Vienna Vintner's New Location Has Historic Roots

VIENNA, VA—Vienna Vintner moved to 320 Maple Ave East, a 1940s residence-turned-commercial-property. Since then new customers and returning patrons alike have stopped by and marveled at the site.

It's no wonder why when the business has become more than just a place to sell wine. Vienna Vintner's new home is not only a carefully preserved historic property but a place to offer innovative new services.

Upon first glance, the entrance is welcoming to pedestrians and drivers alike. A landscaped path connects the sidewalk, parking lot and the building, while hundreds of native Virginia plants added by Vienna's own Restore Nature surround the property.

Continue into to the stone building and you'll feel like you're inside a cozy little cottage. Of course, there will be aisles of wine selections and other merchandise. And it wouldn't be complete without a wine cellar downstairs.

But the home-like feel is there for a reason. Upstairs, you'll find a private event space where there are regular tastings and community fundraising events. On top of that, customers can even rent the entire building out for weddings, birthdays and other events, owner Victor Mendes told Patch.

That element is important when you're a business with four employees and situated across the street from a major grocery store.

"Allowing us to diversify into two models—as a retail spot and event space—allows us to stand out from some of our larger competitors," said Mendes.

Preserving the historic building proved to be costly but worthwhile. Mendes, who has run the shop for 20 years, began seeking ownership of the building when it became available in fall 2016. The building drew 12 bids, but Mendes believes he was ultimately chosen as the buyer because of his plans to preserve rather than develop the property.

Construction took about 14 months, involving everything from replacing plumbing and the electrical system, to repurposing materials and maintaining the charm of the old building. The new location officially opened in March and held a ribbon cutting in June.

"The Town of Vienna is great. It's a very supportive [community]," said Mendes. "As long as you keep giving them good wine recommendations, they seem to want to come back."

Visit www.viennavintner.com to learn more about the products and regular events.

Images via Patch editor Emily Leayman