Tinto

Love trying new wines at Tinto — we tried a large handful of wines before we settled on our wine of the day, a happy Pinot Noir named ⁸⁰⁄₂₀. The store is literally joyful, with happy people to help you, share with you a story about the history of a wine and Keith to keep your tummy full and satisfied. This store is all about celebrating small and unknown vineyards and sharing a good deal with its customers. There really is nothing not to love.

I don’t know a lot about wine. Tinto people are just nice and I go in there thinking «this is gonna be expensive» but it’s not. With just a short conversation they know what I’m looking for. And then they ask would I like to try some. Duh

Tinto is a great place, I wish they would open up in Chesapeake. There are a lot of wines to try here with the price per glass based on the amount of the bottle. They also have a variety of meats, cheeses and small plates to compliment them. The only thing I am confused of is the pricing structure for the cheese boards. I received the $ 12 dollar cheese board to split with a friend, and we asked to have it split amongst the two of us. When I saw the receipt (on the IPAD) it say the total price, but I was reassured that it was split. When I returned home, the full amount was on my card. I assume that they charge that flat amount per person, but I could be wrong. I will definitely return for the wine but will be cautious to the pricing on the food.

My husband and I stopped in on a Friday night after meeting up with friends for dinner. Even though it was crowded, we were greeted with immediate service and a warm welcome.
Since it was our first time, we were given a small wine tasting and were paired with excellent selections of affordable, everyday wines. They truly are «The everyday wine experts.»
Service was fantastic and the wines were great. Can’t wait to go back and share the experience with a few of my friends.

Super fun and awesome concept! I have learned so much from the employees here. My favorite is stopping in to tell the staff what I’m having for dinner, tasting their recommendations and usually taking at least 2 – 3 home.

The fact that my husband used to travel 100% of the time gave me the chance to visit new cities. That is how I happened along some of these types of stores. So one day I was out running errands and I saw that this place was open. Living close by, I happen to be in Hilltop shopping area a lot. When I say a lot, I mean bike riding distance a lot. While out, I took a detour into here to see what the hoopla was all about.
What I understand this place to be is a place that finds out if you like sweet wines or dry wines, white, red or rose. They allow you to taste them, they educate you on what it pairs well with. This day, I was the only patron in the store. So they gave me some cheeses to try with the wines that I chose. One thing I forgot to mention, is they are interested in the price range you are interested in purchasing from. Seriously, what’s the use of selling you their most expensive wine if you new to the wine scene. This is a business so they are out to succeed.
You can purchase a membership here so that when they have date night specials, you will get information about it via e-​mail. Depending on the circumstances, they will do private tasting as well. I’m not sure how that will work, but however they handle it, it will work out fine. This place has been here almost a year. And retail space in Hilltop isn’t cheap so they will alter their business to make it work out in a profitable way. When I went home and told hubby I became a member, he had a fit. Only because he quit corporate America to start his own business and spending money on a membership is like throwing money out the window. But the way that I see it, I’m much more conservative with money than my husband is. So I splurged once.
I’d say that if your going in to see what the place is about, then walk in during an afternoon when it’s open. Don’t wait until a busy weekend night when no one has the time to talk to you about the store’s concept, you will have a negative experience there as well as give a their business a bad reputation and believe me, I was talking with the owner, can’t remember his name, but he is very much into making sure that your time there was well spent and that you leave happy.
I’d say that if you had weekend plans in the afternoon and it was cancelled because of the weather and you really don’t want to be at home cleaning, cooking or the never ending honey do or as I call it (honey dew) list. What a better time to give this place a try!
Personally I love this place, they put the customer first. I have always worked with the public, and in the past 15 plus years, I have seen the service, sales industry change their motto. It went from making the customer happy to making a higher profit margin from this time last year. With the fact that business motto’s have changed over the years, I’m extremely happy to be a domestic engineer. It gives me time to take care of family and a certain community managers or whatever this person’s title is now, look good. I guess that makes me Hampton Roads an unofficial cheerleader! Yay Road’s? Na, that really doesn’t work that well.

What a gem! We went on a double date here one weekend (we did make reservations). The employees and manager are FANTASTIC! They go through the wine and cheese selection once you choose which tasting you want to go with. It is not cookie cutter so they will be happy to customize it a bit to make sure you enjoy every glass. The selection is Old World and New World wines. I have found some holy grail bottles! The ambiance is extremely cute and minimal seating so it doesn’t get insanely packed. The staff are extremely knowledgable and the service is wonderful!
They do events each week which is great. The pricing is really good! I would absolutely recommend this place!

