Having arrived at the urban loft office of Winestyr in Chicago I couldn’t help but appreciate that there will be wine waiting for me after I climbed up what appeared to be the stairway to Heaven (think scores of steep steps going straight up in a building which is one hundred years old). But you don’t have to climb those steps at 666 W. Hubbard to have some delicious wine at affordable prices. You only need to find their website, select from a wide variety of craft wine, and wait for it to be delivered to your door (for no more than $10.00 shipping-ever!)!
The guys behind Winestyr are fun, personable, intelligent, and passionate about their concept. Bob Wilson, CEO/Co-Founder is also a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW), John Wilson, COO/Co-Founder is an attorney who knows his wine law, and Scott Washburn is Director of Sales and Business Development. Pooneet Kant, VP of Product and Marketing is an admitted competitive wine taster, and Mark Glenn, CTO, is the resident computer guy. A collective entrepreneurial spirit with solid university and grad school backgrounds, these guys are making the idea work. And they all know about wine.
I was invited to visit the space, learn about their concept, and taste some wine in conjunction with a book signing which I’ll be writing about next week!
- The space with its high ceilings, brick walls, and hardwood floors is perfect for these four Millennial wine lovers to do their research tasting wine and discovering which boutique wines will be perfect for you, the consumer. Each wine offered on the site is swirled, sipped, and savored by Bob, John, Scott, Pooneet, and Mark (when he isn’t working on the software). They are adamant about only offering unique wines that are delicious and which offer quality for the price.
- And the concept? This startup brings craft wines which aren’t nationally distributed directly to the consumer for no more than a shipping charge of $10.00…anywhere in the United States. Because Winestyr has already vetted the wines for quality and price, you can choose wines based on the occasion (Date Night, Girls’ Night Out, Gifts,Celebrations etc.), your preference as to the type of wine and price point, or the wines offered from specific wineries. Naked Winery in Hood River, White Oak Vineyards and Winery in Healdsburg, Luna Vineyards in Napa, Ehret Family Winery in Sonoma, and Olson Ogden Winery in Sebastopol are just a few wineries on the list which is growing rapidly since more and more boutique wineries are buying in to the concept as much as the consumers!
- Three wines were available for tasting at the event. The 2011 OM by Oliver Marshall Sauvignon Blanc from Napa was crisp, light, acidic and had a touch of the New Zealand taste which so many people love. At a price of $18.00 this wine is perfect for spring or summer sipping! From Yakima Valley, Washington, the 1.5 litre pouch of Piccola Chardonnay was lightly oaked and balanced. Put the pouch over ice in a cooler and take to the boat, a picnic, a music festival, or…anywhere! One pouch is the equivalent of two bottles and price is only $21.00. Our last wine was the 2010 Desert Wind Winery Cabernet Sauvignon from Columbia Valley, Washington. Full bodied and more earth than fruit aromas and tastes, this wine is a great value for $18.00 and will pair beautifully with some juicy burgers straight off the grill.
The Winestyr website is streamlined and informative for anyone wanting to learn about the wines offered in a non-pretentious way. As CEO Bob Wilson states, “We wanted to create a platform what would benefit both producers and consumers of wine. Our goal is to allow wineries to tell their story and provide customers an accessible avenue to discover great craft wines that generally aren’t available on their grocer’s shelves.” Promise to check out Winestyr and enjoy some boutique wines at affordable prices without ever leaving your home or climbing up scores of stairs…because Heaven will be knocking at your door!
Cheers! ~ Cindy
