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.
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 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.