Christafette
A 1970 Renault Estafette adapted into a wine bar on wheels, “Christafette” has a classic and timeless design that could compliment any event or party. Loaded with 3 wine fridges, 2 draught beer taps, multiple wine racks and a stunning solid oak bar, she is fully functional in addition to being beautiful.
A visually stunning and fully functional wine bar on wheels, Chris is a great asset for weddings, private parties and corporate events, please reach out to find out about having her at your event.
Chris also makes a charming addition to public events and festivals, programmers please get in touch.
The Team
Sebastian Squire
It’s fair to say Sebastian fell into the wine world by chance. First some stints in hospitality in the UK and Australia provided him the opportunity to try extensive wine lists. Then, when the opportunity to work full time in wine came up, he grabbed it with both hands. After some years passed, in which Seb completed his WSET level 3 and carried out many wine tastings and ran bars at external events, he felt like there was something missing from the industry. Around this time Seb had a chance run in with Leo. They began reconnecting, particularly at their favourite wine bar of that era (where Seb was also working at the time) and they started tossing around wine business ideas that would soon evolve into Through the Grape Van.
Seb has such a grasp on the ins and outs of every detail of the wines he serves, one may say that his memory impresses, just don’t ask him where his keys are!
Leonardo Robarts
Leo’s introduction into the wine world started at a young age when his father would hold tastings at their house after arriving back from wine trips to Burgundy. Many years later he began dating his now wife, an American who was living in Rome at the time and doing a wine course there. It was then he started getting excited about learning not only about the wines he was drinking, but also about the people behind the wines: the winemakers, their experiences, expertise and techniques. Since then Leo’s approach to expanding his knowledge is all about going to the source of where the wine has been made and meeting with the farmers and producers all around the world. It’s safe to say Leo is a people person who loves being behind the bar, regaling customers with stories of his travels.
The Story of The Grape Van
As ‘90s adolescents growing up in Cambridge Leo and Sebastian first met at the local skate parks. As young men they fell out of touch after each moved away to explore the world, reconnecting in 2015 when they found themselves living back in their hometown.
Now young adults with refining interests they reconnected through a new shared passion – wine. After many an hour spent chatting over many a bottle of wine in a cosy, distinctly continental feeling wine bar located adjacent to the River Cam, they had the idea that delivering that experience to others in the UK would be a worthwhile ambition.
After a long search Leo and Seb found Christafette in the foothills of the Brecon Beacons. Already nearly 50 years old at that time, she was in quite a state! A 6 month trip to Sheffield for her fold-out-bar hatch cutting and a full paint job set her on the right path. Once she was delivered to her new home in Cambridge the hard work on her interior began. Leo and Seb engaged many local craftsmen as well as using their own elbow grease to bring Chris back to life. Once a trusty work horse run around van, she has surely been given a new lease on life as a mobile wine bar.
The result: a stylish bar on wheels specialising in wine tastings and offering artisanal drinking experiences in which wine lists, cocktails and beer selection can be customised to suit a variety of tastes and budgets.
