A brand new off-sale wine retailer named DIA Natural Wines is making its way to Studio City, located at 12080 Ventura Pl.
The new 576 square-foot store is expected to open sometime in Summer 2022. Co-owners Marissa Adele Rodriguez tells What Now Los Angeles she hopes to open sometime between mid-July and August, but the permitting process makes it hard to officially say. She started DIA with her mother, Lydia, to serve delicious wine from sustainable farms, guaranteeing guests know exactly what’s in each glass. The new store will move into the corner of Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Ventura Plaza, joining Yeastie Boys Bagels and Backyard Bowls.
“Over the years, my mom and I have had an ongoing discussion of how we could work together,” Rodriguez tells What Now Los Angeles. “My mom has been a healthcare worker for the last 40 years, and I am a producer that started as a costume designer; we both come from very different worlds. After Covid hit, we went from daydreaming to getting serious about doing something together.”
On top of the various natural wine, this shop will also offer various wine products, homeware, artisan goods, ceramics, and small gifts. When guests walk in, they can expect the elegance of nature, designed by William Hunter Collective. The owners wanted the design of the shop to embody all things natural. William was able to take raw, natural woods and materials and bring them to life in a way that highlights their natural beauty.
Everything in the store, from the wine to the cabinets the bottles are on, is handmade by craftsmen. Rodriguez says natural wine itself is a labor of love for a winemaker and speaks to not only the way the wine was made but how it was grown and harvested. There is an incredible amount of thoughtfulness, respect for nature, and detail that goes into the wine, and Rodriguez wants DIA to have the same ethos.
“Last year, I moved back to CA from NY,” Rodriguez continues. “I settled into Studio City, and I missed having a local natural wine shop. I had to get on a freeway and sit in traffic to find what I was looking for. So, there was sort of an ah-ha moment between my mom and I, who both share a love of natural wine, to basically Field of Dreams it.”
When this new wine store opens, it will have some tough competition from local and national retailers. Along the always-busy Ventura Boulevard, a block away from Dia Natural Wines, is BevMo!, Flask Fine Wine & Whiskey, and Vintage Wine + Etas. The new business will rely on its unique selection and expert knowledge to help customers find any specific kind of wine.
“We are excited to be a part of the community in Studio City,” says Rodriguez. “We will be open on Sundays during the Farmer’s Market, and we look forward to sharing Natural Wine with the neighborhood.”
