Juan Fernando Cortés is turning occasional popups into a new wine bar concept!
Explain the concept of Under Pressure.
Whereas a lot of restaurants host an occasional dinner with a winemaker or wine importer, that will be our concept all the time: centering the wine. There are lots of ways to discover new wines, but the main way is establishing relationships with vendors and importers. You have to stay in good standing with the industry, do right by them and develop friendships. My vendors will call or text me and say, “I have this wine. You’re going to love it.”
The name Under Pressure is a reference to the David Bowie song, and the space will be inspired by that era with ’80s decor, a mirrored ceiling and leopard furniture. At our pop-ups, we’ve had a DJ who spins David Bowie, Prince, The Police and ’80s stuff, so we’re planting our flag in that idea. We’ll have an emphasis on sparkling wine as a nod to our name, but also plenty of red, white and rose.
Where did the idea for a wine-centered bar come from?
I am a big wine drinker and started working as a sommelier around 2010. And co-owner Adam Berlin has been opening bars and restaurants since he was a senior in college. I did have career stints as a commercial fisherman and in real estate, but there’s something about restaurants. It’s hard work but fun. Our previous pop-ups have shown the concept. It seemed like a no-brainer to open at the old Pig-N-Chik on Roswell Road. We even have a parking lot.
Will you have a full bar as well?
We do plan on having a few prebatched cocktail options, but we won’t have a full bar. The restaurant will have a robust non-alcoholic program as well and a house vermouth program.
Tell us more about the food.
We want to work within a framework of staple items but also seasonal items. We’ll always have raw oysters, caviar and french fries available, as well as bread service, charcuterie and some kind of Caesar salad. But we mostly want to be a place where really great wines find a home. We want people to try new things and be blown away.
underpressurewine.com
@underpressurewine
STORY: Denise K. James
