2025

Sitting Down at Dorothy’s: A Wine Bar Rooted in Community

In a world where people struggle to find connection, Tim Gastel-Wardell and Luis Rivera introduce Dorothy’s Wine Bar as a space that focuses on inclusivity for people of all walks of life to gather and build community.

Interior decor with disco balls, framed artwork, indoor plants, shelves with decorative objects, and a wallpapered wall.

Exterior of a building with a vertical sign reading 'DORI'S' in large purple letters and a black sign below it that says 'WINE BAR' in white letters. There is a teal-colored awning in the foreground, and the sky is clear and blue.

Interior view of a wall with various framed artworks, a potted plant, and a shelf with books, seen through brown metal bars.

Bookshelves filled with board games and books, partially opened wooden door with handle, in a cozy indoor setting.

Two men working in a room viewed through a window. One man is standing by a counter, the other is in front of a spiral staircase. The room contains books, flowers, and decorative items.

Person pouring red wine into a glass with a plate of assorted appetizers, including meatballs, cheese, and salad in the foreground.

A glass of white wine, a small basket of croissants with dipping sauce, a colorful coaster, and a folded newspaper on a wooden table.

Interior of a cozy cafe or restaurant with a large green potted plant in the foreground, menu boards on a stand, a door slightly open revealing a seating area with a teal chair and red blanket, and art on the walls. The window has an orange 'Open' sign and a reflection of a man inside.

Indoor scene showcasing a vintage television with wine bottles inside, a lamp on top with a picture frame, decorative items, and wine bottles on shelves in the background, adjacent to dark red curtains.

A man in a gray t-shirt and black cap standing behind a bar counter with his hands on the surface, in a cozy bar or cafe with shelves filled with bottles, glasses, and decorative plants.

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Dorothy’s Wine Bar owners Tim Gastel-Wardell and Luis Rivera pose for a portrait behind the bar.

The “Dorothy’s Wine Bar” sign sits above the bar’s outdoor seating area.

Seen through one of the bar’s iconic focal points — the brass-colored spiral staircase — hangs a portrait of Uma Thurman as the Mona Lisa.

An antique television serves as a display table, holding seasonal wines, business cards, and Dorothy’s October event calendar.

Eclectic art at the bar’s entrance features portraits of Judy Garland and a sparkling frame displaying the iconic ruby-red slipper from The Wizard of Oz.

Luis chats with a customer during a quiet moment at the bar.

Games and books fill a shelf for customers to enjoy during their visit.

Seen through the outdoor patio ordering window, Tim and Luis work together behind the bar as they assist their first customers of the day.

Tim pours an Australian GSM from Kalleske Wines, a family-owned Barossa Valley winery known for organic and biodynamic practices, paired with Australian meatballs enriched with Vegemite to highlight their umami flavor.

Luis pairs soft pretzel bites and mustard dip with a 2022 Grüner Veltliner from Camins 2 Dreams, founded by the wife-and-wife duo Mireia Taribó and Tara Gomez, whose winemaking honors land, labor, and cultural lineage. The wine’s acidity cuts through — Luis pairs soft pretzel bites and mustard dip with a 2022 Grüner Veltliner from Camins 2 Dreams, founded by the wife-and-wife duo Mireia Taribó and Tara Gomez, whose winemaking honors land, labor, and cultural lineage. The wine’s acidity cuts through the saltiness of the pretzels and balances the tangy mustard.

Outside Dorothy’s Wine Bar, the front door is propped open as an “open” sign hangs in the front window, where Luis is seen talking with a regular.