Recognising that the trend for higher quality wines has increased, Fresco's Restaurant & Wine Bar has re-opened with plans to introduce Bermuda's first wine museum.

The popular restaurant based on Chancery Lane in Hamilton closed for renovations in August but the challenge for Frescos managing director Claudio Vigilante was to enhance the decor of the establishment without discarding its European old world charm.

"The quality of restaurants in Bermuda has increased tremendously and to stay on top in this highly competitive industry you have to constantly meet everybody's expectations as word of mouth can kill you," Mr. Vigilante said.

"The smoking ban presented a perfect opportunity to revamp the wine bar. Most of my regular clients smoke but the biggest complaint I received were from customers who said it was too smoky and crowded in here, so I had to come up with solution."

An outside wooden deck overlooking Chancery Lane is one of the features of the renovated wine bar, along with a temperature controlled wine cellar, a large board on display to offer a larger selection of wines by the glass and new furnishings.

"People are now more knowledgeable about wines and drink better quality wines, we are introducing a wine museum so that anybody that wants to learn more about wine and the history of wine will be able to look and discuss our collection of vintage wines," he said.

Mr. Vigilante said he planning to build alcoves displaying bottles of vintage wine and port and is working with a one of the most established wineries in the world, Cakebread Cellars & Winery based in Napa Valley, California, to find bottles for the museum.

He also looks at auction sites on the Internet to find imports and as a connoisseur reads the Wine Spectator on a daily basis.

"The restaurant trade is a very vibrant but people can get bored so when a new food trend starts one of the main challenges is to be ahead of new trends in the market."

Mr. Viglante said he is constantly looking for new ideas to enhance the selection of food available at Fresco's so when travelling he spends considerable time visiting many restaurants, looking at menu selections and observing restaurant interior design and colour.

He also networks with restaurant owners around the world and in Bermuda to find good staff.

"The influence of culinary magazines, TV shows such Celebrity Chef and The Food Network, means that everybody has become an expert on food so it is very important to be on the cutting edge of culinary developments."