So it is no coincidence that the Dilly Deli was named amongst the Top 50 beer bars in the country by BeerAdvocate.com, the only establishment in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana to be recognized.

But to call the Mariemont business a “bar” is a misnomer; it is actually an aggregate of a beer, wine, retail store and restaurant, catering to all people of all ages.

“The Dilly Deli is able to draw people to its uniqueness and garners us the recognition of having a good reputation with the customers,” Chuck Warinner, who along with his wife, Robbie, own the establishment, said.

Located 6818 Wooster Pike and adjacent the patio of The Strand, the Dilly Deli was among the first tenants to set up shop in the renovated building in 1996. Approximately 16 months ago Chuck and Robbie added the wine room which now has an ingress and egress facing Wooster Pike. It has been in business in Cincinnati for almost 20 years.

Asked what the best wine available at the Dilly Deli is, both owners shrug their shoulders.

“They all appeal to different people,” Chuck said, adding there many variables involved in a person’s opinion of a good wine and a finer wine. “Basically, it may depend on what type of day it is, the company you are with, the meal you are eating, the weather, your mood ... and so on.”

Ultimately, no matter how confident a person is on their cognizance of wine and its finer qualities, the learning process never ceases.

“We deal with over 20 wine and beer representatives a week. The education is continuous,” Robbie said.

“You can never say you know all there is to know about wine because it changes every year,” Chuck adds.

Like many people with a thirst for becoming a wine conneoisseur, Chuck and Robbie had to start from the beginning.

The two of them did not possess any prior knowledge of wine until they became business owners.

"We just had to start asking questions, studying, tasting, experimenting ..." Chuck said.

The two of them met in college and dated five years before marrying. Chuck was studying to become an engineer and wanted to pursue a career working with the river industry.

"The river industry was undergoing huge recession. I compare my situation to that of an aspiring actor living in Los Angeles," he said, "working in various restaurants just to pay the bills."

Working in restaurants was the foundation that would lead to a revised vocation.

"When this business went up for sale, the two of us decided to purchase," Chuck said. "I guess you can say we were embarked on a certain course."

DYK: The most expensive bottle of wine presently available at the Dilly Deli is regular-sized bottle of “100 Acre Cabernet” for $269.

Robbie said she and Chuck take pride in the fact that every bottle of wine sold at the Dilly Deli is marked up only $4 from its retail price.

DyalsoK: The absolutely most expensive bottle of wine you can purchase from the Dilly Deli is “Domain Romacee-Centi” for $3,300. That bottle of wine, however, is not located within the store; it must be ordered.

With the advent of Spring and Summer’s warm weather, the patio outside the Dilly Deli will be open Wednesday, April 27. There is also live music every Friday and Saturday, ranging from jazz to folk to Celtic and anywhere from solo performances to four-piece ensembles.

For more information on the Dilly Deli, visit their Web site at dillydeli.com or call 561-5233 for more details.