Two women, six sommeliers, and a vision to make wine approachable in St. Pete’s Grand Central District.
Inspiration & Beginnings
Savoir on Central began as a dream between two women who met through Leadership St. Pete in 2019. Sharon Mahoney was deep into her WSET Diploma studies, while Christina Noordstar was fresh from two decades in restaurant franchising and brand development.
“I was inspired by Sharon—we’d been talking for years about a concept like this because she’s so well studied,” Christina said. “To build a place together—it was dreamy. And now we’re sitting in the dream.”
For Sharon, the vision had been forming for years. She knew she wanted to make wine approachable, but the right space never came along—until Christina called her to see the Central Avenue location. “We walked in—with the high ceilings and everything else—and I was like, I see chandeliers… I see marble… I see black and white.”
From Concept to Community
The old space was hardly glamorous. Formerly a cannabis beverage shop, it was painted floor-to-ceiling turquoise, complete with rainbows and raffia bamboo.
But Sharon and Christina saw past it. “We saw the classroom that could be created with this long, lean bar… and the intimacy possible with the spacing,” Christina explained.
That mix of vision and persistence became the foundation for Savoir: a place designed not only for drinking wine, but for conversation and education.
A Team of Sommeliers
Unlike most wine bars, Savoir was built around a full sommelier team—six in total, each bringing their own specialty. Sharon had known most of them for years through studies, events, or shared friends.
“You build your network, and you keep it close,” Sharon said. “Renee and Rochelle were part of the original conversations. Rochelle is the OG of wine in St. Pete—she had the first wine bar, A Taste for Wine. And Robert came through a distributor—he walked in and I was like, yeah, you’re hired.”
Christina added: “Sharon exudes care—and everyone feels it. Everyone is happy to work with her. It’s hard to leave here… it doesn’t feel like work.”
The lineup now includes Italian specialists, natural wine voices, and Maggie, who brought her following from ABC Fine Wine & Spirits. And then there’s Rico, an award-winning cheesemaker from New York, who now builds food pairings for the classes.
“He’s so passionate,” Sharon laughed. “He even wanted to flambé dessert and I had to say, nope, no flambéing in this building.”
The Wine Club
At the heart of Savoir is its monthly wine club, designed to make exploration approachable and engaging. Memberships are available in five tiers, ranging from one to three bottles, with pickup parties held the second Tuesday of every month.
“Wine club pickup is always a celebration,” Christina said. “Every month feels like its own little release party.”
Members enjoy discounts on bottles, classes, and food, plus early access to special events that often sell out quickly. The wines themselves are handpicked by the sommelier team around a monthly theme.
“This month we featured Aligoté from Burgundy—the ‘other’ white grape,” Sharon said. “We love introducing wines that sommeliers are excited about but many people may not know yet.”
Unlike many clubs that ship the same bottles to everyone, Savoir’s is flexible. Sommeliers work with members to tailor selections—whether that means only reds, only whites, or even sweet wines.
Wine Education, Elevated
Wine education is the driving force behind Savoir. Sharon’s teaching style is rooted in storytelling and accessibility.
“Everybody learns differently,” she said. “It needs to be fun. I once even fell asleep in a class with a Master Somm—not because I was tired, but because it was so dry. I want people to discover wine for themselves.”
Christina added: “We wanted to build a space that’s elevated but approachable—whether you’re a beginner or a super connoisseur. We’re built for the entire spectrum.”
Sharon’s global perspective filters into every class. “French was my first language—I’ve picked grapes in Bordeaux, stepped in puddles, been bitten by bugs. Every vineyard has a story… and great wine starts in the vineyard.”
Why Central Avenue
The choice of location was no accident. Christina and her husband have owned the building for over 15 years, watching Grand Central evolve into one of the city’s most dynamic districts.
“The building is 100 years old, originally owned by a woman, E.B. Howard, who lived upstairs and ran a salon for working women in the 1920s,” Christina said. “We want to honor that history while building something modern. The time is now for Grand Central.”
Sharon added: “Grand Central respects architecture and has its own vibe. Plus, it’s one of the only parts of Central that shuts down blocks for events like Halloween on Central—it’s a true community.”
Final Sip
Savoir on Central is more than a wine bar. It’s a space where sommeliers, community, and wine education come together—led by two women who chased their dream and brought it to life.
As Sharon put it: “We invite everybody to come for a glass—and stay for a class.”
👉 For more on the WSET path, see my feature on taking the Level 1 course in Tampa.
