Audio By Carbonatix
For the past year, Shangri-La Cafe, the tiny coffee shop wedged into the space between Lola and Vita in the Lower Highland, has built a steady following, thanks to its Lavazza espresso drinks, coffee and pressed sandwiches — sandwiches so stellar that the shop won our Best Panini award in Best of Denver 2011.
Now, owner Massimo Ruffinazzi is adding more to his program: wine.
Specifically, he’s set up a tasting room license: “I wanted to offer wine from a really good Colorado winery,” he says. So he chose Sutcliffe Vineyards, pouring, among other juices, the 2008 Down Canyon Blend, a syrah and cabernet mix that landed a score of 88 from Wine Spectator.
He teamed up with the winery to become the official tasting room, and he’s selling that award winner — along with every other wine Sutcliffe makes. And while most of those can only be purchased by the bottle, a few are available by the glass, or for pairing with panini.
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And speaking of panini, Ruffinazzi says he’s also getting ready to expand the sandwich list. Changes should roll out sometime in the next few days.
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