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Long before there were wine bars in every neighborhood. Heck, before there were wine bars at all, La Cave du Vin (2785 Euclid Hts. Blvd, 216-932-6411) had carved out a niche separate and distinct from the clubs and beer bars on Coventry – and in Cleveland – thanks to its worldly wine catalog and selection of far-flung brews, available from self-serve coolers at the far end of the grotto-like bar. For 23 years, La Cave du Vin has been a delicious anomaly in Cleveland Heights, where college-aged coeds often got their first sip of good hooch, always served with a sidecar of great conversation.While there have been various owners, managers and staffers over the years, the mission has always remained true: to serve as a grown-up alternative to the puke and punch palaces that typically represent college-bar communities. From its earliest beginnings in 1994, La Cave du Vin has been the hospitable, subterranean wine cave where many of us first learned about the Bavarian purity law of 1516 and what the hell “Meritage” actually meant. Of course, we have Erich Lasher to thank for much of that and more as the house expert on all things beer, wine, motorcycles and other esoteric factoids.Owner Laura Honeycutt Baxter announced today that La Cave du Vin will close its doors on Sunday April 29.“It’s with mixed emotions that I must announce that La Cave du Vin will close its doors after almost 23 years in business,” she says. “While I am immensely sad that this era has come to a close, I am filled with pride to have called this place home for almost half of my life.”At present, there's no word on what might become of the space.