Vito Pasquale Reserve
Laguna Beach Est. 2013

The pour, the pairing, the quiet certainty of a great table.

Vito Pasquale is an Advanced Sommelier and Wine Director for Selanne Steak Tavern and its private eight-course counterpart, VIII by Selanne. Over a decade in Laguna Beach. Ten consecutive Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence years. One quietly obsessive standard.

Reserve the Experience The Philosophy
10
Years, Wine Spectator
Best of Award
3,000
Bottle cellar
400 selections
CMS
Advanced
Sommelier
Vito Pasquale, Advanced Sommelier and Wine Director, mid-service
✦ Vito Pasquale · Wine Director, Selanne Steak Tavern ✦
Wine Spectator · Best of Award of Excellence 2017–2026 ✦ Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas — Advanced ✦ Featured in Orange Coast, Forbes Travel Guide, Greer's OC ✦ Curator, VIII by Selanne — Eight Courses, Eight Pours ✦
The Philosophy
"

The perfect wine pairing for a multi-course meal should never leave you stumbling from the table. It should leave you basking in the glow of a meal prepared flawlessly — where the wine accents, never overwhelms, the culinary passion delivered with each plate.

Vito Pasquale · VIII by Selanne
Chapter I & II · The Craft

The art of classical decanting, in one seamless motion.

A sommelier's hands do the talking. In this piece from @viiisommelier, Vito cleanly parts a mature wine from its sediment — the kind of quiet precision guests at Selanne Steak Tavern and VIII by Selanne see at their table every night.

  • I.The art of classical decanting, explained.
  • II.Wine parted from its sediment in a single, seamless pour.
  • III.Eight wines, eight courses — pairings built into every plate at VIII by Selanne.
Follow @viiisommelier

Tap to watch on Instagram · @viiisommelier

VIII by Selanne

Eight courses. Eight pours. One evening, pitched like a symphony.

Tucked inside the historic Brayton Laguna Pottery building, VIII by Selanne is the intimate, weekend-only counterpart to the tavern next door. Chef Vince Terusa builds the plates. Vito builds the pairings. From a Mosel Riesling that lifts kampachi crudo, to a grand cru Burgundy that carries the closing courses — every glass is chosen to accent, never overshadow.

I

The Canapés

Akami tuna cornet with avocado crema. Beef tartlet. Pomme dauphine — a playful homage to the tavern's steak-and-potatoes DNA.

II

The Crudo

Kampachi on green apple consommé, chili oil, cilantro flowers, finger lime. Poured with a Schloss Lieser Riesling from the Mosel.

III

The Middle

Dungeness crab cappelletti. Lamb dressed in squash blossoms. The pacing sharpens; the wine deepens with it.

VIII

The Crescendo

Grand cru Burgundies. Large-format bottles. Handcrafted ceramics by Laguna Beach artist Kyle Caris. Then, quiet.

Reserve on Tock Selanne Steak Tavern
Credentials & Recognition

A decade of the same standard, measurable in ink.

CMS
Advanced Sommelier
Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas
X
10 Consecutive Years
Wine Spectator · Best of Award of Excellence
Wine
Dir.
Wine Director
Selanne Steak Tavern · Since 2013
VIII
Curator, VIII by Selanne
Eight-course wine experience · Laguna Beach
400
Selections on the list
3,000
Bottles in inventory
13
Countries represented
1,830
Restaurants worldwide honored with Selanne in 2026
In the Press

What critics and guests actually say.

"

An impressive young man with a distinguished and professional air, yet still very cordial and freely conversant and enthusiastic about wine. His presence immediately signals that you are in capable hands.

Rusty Gaffney
Orange Coast Magazine
"

Ask Vito Pasquale, wine enthusiast and sommelier, to curate a bespoke wine pairing and be prepared to be blown away.

Forbes Travel Guide
Laguna Beach Dining Guide
"

Each seasonally inspired course — from kampachi crudo to Dungeness crab cappelletti — is expertly paired by advanced sommelier Vito Pasquale. The pacing is exquisite, like a well-orchestrated symphony.

Nancy Luna
Orange County Business Journal
"

The wine program is led by Advanced Sommelier and Wine Director Vito Pasquale and is particularly strong in California and French wines.

Greer Wylder
Greer's OC
"

Our 3,000-bottle inventory of 400 carefully chosen, diverse wines features selections from California and France, as well as curated options from Washington, Oregon, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, Argentina, Germany, Austria, South Africa, Portugal, Canada and Australia. The list is designed to appeal to all wine lovers — their palates, pairing preferences and spending desires.

Vito Pasquale
Certified Advanced Sommelier
"

We salute Certified Advanced Sommelier Vito Pasquale and his team — highly honored to receive the Best of Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator.

Teemu Selanne & Kevin Pratt
Owners, Selanne Steak Tavern
✦ ✦ ✦

Come for the steak. Stay for the pour.

Vito is on the floor most evenings at Selanne Steak Tavern in Laguna Beach. For the eight-course VIII by Selanne experience, book on Tock — seats are limited to a handful of tables per night.

Reserve VIII by Selanne Call · (949) 715-9881
Selanne Steak Tavern
1464 South Coast Highway · Laguna Beach, California 92651
Dinner nightly · Sun–Thu 5:00 – 9:00 pm · Fri–Sat 5:00 – 10:00 pm
Call Reserve