The folks at Corvina Wine Company have (literally) rolled out something adorable and new at their wine bar and retail shop at 6038 W. Lincoln Ave.
La Piccola Corvina (The Little Corvina) is the name of their newly restored vintage Italian Piaggio Ape, an adorable three-wheeled lite commercial vehicle equipped with taps to serve up wine, beer or batched cocktails.
“We were in Italy a couple of years back and my wife Roxanne was looking for design inspiration for the wine bar,” says Frank LaSusa III, who owns Corvina with his brother Joe. “While we were there, she noticed all these cute little mobile wine bars, which were set up all over on the narrow cobblestone streets”
Inspired by the idea of adding a mobile element for wine bar events, both on premise and off, they began a search for a similar vehicle, eventually finding one for sale on the East Coast.
“We gave it some love and care,” says LaSusa “Roxanne came up with design elements for it, and then we handed it over to the guys at Mike Juneau's Brookfield Buick GMC and they brought our vision to life.”
The vehicle, which is painted vintage Vespa white, features a handy cabinet showcasing six taps, plus room for glassware, that can be hooked up to serve wine, beer or housemade cocktails.
“We’re doing more and more events, both on premise and off,” says LaSusa. “And with this, we’ll be able to offer premium wine packages and cocktails that can be transported to a wide range of events, including corporate gatherings, weddings and events.
Interested guests can get more information about securing La Piccola Corvina for their next event by heading to the Corvina Wine Company website and filling out a contact form with basic details. From there, someone from Corvina’s staff will reach out with additional information.
Of course, even if you’re not hosting an event, it’s always a great time to stop by Corvina Wine Company for a glass of wine (or two with friends). The wine bar will be extending its patio season again this year to accommodate guests with both indoor and outdoor options, as well as plenty of wine to go around.
Corvina is open Tuesday through Thursday from 3 to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 3 to 10 p.m.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
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