on the venture.

To ensure success, they have named the business after the mythological god of wine.

Bacchus is owned by wine distributor Thierry Cabot and his wife Julie Sylvester Cabot, through their company Bermuda World Productions Ltd., and by lawyer John Sharpe and his wife Fong, through their business New World Wines.

Bacchus is located on Reid Street beside Frank Schmitz's recently opened French restaurant Le Figaro.

The new shop offers wines from select French, New Zealand and US vineyards, and combines Mr. Cabot's knowledge of French wines with Mr. Sharpe's interest in New Zealand and US wines, Mr. Cabot said.

With a "market style'' approach, the shop's selections will evolve with quality and availability, he said.

"We are also importing specialty foods like foie gras and other delicatessen items from France.'' Mr. Cabot started importing wines to Bermuda, specifically from the Loire Valley, two-and-a-half years ago.

But the move to open a store would not have been possible without a business partnering with New World Wines, he added.

He also said that demand for fine wines in Bermuda continued to grow.

Bacchus would focus on "making contact with the client,'' he said.