00:00So, could you just give me a bit of background about the business, just how do they come to be and what was the original idea behind the wine bar?
00:09I think it's, I've always been in the wine business since 2011 in Belgrade.
00:17Then once I moved in here, I decided to open the wine bar and that included craft beer as well.
00:26Because my first business was importing the craft beers in the country.
00:31I've always been into the wine, but when I moved to England, it was five years ago, I saw so many people enjoying craft beers.
00:41So, I was like, you know what, I'll try to bring some craft beers over and then try to wholesale them, support the businesses.
00:52Then COVID happened and then at the time I only had a license to supply businesses.
01:00But because all businesses have been closed down, I was like, okay, what can I do now?
01:06Then I just started selling the craft beers directly to the people.
01:12Then, yeah, that went well.
01:14And then I decided to open the, it's a wine bar, but also it's having the craft beer as well.
01:23Two years after I opened Nico Bar, I import the first winery to the UK.
01:32Then just flying around the country, try to explain about the Serbian wine.
01:37Because we had a long history of producing the wine and then that was two years ago.
01:45That one import went well.
01:47Obviously having a bar helped me promote everything and just give people opportunity to try something different, try different wines.
01:56And then now at the moment we work with 11 wineries, biggest importer of the Serbian wine in the UK.
02:03And our first business are wholesale.
02:05So we supply the restaurants all over the country.
02:08So would you say Serbian wine is a bit of a hidden gem when it comes to,
02:13because I think a lot of people associate certain wines with certain countries, but maybe Serbia doesn't come up on that list.
02:19Do you think you've kind of found like a unique business in that sense?
02:23Yeah, I think it's a unique, it's a two sides.
02:27It's the first thing of Serbia been producing the wine as long as France.
02:32The most common question even we had yesterday, the wife had saying,
02:36Oh, I didn't know Serbia produced the wine.
02:38Yes, we've been producing for ages and ages.
02:41Then it's a two side.
02:43One side, okay, it's something unique, something what no one else do.
02:47It'll be easy.
02:48You go there and then you're going to have some exotic wines from Serbia.
02:53Some of the people, even they don't know where is Serbia, mixing with the Syria, etc, etc.
02:57But another side, it's saying Serbian wine.
03:01Hmm, I'm not sure.
03:03I never tried before.
03:04Now me, how trying to convince them to just try the wines.
03:10And what I always saying, once they try Serbian wines,
03:16the face they making, the feedback we getting from these wines, it's just incredible.
03:22It just make you push more, push harder.
03:24It's just a great feedback.
03:26Definitely.
03:27Yeah, so I saw the bar through TikTok in your series, the kind of fine dining on a budget.
03:33Where did that idea come from?
03:34And is that a case of kind of trying to get your name out there a little bit more?
03:39Honestly, I think that was just the one day I got the Sam.
03:45I don't know if he...
03:47Sam, you want to come to introduce yourself?
03:49So Sam, he working for me for last one year.
03:53He's a freelancer.
03:5421 years.
03:55No, for one year.
03:56No, 21.
03:58You are only 22.
04:01So one day we doing some work, always trying to be unique, doing some design,
04:06something what is interesting, how we can promote the Serbian wines in best possible way.
04:12And then he mentioned to me saying,
04:15Oh, Nico, have you tried this sardines?
04:17When you put a napkin in, put on fire.
04:20And I was like, you know what?
04:21I saw that, but I haven't tried it.
04:22But like, you know what?
04:23I will go to buy some.
04:25I will try it.
04:26So he go to buy some sardines.
04:28And I was like, you know what?
04:30Let's put on the video.
04:32So I just put the camera on.
04:33We put on the video.
04:34I was like, you know what?
04:35All this modern world and everything.
04:38You know, put on TikTok.
04:39Social media.
04:40It's interesting.
04:41We don't want other people about wine and all that stuff.
04:44Let's do something interesting.
04:45Oops.
04:46Sorry.
04:47Yeah.
04:48And we did that video.
04:50Then I was like, you know what?
04:52I think this will pair very well with this wine.
04:57So we took one of our wines.
04:59Paired with that.
05:00And it paired very well.
05:03It was off the cuff.
05:04Yeah.
