Clifton Wine Shop Celebrates Anniversary

The Clifton Wine Shop and Tasting Room will be popping some corks to celebrate their two-year anniversary.

“It’s been going really well,” said owner Julie Thompson. “I feel blessed.”

Their anniversary is on Saturday, and with it will be a wine tasting from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.; customers can also nibble on some finger foods. 

Getting into the wine business has been successful for Thompson, who first got into wine in 2003 when visiting family in California with her husband. They visited film director Francis Ford Coppola’s vineyard and became enamored.

“I knew nothing about wine,” Thompson said. “But we went down into a cave where the tasting area was set up, I saw how everyone was enjoying the experience, and I thought, ‘How can you not be happy with a job like this?'”

A few years later, and Thompson and her husband were living the quiet life in Clifton when the space at 7145 Main St. became available. Thompson was working as a stay-at-home mom.

“I got to fulfill my dream of owning my own business,” Thompson said.

So the wine shop opened, and Thompson said her vision for the store was an intimate setting where customers would have no fear of asking questions.

“I wanted to take away the stigma of wine being a snooty thing,” Thompson said. “You can like what you like and you don’t have to make excuses for it.”

Thompson decided she wanted customers to offer a selection of boutique wines. She only sells wines that are produced with 5,000 cases or under.

Recently she started a wine club for customers, who get free tastings, can get two bottles of wine delivered free to members who live within five miles of town, for a monthly fee of $34.99. The club membership has doubled in the last year, up to 75 members.

“I have great support from Clifton and customers who support small and local businesses,” Thompson said. “I have so much gratitude for them.”

The Clifton Wine Shop is located at 7145 C Main St. Their website is www.cliftonwineshop.com.