Champagne and wine fans in and around West Hartford now have a unique place to call home.

Cuvee, a business specializing in wine, champagne, and small plates that complement the drinks, opened in Blue Back Square on Raymond Road across the street from Whole Foods Market three weeks ago. In that short amount of time, the lounge is already making a name for itself.

“We’ve done no advertising and it’s been very successful so far,” co-owner Todd Rose said. “We’ve had a lot of repeat customers. You can always get them to come in once, but to get them to come in a second time is a challenge – and I’ve had people come in here as many as five times. We’re very happy about that.”

Co-owner Steve Prokop, a longtime friend of Rose, both of whom grew up in Connecticut, looked at possible locations in Glastonbury and downtown Hartford but ultimately decided that West Hartford was a natural fit.

“When you look at the actual demographic of West Hartford, specifically Blue Back Square in a mixed-use facility, I think our place caters to it,” Prokop said.

Cuvee’s interior includes two environments. The champagne lounge features plush couches and chairs, soft lighting, and lush curtains. Prokop said the room is modeled after similar lounges in Manhattan and Europe.

The wine room, which Prokop described as “more masculine,” features two rows of round bar seating. There are also bar tables.

Cuvee, a French term referring to a tank of wine, offers more than 100 bottles of wine and champagne along with 30 wines by the glass. Rose said the wine list will continue to evolve and change because he wants to have something for everyone. There is also a full bar and Rose said the lounge is selling a large amount of sparkling versions of traditional cocktails, such as mojitos.

“Our wine prices are very reasonable,” Rose said. “You’re not going to find $15 a glass prices here. People won’t experiment if it’s too expensive, so we want to create an environment that’s conducive to experimentation, to open up their minds.”

Some of the small plate offerings include sushi rolls, salads, and burgers. Prokop and Rose said there is already a most popular item – lobster macaroni and cheese. Prokop said the small plates average around $7 each and that all items are less than $11.

“With the way the economy is, people don’t want to go out and spend $40 or $50 on a dinner each. ... Our whole goal is for people to come here, order two or three different plates, and share it,” said Prokop, a champagne enthusiast who looks to educate his patrons on champagne history and its production.

“Everybody loves champagne, and we want to make people realize that champagne isn’t just a drink to have to celebrate something. It pairs very well with food.”

Prokop, who also owns a Maine lobster business, focuses on running the business. Rose, most recently a freelance graphic designer, concentrates on the wine and food selections.

“We have very complementary skill sets,” Rose said.

Cuvee’s grand opening is August 8. Prokop estimated that tickets to the event will cost around $50, and 50 percent of the proceeds of every item sold that night will go to the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford.

The partners look to add an array of special events, such as live jazz on Tuesday nights and wine tasting. Rose would like to host classes on wine and food pairing, and bring in winemakers. The lounge is also available for private functions and charity events.

Cuvee accepts reservations for parties of four or more. Operating hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 4 p.m. to late. Cuvee is closed Mondays. For more information, log on to www.cuveewesthartford.com.