05:05To begin with.
05:06It was just there.
05:08It's all that.
05:09And then I think after that, the video after video.
05:12It's all about people can enjoy within the budget at home or outside.
05:18Whenever.
05:19In the park.
05:20Do not need to spend lots of money.
05:22And still feel these fine dining moments.
05:25And pairing with a good wine.
05:27So, you know, how many people can afford to go every day to a fine dining restaurant.
05:32And spend a fortune.
05:34I was like, you know what?
05:35If you're at home, you don't need to cook.
05:37You can just put all together.
05:38Have a good wine.
05:39And still have a good moment.
05:40Have a good moment.
05:41Would you also say there was like that educational element.
05:43Like what wines pair well with certain foods as well.
05:46Because I was kind of getting that impression from the video.
05:48I think.
05:50In actual honesty.
05:51It was an idea that was.
05:54We just came up with.
05:55And kind of.
05:58And just kind of resonated, I guess.
06:02But on reflection.
06:03I think, yeah.
06:04It's about.
06:06It's about educating people about what pairs with what.
06:08It's about promoting the wines that Nico imports.
06:12And sort of doing that in a fun, engaging way.
06:15That people might quite like to watch.
06:18And also.
06:19I think one of the problems.
06:20Not just with Serbian wine.
06:22But with wine generally.
06:23Is that people think it's like a.
06:25A thing to be scared of.
06:26A thing that you can't quite touch.
06:28Not quite sure what to do with it.
06:30And I guess we're just trying to show that.
06:32Alright, we call it fine dining.
06:33But really it's just a few ingredients that we throw together on a plate.
06:36And it's just something not to be scared of.
06:38Something that you can engage with.
06:40And that does pay off.
06:41You know, you can have like an enjoyable moment.
06:43For not very much money.
06:44But that is a thing.
06:45It's only because.
06:47If you see our caption.
06:48It's saying.
06:49Fine dining.
06:51Probably will beep in there.
06:52But that.
06:54That is a true.
06:55In what way.
06:56We have to remember.
06:58Food.
06:59Wine.
07:00And everything.
07:01All in this industry.
07:02Bars.
07:03Restaurants.
07:04People going there.
07:05All because of the pleasure.
07:06To have a good time.
07:08Same as we mentioned before.
07:10You shouldn't be scared about anything.
07:11Asking anything.
07:12If you want to have a wine.
07:13Fine.
07:14And a steak.
07:15That is absolutely fine.
07:17If that much good for you.
07:19If spare well for you.
07:21You don't want to expect.
07:22To waiter or sommelier on the table.
07:24Saying.
07:25Oh you know what.
07:26You should have a red wine.
07:27With a steak.
07:28Why?
07:29Because end of the day.
07:30You paying for that bill.
07:31You want to have a good experience.
07:33And anything you think.
07:35Or anything you want to eat.
07:37And any wine you want to choose.
07:38It's right.
07:39Yeah.
07:40That's it.
07:41I think wine.
07:42As a whole.
07:43Can feel a bit restrictive.
07:44Can't it?
07:45Like when you don't know.
07:46So much about it.
07:47But I think your videos.
07:48And your kind of attitude.
07:49Towards it.
07:50Is quite open.
07:51You can just.
07:52Have whatever wine you want.
07:54But that is also many things.
07:55Many times.
07:56Even behind the bar.
07:57Saying people is like.
07:58Oh you know what.
07:59I drinking a white wine.
08:01And then I can feel.
08:03To people a bit scared.
08:04Like okay.
08:05What wine you like.
08:07Do you want acidity.
08:08Do you want something fruity.
08:09Do you want dry.
08:10Semi dry.
08:11And then they feel more comfortable.
08:13But that always should be like that.
08:15And then coming to the price point.
08:17I always asking.
08:18How much you are willing to spend.
08:20But doesn't mean.
08:21How much you have in your pocket.
08:22No.
08:23How much you are willing to spend.
08:24At this moment.
08:25Yeah.
08:26I want to spend 15 pounds.
08:27For a bottle of wine.
08:28Okay.
08:29This 15 pounds bottle of wine.
08:30Decent wine for that price.
08:31And that's it.
08:32So don't be scared.
