A wine bar where you can pour your own is about to debut in Fort Worth: Called Salute Wine Bar, it's a wine bar-restaurant with wine on tap, opening at 212 Carroll St. #130 in the Foundry District.

The bar will make its soft opening on January 26. It's going into the space previously occupied by 38 & Vine, another wine bar that closed in April 2023.

Salute is from husband-and-wife Jyl and John Lopez, who've left the corporate world to venture into entrepreneurship. The couple, who live in Aledo, dreamed of owning their own wine bar for 15 years before making the leap.

Turning 50 was the final push, says Jyl. "I was working for a great company, but once I hit my birthday, I realized it was finally time to go for it," she says.

The name “Salute” has a double-meaning: It’s not only a popular toast around the world to mean “health” in multiple languages, but is also a nod to John's military career. He spent 10 years in active duty in the Air Force and is now a reservist.

The duo renovated the space, adding a full bar and a turbo chef kitchen. The space came with an innovative dispenser system that allows customers to serve themselves a taste or full glass of wine, affording the opportunity to sample before deciding on a selection for the night, with 42 selections from across all regions: France, Italy, Spain, California, and Texas.

The tastings come in three sizes — 1-ounce, 3-ounce, or 5-ounce pours — and range in price from $1.40 to $10.

“I wanted to make it affordable to everyone who wants to try something new,” Jyl said.

In addition to self-serve, there is a bar with traditional service where customers can order wine by the glass or the bottle. There's also a menu of shareables to pair with wine, including flatbreads, a meat and cheese board, Caesar salad, Italian meatballs, and desserts such as tiramisu and cheesecake, also very affordably priced from $7 to $24.

The Lopezes want Salute to be gathering place for the community, where people can share a love of wine and great conversation. They plan to host regular events with winemakers and also rent out space for private parties.

They already have a tasting event on the books on Thursday February 1 at 6 pm featuring Jan Shuermann, owner and winemaker at boutique winery Château de Gensac in southwest France.

“We’ve been to every wine bar in a 100-mile radius and talked to the owners to find out what’s working and what’s not,” Jyl says. “I want people to give me suggestions. I’m open to trying new wines and concepts and seeing how they do.”