After decades of serving quality steaks to the Sarasota community, Alpine Steakhouse started a new chapter in its journey by opening a temperature-controlled 2,200-bottle wine cellar a few years ago. “It’s been a vision of mine for about 15 years,” co-owner Matt Rebhan explains. “Being able to properly store and pour wines at the proper temperature, we’ve really stepped into a whole other tier, a whole other level of wines.” Since opening the wine cellar, Alpine has been hosting pop-up tastings and exclusive events within the space. Rebhan highlighted that Alpine can accommodate private dinners of up to six people in the room as well. “People have the whole room to themselves right in the middle of the wine cellar,” he says. The addition has also added to the overall dining experience at Alpine. Now, guests are encouraged to pair wines from the cellar with the restaurant’s USDA Prime steaks. “We have wines now that are more challenging to get and are on a more exquisite level,” Rebhan adds. “People see that and they say, ‘Wow, maybe I should have some wine with my steak.’” Alpine Steakhouse’s new wine cellar represents what the restaurant is all about: creating an elevated experience for guests while staying rooted in hospitality.  —O.Fanders  4520 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, 941-922-3797, alpinesteak.com