About
A small room with a long memory
La Vid is a wine bar, a shop, and a running conversation about the Iberian Peninsula, in Tampa, where it belongs to its neighborhood.
The name is the point. La vid is Spanish for the vine, the plant every bottle in this room began as. Everything else follows from taking that plant seriously: Rioja with real age on it, Porto that spent twenty years in barrel, Sherry from bone dry to black-sweet, jamón ibérico carved the way it is in Spain, sardines worth a plate with good bread and better olive oil.
None of it is here by accident. Every bottle and every tin was chosen by Victor Manuel, the certified sommelier who owns the room and is most likely the one opening your bottle. His rule is simple: if it's on the shelf, he can tell you where it's from, why it matters, and what to eat with it.
That knowledge never comes with homework. Come knowing nothing and leave curious; come knowing plenty and leave impressed. Either way, you'll be talked to like a guest, not a student, usually with something open worth trying.
The Sommelier
Twenty years, one book, no favorite bottle
Victor is a Tampa native with more than twenty years in restaurants, beverage, and hospitality. The wine part began at his very first job, waiting tables, when a coworker handed him a book about wine. He decided to taste his way through it, page by page. The Rhône Valley claimed him first; the Iberian Peninsula got him for good.
He went on to run beverage programs both in the States and abroad, and he credits the mentors who spotted his obsession early with shaping how he works. La Vid is how he pays that forward: a room where first-timers, wine lovers, and industry professionals all get the same welcome and the same honest pour.
Victor calls himself an ambassador rather than a salesman. If it's on the shelf, he stands behind it, and nothing makes him happier than pouring you an insider tip and watching it land.
From Guests
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Great atmosphere and selection of Iberian wines welcome after a recent trip to the area. Knowledgeable owners. Reasonable prices, good service. Excellent selection of wine to sample and/or purchase. We’ll be back!
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As a wine enthusiast who has recently moved to the Carrollwood area I was extremely surprised with the selection and quality of wines that la Vid has to offer. Not only is it an incredible selection and quality, but staff are also amazing. I had the opportunity to meet Rosa, who was extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic about wine. She made my entire experience amazing and memorable. Definitely a spot to check out if you like wine, will be back as many times as I can.
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Went for the Wine Tasting experience. Amazing. Victor is extremely passionate and knowledgeable of European wines and trends. He spoke at length about the process of making wine and the importance of selecting small, locally owned wineries vs medium to large companies. Highly recommend! We tried 6 different wines all hand picked and curated to reflect Spanish and Portuguese culture, trends, and local wines. The charcuterie board was delicious but I wish there was a menu to select the cheeses, meats and look at prices. Other than that, everything was perfect.