The idea for Something to Wine About started more than 10 years ago when Orlando “Lando” Chapman took his wife Dee Dee to New Orleans for a surprise birthday getaway and celebrated at one of the city’s wine bars. He watched as she tapped a pre-paid card at a sleek wine dispenser and poured herself a glass, like it was no big deal. “I’m staring at the wine machines like, ‘Wow’,” Chapman says. “I just never forgot it. It was dope.”
That memory turned into a vision, and last December, Chapman opened Something to Wine About, a hybrid self-service wine lounge and full-service bar tucked at the base of Fourth and Race streets downtown. With chic decor, curated wines from around the globe and cold food pairings that include lobster sliders, shrimp cocktail, and rasta pasta, it’s a welcome break from the city’s brewery-heavy bar scene.
The vibe? “Upscale and laid-back,” Chapman says. “It’s your serenity. It’s your peace of mind, your Tylenol after all the noise is set This is the evolution of Lando.” Indeed, the wine bar is a big pivot from Chapman’s legacy as a high-energy party promoter known for hosting city staples like Lando’s All-White Party and the recent Boots on the Square event.
The wine selection is expansive and intentional, with bottles from South Africa, Australia, Italy, and California, many of which are Black-owned. He worked with local sommelier Brittany Marsh to get it just right, helping him taste and curate every bottle in the bar. He says he wasn’t much of a wine drinker before opening Something to Wine About but learned the game. And now he takes pride in introducing people to wines they might not try otherwise.
Here’s how it works: guests receive a pre-paid card (usually $25 or $50), which they use at the self-serve machines to sample one-ounce tastings or pour six- or nine-ounce glasses. While the self-pour wine is the star, there’s plenty more to enjoy. The kitchen serves small plates, and there’s often live music or a DJ on weekends for patrons to “turn up” a little bit more after a long work week. “No matter how calm I try to keep it at the wine bar, I’m known for throwing parties,” Chapman says. “So people travel to get that party experience.”
Chapman’s entrepreneurial journey is as layered as a glass of pinot noir. Though best known as OG Lando, he also runs RiLEntertainment, a promotions company behind many of the city’s parties, concerts, and social events for the 30-and-up crowd. In addition, Chapman has collaborated with Cincinnati Reds legend Eric Davis to launch the new Eric Davis 44 wine. Crafted with Revel OTR Urban Winery, the red wine blend is available exclusively to Reds season ticket holders with wider distribution in the works. Chapman hopes this is the first of many collaborations, including potential expansions into the south, and more even sports stadiums and arenas.
For Chapman, having Something to Wine About in downtown was important. He was born in Cincinnati and raised downtown, and has always dreamed of bringing Black-owned businesses to the city center. “I’ve walked these same streets since I was a kid, and always wondered why we weren’t represented down here,” he says. “I wanted to change that.”
He credits local development group 3CDC and broker Lindsay Gunnels for helping him secure the Fourth Street location. High ceilings, natural light and walking distance to Fountain Square, the convention center and dozens of hotels made it an ideal home base.
Currently, the bar is open seven days a week. But Chapmans are already prepping for Something to Wine About’s first Cincinnati Music Festival on July 24-26. It’ll be open for 24 hours straight during the three-day event.
“I’m super excited,” Chapman says. “I’m hiring extra bartenders, servers, and cooks just for that. It’ll be hybrid. People will be able to get food quickly in and out and have a cooling area to get them a drink.”
He plans to franchise the wine bar concept within five years with hopes of opening more locations.
136 W. Fourth St., downtown, (513) 417-8778, itssomethingtowineabout.com
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