Excellent wine shop! Very accomodating, hospitable and knowledgeable. I’ve taken friends there several times now and a quick stop in becomes fun and laughter around the table sampling excellent wine and cheeses. Peter is always a great host. Never leave without a smile on our faces and new wines to enjoy. Will definitely keep coming back!

I’ll be concise: I no longer buy wine anywhere else. Period. There is nothing like Tinto. No pretensions, just a genuine love of excellent wine. And cheese! Don’t forget the cheese. It’s fabulous as well.
Price doesn’t define quality here. There is an excellent selection across all price points. If you want to learn more about wine, visit! If you’re an oenophile, you’ll love their selection of unique wines from small producers. I feel so lucky that we have Tinto in Virginia Beach!

Just stopped into this new shop in Hilltop West Shopping Center, Virginia Beach, VA. The owners are pleasant and friendly, their love of wine and cheese is very evident and the care they provide to their customers is outstanding. Great thing is how they set up the shop — by price point, instead of by origin or style of wine. Simple — pick and price point, tell Peter, Nina or Katie your likes or dislikes, have a seat in the chairs — great color — and sit a sip. How delightful, you can taste the wine before you buy, nothing is more frustrating that buying a bottloe of wine, only to get it home and find out… oh, that is not my taste at all… or well it is okay but… well not really type of thoughts jump through your mind. I tasted about 4 different wines, all good, and took home 3 bottles, 2 of one brand 1 of the other, it just so happened that they were all from Spain. Bought some nice cheese and sausage, arrived where I happen to be staying in VA Beach, opened the bottle, sip and enjoy. I do come to the area often, and will make this new shop a place to visit each and every time. So if you wish to sip for yourself, bring a bottle to a friend’s home, or a gift for a holiday/​celebration — head on over to Tinto’s I am sure you will find something to your liking — prices range from $ 10-​$ 35. There is a section for sparkling wines, and dessert wines that may be at a higher price range. Ask I am sure they will guide you through the store.

An elegant, innovative and fun concept right here in Hampton roads tucked away in Hilltop.
Best boutique wine shop in Hampton Roads, hands down. Where do I begin? The owners, Nina and Peter, moved from Portugal where they own and operate an inn. They created a spot for sustainers to have a wine experience. Peter is extremely knowledgable and helpful in selecting wines to your taste and your budget. Along with Yana, the cheese purveyor, Tinto is friendly, informative and passionate about their business and their customers — for that I will always come back!
The wines are hand selected from small, lesser known but by no means lesser quality vineyards. How much fun to discover a new Vintor and vineyard. And what an experience to try the wine before purchase as you learn about the particular grapes, vines and ground it came from.
What could make this experience even better? Complimentary chaputerie! Yes, you heard correct, you can taste the wines of a particular region or vineyard paired with exquisite cheeses selected by Yana. Could it get any better? It does. Tinto’s offers weekly wine tastings and wine pairings to explore various regions.
We will definitely be coming back, probably every week to pick up a bottle and taste new ones too!
Cheers to Nina & Peter!

Just did the wine and cheese night and I have to say it was fabulous! I highly recommend anyone who wants to open up their wine and cheese palette and discover new tastes. The prices are very good and the tasting is free.

Best selection of hard to find European wines in Virginia. Period.
Owner is amazingly knowledgeable and the friendly young lady that was working at the time we went in was just plain awesome. Very helpful and friendly.

