of the week, Kalliel is behind bench directing guests with the menu and offering pointers; he urges those consuming with him to check out the larger food selection of wines by that bottle that is offered by demand. In addition to white wine, Canto VI also has a complete liquor bar to offer spirits and traditional cocktails.

To lead the kitchen area, Kalliel touched Chester Hastings that previously was the chef at Joan’s on Third. The menu includes what Kalliel calls “mid-plates,” which are bigger than appetisers yet smaller sized than a full-sized dish. “You most likely to a place that has tapas and they’re extremely little, and the waiter turns up and says, order 5 or six of these, and you recognize you’re at 100 dollars,” Kalliel claims. “I really did not intend to have that, yet I didn’t intend to have meals, since I additionally most likely to areas and they’re billing $42 for a sea bass and lamb chops.” The meals at Canto VI like the lamb frites or the whipped feta are sized to share with a table. The food selection includes hefty European and Mediterranean impacts throughout consisting of hummus with black tahini, French fries with bottarga, a fennel sausage crostini, and Sicilian anchovies. Kalliel and Hastings also put together cheese plates and salumi boards to couple with the wines on the menu.

Kalliel really did not at first plan on opening up a bar when he moved to the Valley, yet after satisfying the proprietor of a local white wine shop that owned an empty building close by, points formed. After seeing the space, he started to envision a bar that would certainly feel at home in a Michelin-starred dining establishment, with service to match. In November 2023, Kalliel and the owners of the building authorized a contract and quickly reached function. At the end of June 2024, Canto VI broke open its very first bottles and began putting for the general public.

The main emphasis of Canto VI is a glass of wine, which Kalliel resources himself. The white wine list rotates weekly, with glasses starting at $18 a glass. Along with full glasses, visitors can additionally try glass of wines by the half-glass. With the greater access point, Kalliel focuses on providing higher-end and uncommon containers. “I do not run white wine bar white wines due to the fact that I’ve remained in the white wine business too long, and I have a little way too much pride concerning what I offer,” he says. “I’ve always purchased [from] historical winemakers and wineries and the finest points because I was at Melisse for as long. I didn’t have average wine, like not one, so I don’t have basic white wine bar red wines.”