We were asked recently...What we do...Why we do what we do...Why did we open a wine shop in Breckenridge...How do we feel connected to the Community...

These are our answers:

Q: What type of business do you run, and what do you sell or provide to your customers?

My husband and I own Ridge Street Wine/ Breckenridge Cheese & Chocolate. We opened in 2000 and just celebrated our 12^th year in business.  In the beginning Ridge Street was a retail wine shop in an old 1880’s house on Ridge Street. We opened Breckenridge Cheese & Chocolate in 2005 to complement the wine shop.   We moved to our current location in 2007. We have 22 seats for Wines by the Glass and cheese plates.  We serve wines by the Glass and cheese plates every day. On Wednesdays and Fridays we have our own sort of Happy Hour...where we feature wine flights and cheese pairing specials.

 

Q: Why did you decide to start a business in Summit County?

I grew up competing in skiing and travelling all over Europe and North America.  When I retired, I knew Breckenridge was where I wanted to be….to start a life and be part of a community. For a few years I worked as a Wine Rep…selling wines to restaurants and liquor stores around Summit, Grand & Routt Counties. I quickly got tired of my car and decided to go back to Europe for a winter. I found a small wine shop in Chamonix, France that only sold wine…no beer or booze.  It occurred to me that Breckenridge needed something like it…. a place that focused on boutique wines from around the world…a place where you weren’t getting run over by kegs being transported out the door…a place that cared about small production/quality wines that where delicious and interesting.  I wrote a business plan and opened Ridge Street Wine 6 months later.

 

Q: What experience do you have in this field and how does it apply to your business?

I worked as a wine rep for several years before I opened my shop. I worked for a small distributor that represented wines from small producers from around the globe. The people who owned the company were very knowledgeable and eager to educate their staff. They took us to California every year…to Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Santa Cruz Mountains, to Monterey…we saw the vineyards and the winemaking facilities and met the winemakers. I read books written by the importers we represented and I passed the first level of the Court of Master Sommeliers in 1998.  I am always reading about wines and trends in the wine industry…and always trying new wines. It is a continual project.  My husband and I travel to different wine growing regions as often as we can…to Sonoma, and Napa…to Burgundy, The Rhone, Bandol, Cinque Terre, Tuscany, and Piedmont. It is our passion to learn and to understand wines and the wine industry. We meet with reps on a weekly basis…and we are always reading to learn more…so that we stay on the pulse of the industry and keep bringing new and interesting wines from small producers to our customers.  We bring in wines to the shop that we find interesting, unique and delicious...and represent value. Our goal is to have an amazing variety of wines for the price. Our selection is always changing.

 

Q: What sets your business apart from similar Summit County businesses?

There is no other boutique wine shop in Breckenridge.  We have been in business for 12 years…and have a wonderful local following as well as a great clientele that come in year after year when they are in Breckenridge on vacation.  We have the Enomatic Wine Preservation System upstairs in our wine bar. It keeps the wines we serve tasting as they should. We offer distinctive, hand chosen wines by the glass and ½ glass…it is an unparalleled wine experience in Summit County.  You can sit upstairs and have a glass of wine and share a cheese plate with friends…and if you love the wine you can go next door to the wine shop and take it home. We also sell amazing cheeses and artisan chocolates.

 

 

Q: What people are you trying to reach in Summit County and what can you do for them?

Our goal is to reach people who enjoy wine, cheeses and chocolates…who are looking for something new and interesting to bring to their table.  In addition…we are here for the Breckenridge experience…we are a unique shop that brings amazing wines, cheeses and chocolates to our town… to take home or bring as a hostess gift.  In addition we offer a relaxed environment to sit down après ski and enjoy some great wines, cheeses and chocolates with friends in the heart of town.

 

Q: Is your business involved in the Summit County community and how?

Our shop is located in the center of Breckenridge.  We are located across from Patagonia.  My husband and I have lived here for over 20 years.  We love this community and we wanted to bring great wines …cheeses and chocolates to our town. At the beginning the mission was to be the place you came to on a daily basis …for an amazing bottle of wine. That mission remains the same… to be a daily stop….like a coffee shop or a bakery.  We love sharing stories and hearing what our customers are up to…what happened earlier in the day etc. We love to hear about the amazing run they had on the mountain…their new job…or baby….what their kids are doing…what plans they have for the future etc.  My goal has always been to be connected with our clientele…to understand where they are coming from…what their needs are and how we can help them find a great wine or have a quality experience in our shop. In addition, I teach classes at the Colorado Community College...to share my knowledge, passion and experience with the community.

Q: Do you have plans for changes or growth in the future?

Our big change was 5 years ago when we started offering wines by the glass. We hope to continue that growth… by hosting more parties….family reunions, bachelorette parties, holiday parties. It is a great location for local businesses who want to celebrate their employees…or hold casual company meetings.  We’d love to see more local faces as well as more visitors enjoying a casual night on the town with amazing wines.  Our goal, for 2013 is to get more people to come in and enjoy what we do.

 

Q: How does your business relate to the real estate industry in Summit County?

Breckenridge is an amazing town filled with shops and local shop owners. It is a real town…with brick and mortar small businesses.  Small business keeps this town unique.  People want to live in a real community. Our shop is a hub for conversation and a quality experience.