Billee Jo (Beej) Winskowski remembers her first taste of wine. The wine was dry, lemony and bubbling – a Prosecco. It’s Italy’s answer to refreshing, well-made, sparkling wine.
That first sip in 2005 changed her life. “I had never been wine tasting before,” she said.
Liking what they had experienced, Winskowski and her husband, John, began exploring the world of wine. “As we wandered around trying to find wines we liked we found it to be mysterious, confusing and a bit pretentious,” she said.
That experience blossomed into the idea of a business – that not only sold wine, but was a gathering place for the community. Armed with a business plan, something she learned is the first essential step when opening any business, the wine shop opened in January 2008.
“Included in my business plan was a study of demographics, knowing the competition, exactly what the costs are and what kind of return on investment I could expect,” she said. Because she would be serving food and alcohol that meant learning about and then following local, county, state and federal liquor laws.
“Not only was I dealing with the city of Mukilteo, but also Snohomish County and the state of Washington,” she said. “Also to consider were ‘blue laws’ that have been in effect since the early 1900s.” One example of a blue law prohibits allowing people to taste before purchasing, or selling spirits on a Sunday.
Winskowski quit her well-paying job at a Seattle bakery chain. Although she attended college to be a nurse, she never practiced it. And for eight years of her 20-year career at Franz Family Bakeries she was an account executive, selling bread and bakery products to grocery stores and restaurants. Once she quit her job at Franz in December 2007, there was no looking back.
Wine 101 — That Gathering place is located coincidentally in suite 101 of a strip mall in Mukilteo, Wash. Mukilteo is one of those upscale suburban neighborhoods where people live on golf courses, their kids go to award-winning public schools and residents have the discretionary income to spend on luxuries like wine.
“Even so Wine 101 is not pretentious,” said Bill Stiteler, a regular customer. “It has that Cheers flavor. A place where everyone feels comfortable and knows your name.”
Even through a down economy, the business continues to grow. “What sets us apart is our service,” she said. “In the wine business, there is a fair amount of competition. Everything from grocery stores to restaurants and we need to create an environment where people want to come and meet with their neighbors to drink, eat and learn about new wines,” she said.
Wine 101 specializes in small vintners and brewers from around the world and offers appetizers and desserts to share.
“Our mission is to promote the smaller, boutique wineries and breweries,” she said. “We carry incredible, affordable wines from throughout the Northwest, California, Australia, Spain, Italy and France. Come join us whether you want to learn about wine or teach us about wine.”
Click here for more information on Wine 101 — The Gathering Place.
