Tucked away down Sugar Cane Lane off Waterworks Road is Arcade Wine, a charming and cosy 24-seat wine bar and bottle shop popular amongst oenophiles living in Brisbane’s west. Owned and operated by Danilo Duseli, an Italian-born WSET- and AIS-certified sommelier, Arcade Wine is best described as an enoteca – a term used to for a wine repository or local vino shop in Italy. Danilo has funnelled an abundance of influences into Arcade Wine’s look and offering, drawing from his extensive career in hospitality to craft a space expressly geared toward the sharing of knowledge and the enjoyment of good wine and food. Arcade Wine’s red-hued interior (adorned with mirrors, greenery and, of course, wine-bottle-laden shelves) boasts spades of candle- and lamp-lit ambience, with a central dining table and a couch offering a variety of places to perch in addition to a cluster of tables in the laneway. When it comes to curating Arcade Wine’s selection of vino, Danilo has gone to great lengths to liaise with suppliers and vineyards to assemble a list that differs dramatically from classic bottle shops and other wine bars. Arcade Wine boasts 127 bespoke labels (with between 40 to 50 of these available by the glass, including high-end Coravin-dispensed sips) that boasts Italian roots (showcasing regions including Tuscany, Sicily, Puglia, Lombardy and Piedmont, to name a few) but also boasts wines from France and Queensland’s emerging growing regions. The offering is ever-changing as stocks are depleted and replenished, ensuring there is always something new to try each visit. Danilo and his team are well-versed on the details and intricacies of each wine, with those eager to learn free to plumb the depths of the Arcade Wine team’s collective knowledge. A small but flavour-packed menu of homemade tapas is also available. Seasonal plates (such as French bourguignon in winter) and a range of cicchetti (snack plates) like chicken, leek and truffle terrine, marinated Sicilian olives, duck liver pate with confit cherry, an cheese and charcuterie platters are perfect for those looking for a pre-dinner snack or a post-feast nibble. As it is a small venue, bookings are strongly encouraged. The venue is also available to hire for private events and Danilo also hosts monthly themed nights focusing on everything from specific wine regions to cuisines.