St. Petersburg’s pioneering natural wine bar and bottle shop, CellarMasters, has officially closed. The news marks the end of a five-year run that helped shape the city’s modern natural and low-intervention wine scene.
Owner Ryan Rugg confirmed the closure to the Tampa Bay Times, saying, “the business is done.” The team also shared the update on Instagram, writing:
“Sorry folks, due to less than financially viable pass-thru and patronage… we out. Thanks for the party times, truly. But also think about your commitments to others in the future, because it means the world to them and their employees… 5/20/2020 – 10/15/2025. Really sorry I failed you all… won’t happen again – Ryan.”
Opened in 2020 by Rugg and Kory Lynn, CellarMasters quickly became a gathering place for wine lovers who appreciated its unfiltered energy and approachable style. The concept combined retail and lounge spaces.
The shop was among the first in St. Pete to focus entirely on natural and minimal-intervention wines. Its influence can still be felt across the city’s newer bars and hybrid shops that followed.
Rugg told the Times that hurricanes, new competition, and declining sales contributed to the decision to close. Even with those challenges, he reflected on what the team accomplished:
“We captivated a younger clientele at a time that was important, and hopefully that lives on.”
For many in St. Pete’s wine community, it will. CellarMasters was more than a place to drink wine. It helped define how the city approaches wine culture today.