The Jefferson County Chamber chooses to recognize a member in the category of “New Business of the Year” to distinguish those who have the entrepreneurial zeal and backbone to open a new business.    Tonight we have the honor of sharing the story of this year’s recipient.    

 

When Mary Decker and Kim Pentes chose to open a new retail wine store in Wintersville, they hoped their concept for a wine store would reflect their personality, style, and warmth.   Valley Wine Cellar opened in November, 2007 - just in time for the holiday shopping season.  Kim and Mary filled their store with unique wines and specialty beers from all over the world, introducing many of us to new tastes that we’d never experienced before.   Their business experienced tremendous initial growth and, after just six months of operations, they saw the need to expand and doubled their store size.

 

Today, Valley Wine Cellar includes a built-in tasting bar, racks of wine displays, and a comfortable seating area.   The space transforms from retail store to a relaxed environment during their wine tasting events.   Whether focused on international wines, sharing new wines from an obscure location, or hosting winemakers and vineyard owners, their wine-tasting events are usually packed.     It’s not uncommon to see 40-plus people mingling, discovering new wines, and enjoying the company of friends during a weekend tasting.  

 

Valley Wine Cellar introduces to the Ohio Valley a retail concept that goes far beyond ‘just retail’.    Take one step into the store, and you realize these owners sincerely love what they do.  Novice customers are put at ease and gracefully welcomed; connoisseurs find world-class options at their fingertips.  The owners’ joy is contagious and their love of family and friends is obvious.   They take personal satisfaction in sharing wine and life with everyone who comes into the store.