We Turn 8

8 years ago on March 15, 2016, we were getting ready to open. Windows were covered, shelves half empty, empty wine boxes all over the place and a few slices of cold pizza and empty bottles of beer on top of our counters. Neither Pedro nor Julio knew what was coming.

We were just creating a dream, the first wine store in the nation’s capital dedicated to the rich history of over 450 years of wines in Latin America. This is our history, our heritage, our identity showcasing our home away from home. What came after was totally unexpected. We opened Grand Cata on a cold Tuesday morning and our first sales were actually two white wines, a Sauvignon Blanc followed by an Albariño. Open every day since day one, we built memories, community and many friendships.

We have witnessed many challenging moments as well as a Latin owned small business, many times of uncertainties. We survived a global pandemia, city wide shutdowns and reopenings, social strife with many protest and riots passing in front of us, we had to take shelter and safeguarded from earthquakes, wildfires, hurricanes, tornados, floods and droughts, snow storms and heat waves and continue to push forward.

We have seen friends getting married and breaking up, we have seen you having babies and some sadly passing away, we have seen you moving in and out of town. We have seen you laugh, we have seen you cry. And after all that you were there the next day, asking for a bottle of wine that could pair well for the moment.

You are our inspiration and the reason for our resilience. You are why we take our opening sign and place it next to our door every day. We are just turning 8, but it feels 80, and the best of all is that we are just starting because we know that next day you will be celebrating with us.