When my friend and I stepped into Tinto Wine & Cheese to attend their Tuesday at Tinto Wine Tasting event we felt like we entered another country or another world.
Tinto was created by husband and wife owners Peter and Nina who spent many years in Portugal and came back to their home of VA just recently, to take the guessing out of wine shopping, by offering guests the opportunity to taste any wine they want before purchasing.
Many of my friends haven’t discovered the many depths and flavors of different wines because they don’t know where to start and don’t know what to buy. That’s one reason I love this place. Because you can taste a wine before you purchase it. That way you are guaranteed to be taking home a bottle (or more) of a wine you absolutely love!
The décor is modern yet classic, like a stylish friend’s home where an intimate party was taking place. Library-​like shelves are filled with wine bottles instead of books. And when we walked into this dimly lit room Peter greeted us like we were family.
There was a small crowd of what appeared to be affluent adults who thoroughly enjoy wine, enjoying each other’s company and conversation. I felt like I was home. I was sold.
If you attend during the Tuesdays at Tinto event, you will enjoy «samples, conversation and some great cheese along the way.»
This evening they were featuring Pacific Northwest wines including an assortment of Pinots, a Gewürztraminer, Cabernet and Petit Verdot blend, Riesling and a Syrah.
I’m a lover of full-​bodied reds with long legs, so I was pleasantly surprised to fall in love with the first wine presented: the Willow Crest Pinot Gris, a crisp, clean, dry white wine from Washington with a refreshing mix of vanilla, pear, melon and citrus.
Another standout was the Helioterra Pinot Noir from Oregon. With only 302 cases of this wine produced, it was a privilege to be one of the few tasting this well-​balanced libation with notes of sandalwood, jasmine and red current.
Since my friend Khalilah and I arrived to Tinto at the tail end of the party, the cheese display was near empty, but Nina, also Tinto’s cheese expert, responded quickly to our request and brought out two additional cheeses to try along with the reds.
We were both blown away by the white cheddar cheese from Quebec aged 7 years. Moist, creamy cheese melted on my tongue with a rich, sharp, pungent flavor. It would be perfect in a lobster mac or served with smoked meats, apples or grapes. Cheese does get better with age.
All wines are from family-​owned wineries that produce only handmade wines, and most are exclusive to Tinto. They also offer a Wine Club ($ 25 per year) that gives you access to Club prices, occasional wine events and a few freebies here and there. Of course, my friend and I became members, and I haven’t regretted it.
Every time I go on, they treat me well, and its always a quick trip in and out. However, if I wanted to stay and taste a few wines to find the right one for me, which I plan to do with my hubby soon who has decided he wants to join me and learn about wines, they’d give me/​us all they time I/​we needed. It’s a special place.
Although we were impressed by several of the featured wines of the evening, I reverted back to my first true love and asked to taste a Malbec.
They gave me two to try, and I decided on the Durigutti from Mendoza, Argentina. Its chocolaty, leathery tones blended with hints of dark berry flavors provided sensual, liquid luxury, like I like my wines. The Durigutti and and Gaudalupe rose’ are my go to wines that I now pick up monthly. In addition to the aged cheddar cheese that I can’t get enough of.
Tinto is not just a wine bar or a cheese shoppe, it is an experience for wine lovers and all of those who want to learn about and experience wines.
If you are a frequent wine drinker, I suggest spending the $ 25 on memberships before they have all the members they can take a stop the program. You get a 10−15% discount on any wine or cheese you purchase, and are invited to exclusive members-​only events and tastings.
While on that side of town, do what I do whenever I’m in the neighborhood, stop around the corner for some food shopping at Fresh Market (my go-to’s are the fresh produce, crab salad from the deli, lemon poppy muffins, cookies, and fruit tart) and some shopping (ladies only) at Esme, one of the best boutiques in Hampton Roads for the fashion savvy lady who prefers clothes that aren’t sold in chain stores or malls.
Fruitive Juice Bar also has some great, all-​natural drinks and a to-​die-​for chocolate mouse pie that unfortunately is seasonal and goes fast when available.
Happy eating and shopping!

Wonderful local shop. Really enjoyed our tasting hosted by the owner. Will definitely return!

Great experience and wonderful people, it is obvious Peter and his staff are interested in more than just a sale; but a customer.
I love the business model and Peter’s knowledge of little known wines and vineyards. I am so tired of the same old thing over and over and Tinto’s offers an oasis.
We will be regulars. Great job Peter.

Great place for great wine, cheese and meats! Highly recommend you will enjoy the experience and their knowledge.

If I were going to open a wine store this is exactly the way I would do it. The owner and staff are very knowledgeable and easy to interact with. The décor is modern and inviting. The wines are laid out around the store based on price which makes shopping easy. I would guess that they carry 75 – 100 different selections and you can taste any wine that you are interested in… They have gourmet meats and cheeses to compliment the wines. Bravo Tinto!

To start off with; Great, friendly, and helpful staff pointing me to some very good ones. I ended up coming home with two wines and one port. My only wish is a had a local selection of wine, but I do understand the reason for not having that. I highly recommend trying the Puerto by Quinta do Infantado Tawny. Long story short, great local place to stop by and talk about, a great thing, wine!

Recommended by a friend, I decided to stop by and say hi. Nicest owners I’ve ever met! And of course, they’re from Portugal!
The store is so neat and they have wines from all over, but it made me sooo happy they have some of Douro’s favorites!
Made me feel like a bit of my home and culture came to virginia beach.
I’m so glad I stopped by and I’m sure I will again many, many times soon!