In the fall of 2024, Virgin Hotels New York gave the green light to Aitana, an upscale Latin American-Mediterranean concept that was located on the 4th floor. The menu was created by Executive Chef Freddy Vargas, based on his Ecuadorian heritage. The menu featured many elements of his childhood, including his grandmother’s shrimp ceviche. The wine list focused on showcasing Latin American fine wine selections from Brazil, Uruguay, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile. We sourced wines from many different vendors that specialized in smaller wineries and rare grapes, making the selections fun, unique, and educational. In addition to Latin American wines, we highlighted the classic New World and Old World regions, including Champagne, Napa Valley, and Burgundy, while including fun wines from Mallorca, Lebanon, and Greece. I also created a small, but mighty, by-the-glass list for the hotel’s 39th floor speakeasy, Riff Raff Club.