Business & Tech

Positano Owner Looks to Add Winery in Downtown Bethesda

Plans for a winery in downtown Bethesda are in the very early stages.

When Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot stopped by Positano Ristorante (4948 Fairmont Ave., Bethesda) on Friday to thank and commend owners Luigi, Angela and Jim Traettino for more than 35 years of service to Bethesda, Luigi Traettino—who founded the restaurant in 1977—had one particular question for the comptroller.

He said he'd like to get a permit to have a winery in the restaurant. 

"You've got it," Franchot—whose office is in charge of permits for businesses, including wineries, in Maryland—said.

"I would love that," Franchot added.

Traettino, who is from southern Italy (near Naples and Positano), has the space for a small winery in his downtown Bethesda restaurant—a dining room that also doubles as a function room in the back of the restaurant. 

Traettino also has the grapes, which he grows on land in Tappahannock, VA. The grapes currently are bought up by other wineries, but Traettino wants to produce his own wine from his own grapes in his own restaurant, which the comptroller praised on Friday for remaining a strong small business for more than three decades.

The restaurant already makes its own bread, pasta, mozzarella cheese and—among many other things—its own tiramisu, Traettino told Patch.

Are you excited about the prospect of a Positano Ristorante winery in downtown Bethesda? Tell us in the comments.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here