An Interview with Co-owner Jenn Picciolo
By Krista Martinelli
AW: How did you decide to expand upon the Cugini Wine Tasting Rooms and open up The Cellar next door?
JP: We love the tasting rooms, but we knew that it was a great opportunity to expand. There are simply not enough venues in Wellington. We can accommodate 30 to 120 people. Our back space accommodates 80 people. We have a bar lounge and a cigar lounge. We enjoy the entertaining part of it. Our RTDs (Ready To Drink, like the espresso martini) are on tap now. We serve wine by the glass or by the bottle. We offer beer too. It took roughly 80 days to transform the space into The Cellar, after working around the clock. We are located inside the Polo Club in Wellington, downstairs from The Stallion restaurant.
Editor’s Note: See the very last sentence of this article for Grand Opening info!
AW: What kind of experience do you want customers to have? Is it a speakeasy?
JP: Yes, it’s a speakeasy/ cigar lounge. It’s a unique experience; we always want people to have a happy, memorable experience. As far as my background, I love helping people. I’ve worked in food & beverage, education and country club event planning. “Cugini” means cousins. We’re all part of the family, cousins. We want you to feel like you’re coming home. It’s like Cheers – everybody knows your name. As for events, if you can dream it, we can do it!
AW: What else do you serve at The Cellar?
JP: We have a full coffee bar with cappuccino, espressos and other caffeinated drinks. We also have non-alcoholic drinks like Hive drinks made with honey (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), Italian soda and regular soda. We offer beer on draft, made by Cugini Joe.
AW: What kind of events or special evenings will you be having?
JP: We will be celebrating St. Patty’s Day and having a St. Patty’s Day brunch. Wednesdays we have our burger special. Happy Hour every day (hours still to come). We will have a Sip n Roast on March 15th, lamb roast with Chef Bengala Ngobene. We also offer small charcuterie boards for purchase on a daily basis.
Planning an event? Stop by or call to schedule a tour of The Cellar. We would love to make The Cellar at Palm Beach Polo your favorite place. It’s a unique experience and our staff is ready to spoil you!
AW: Tell us about your staff.
AW: Do people need to be called into the gate at the Polo Club? JP: We’re open seven days a week. Just say you’re going to The Cellar or Cugini Winery and show your photo ID.
AW: What’s the difference between Cugini next door and The Cellar?
JP: Cugini Wine Tasting Rooms are open from 11am to 7pm daily and by reservation only. These tastings include homemade bread, charcuterie, truffles plus our wines from Calabria, Italy.
The Cellar is open every day, no reservation required. You can order food from the menu from The Stallion (upstairs). We also offer menus from Alacruz, Ranchero Argentina and Juan’s market. For special events, we bring in appetizers.
AW: What have some of your customers said about The Cellar?
JP: They say it’s a unique experience. We always know their name and make them feel like family. The Cellar reminds them of Cheers. Very fitting. Our bar reminds us of Cheers too.
AW: Tell us about yourself, Jenn. How did you get into this business?
JP: I moved here a year ago from Jensen Beach and I’m widowed. I had two friends’ birthdays coming up. I looked around and found that there was a winery in Wellington, to my surprise. After tasting the wine, I became a wine club member and met owner Bob Reyers. He was looking for help. I was looking for a job.
In my 20s, I worked at the Polo Club in Boca Raton and the Boca Hotel, planning events. Today, Bob Reyers and I are partners on The Cellar side of the business. I love my job. It keeps me very busy. It’s like a family here.
AW: Tell us about your RTD Dance Parties.
JP: The RTD varieties include: Espresso Martini, Lecello (like limoncello), Moscow Mule, Strawberry Margarita, Skinny Margarita, Grandma Margarita, Mojito, Angelica, Old Fashioned, Kafe luna and Grand Mal.
You can reserve a Cocktail dance party for 20 people with 1 host. Or you can reserve it for 30 to 40 people with 2 hosts. You get a fabulous DJ. You get to pick 5 RTDs for the evening. We serve snacks. It’s a 4-hour party. Normally it’s $150 per person, but with our Grand Opening, it’s $100 per person. Gratuity not included.
AW: Anything else you’d like to share?
At The Cellar, we have a pub, cigar lounge, event space and humidor that holds 15,000 cigars. Ishmael (of BAMF cigars) owns the humidor, and his background is in the military and working with law enforcement. He has a passion for cigars.
In our event space, we plan on having weddings, meetings, baby showers, bar mitzvahs, quinces, retirement parties, anniversaries and more. We’ve already had a few successful events. We offer valet parking with most of our events.
To visit, The Cellar, go to The Polo Club and go straight, following signs for Golf Bag Drop. (for now, until we get our signs posted). We are downstairs from The Stallion.
Thursday, February 20th is our Grand Opening from 5pm to 8pm. Saturday, February 22nd is our cigar lounge grand opening from 1pm to 6pm. We look forward to seeing you!
The Cellar at the Palm Beach Polo Club
Call (561) 943-7971
