About Us!

About Ryan...

My name is Ryan W Kennedy, and I'm the owner and operator of Vin Ami. Vin Ami is a personal passion project of mine to bring high quality and otherwise unknown wine to SWLA. I started my journey into wine at the age of 18 (don't tell my mom...), and I've quickly expanded my knowledge since. I'm now a level one sommelier, and I'm also WSET II certified. My focus in on small production, family owned wineries that overdeliver in their dedication to quality wine. Anyone can pick out expensive wine, but finding those inexpensive wines that pack a punch I where I believe I excel.

As wine director at Bodega Restaurant & Wine Bar, I've brought back multiple awards, including the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, Star Wine List White Star Venue Award, and several local awards.

What Vin Ami means to me...

Vin Ami literally translates to "Wine Friend" in French. My goal is to be your trusted source for finding new and unique wines without being that annoying sommelier that looks down on your preferences. I prefer to be the cool friend that's always making you try new wines to get you outside your comfort zone. I guess you could call me your Vin Ami.

As a more personal meaning, Ami (pronounced ah-me) is what I call my grandmother. She's really who got me interested in wine. This store is dedicated to her for always pushing me to get outside my comfort zone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Got questions? We got answers!

Is Vin Ami related to Bodega Restaurant & Wine Bar?

Yes! Vin Ami is a retail outlet for a lot of what Bodega has to offer, but our ownership is different.

Can I bring wine from Vin Ami into Bodega?

Yes and no. Bodega offers a wide range of wines, and anything already offered by Bodega is not available for corkage there. Vin Ami will offer some exclusive wines that will be available for a reduced corkage, though!

Can you special order wine for me?

Got a favorite wine you're having a hard time finding? Well' let me do the hard work. I'll do my best to find your wine at an acceptable price from one of our many wholesale partners! Click the 'Special Orders' tab to submit a search request.

Do you host tastings?

We do! The best way to know when our next tasting is is to follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

Places I've Been

From Napa Valley, Willamette Valley, and more, the romance of winemaking is alive and well. If you're interested in visiting any of the places I've been, I'd be happy to share my itineraries and insights!