The dining room closures spurred by COVID-19 prompted many Houston restaurateurs and wine bar owners to start thinking of new, creative ideas of what they could do to continue not only serving customers but expanding their culinary worlds and wine knowledge.

In the case of ROMA — located in a historic home built in 1939 at 2347 University — owner Shanon Scott turned to technology to bring the expertise of Italian wine makers to Houston by way of online guided tastings via Zoom.