08:33You're paying for that.
08:34And then.
08:35You come in to enjoy.
08:37When it's some fine dining restaurants.
08:39You're having someone.
08:40Serve you in the white gloves.
08:41And be like.
08:42Really strict.
08:43Really official.
08:45Like oh.
08:46Yeah.
08:47I will pay this.
08:48This is not free.
08:50And then you just want to feel comfortable.
08:52I think the other thing.
08:53The other thing.
08:54About it is that.
08:55In the UK.
08:56Nick is obviously from Serbia.
08:58I'm from Preston.
09:00Estonia.
09:01But the.
09:02I've worked in the wine industry.
09:04A long time.
09:05And I've traveled.
09:06And I've lived abroad.
09:07And in the UK.
09:08We don't have a wine culture.
09:10Like they do elsewhere.
09:11We don't have.
09:12We don't have.
09:13We don't have the same culture.
09:14Of just.
09:15Of sitting out.
09:17In the middle of the day.
09:18Or just after work.
09:19And having something.
09:20Quick to eat.
09:21With something.
09:22Just a glass of wine.
09:23Not like.
09:24You know.
09:25We finally got an all or nothing culture.
09:26We either don't do it at all.
09:27Or it's like.
09:28A mad one.
09:29Too much.
09:30Yeah.
09:32It's something that.
09:33I miss.
09:34Or I.
09:35Miss from.
09:36Having traveled.
09:37Around.
09:38And we don't have it here.
09:39And the sort of regret.
09:40That we don't have it here.
09:41It's something that Nico misses.
09:42About.
09:43Like.
09:44Life in Serbia.
09:45I guess.
09:46Versus life here.
09:47And so.
09:48We're also just trying to promote.
09:49That sort of more casual.
09:50Responsible.
09:51But.
09:52But.
09:53But.
09:54But like casual approach to.
09:55You know what.
09:56It doesn't have to be.
09:57It doesn't have to be a Friday night.
09:58All out.
09:59No.
10:00It doesn't have to be a Friday night.
10:01It can be.
10:02It can be.
10:03It can be.
10:04But on Tuesday.
10:05You've got to be like.
10:06Oh you know.
10:07You know.
10:08It's not an all or nothing culture.
10:09You're having a glass of wine on Tuesday.
10:10Like.
10:11Oh what's wrong with you.
10:12Yes.
10:13I just having a glass of wine.
10:14And also having your lunch.
10:15Yeah.
10:16There's nothing wrong.
10:17It's a different way of living.
10:18Having a glass of wine.
10:19On your lunch break.
10:20Can be seen as a much more casual thing.
10:21Yeah.
10:22Yeah.
10:23Exactly.
10:24And it's how it always should be.
10:25That's it.
10:26So.
10:27Yeah.
10:28And then again.
10:29As long.
10:30Obviously.
10:31Other side.
10:32We like to promote the business.
10:33Something unique.
10:34What we do in the country.
10:35It's the biggest importer.
10:36The Serbian's wine in the UK.
10:37But.
10:38It's also.
10:39You don't feel the pressure.
10:40Being like.
10:41OK.
10:42If you do this.
10:43Or if you do that.
10:44So we want to involve.
10:45Other chefs.
10:46We want to involve.
10:47Master chefs.
10:48Doing the videos with us.
10:49Just.
10:50To give more confidence to the people.
10:51So you can still spend.
10:52Five pounds.
10:53Yeah.
10:54And have a good experience.
10:55Yeah.
10:56Yeah.
10:57Yeah.
10:58Yeah.
10:59Yeah.
11:00Yeah.
11:01Yeah.
11:02Yeah.
11:03Yeah.
11:04Yeah.
11:05Yeah.
11:06Yeah.
11:07Yeah.
11:08Yeah.
11:09Yeah.
11:10Yeah.
11:11Yeah.
11:12Yeah.
11:13Yeah.
11:14Yeah.
11:15Yeah.
11:16Yeah.
11:17Yeah.
11:18Yeah.
11:19Yeah.
11:20Yeah.
11:21Yeah.
11:22Yeah.
11:23Yeah.
11:24Yeah.
11:25Yeah.
11:26Yeah.
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