vinaio

wine merchant, wine seller

noun vee-NAH-yoh Rare

Origin: From vino (wine) + the artisan suffix -aio.

Usage Note

Vinaio denotes a person who sells wine, either from a small shop (vineria) or a market stall. In Tuscany and other wine regions it remains a common word; elsewhere enotecaro or simply the owner of an enoteca is used. The feminine form is vinaia.

Examples

"Il vinaio consigliò un ottimo Chianti."

Natural Translation

The wine merchant recommended an excellent Chianti.

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