We’re still celebrating all the local businesses you voted the best! This month we’re highlighting The Winery on Kent Island, which you voted Best Liquor Store and Best Boss. We talked to owner Jennifer DiDonato to learn a more about their new drinks, their delivery service and more!
One of the unique things you all do is tastings. How do you choose what you use for tastings? Do you have any coming up?
We do beer tastings every Thursday from 4-7pm and wine tastings every Friday from 4-7pm. Typically we choose new products to taste or something that goes along with the season or a holiday. Occasionally we will taste new spirits. We have a GREAT Elijah Craig 10 year Winery Barrel Pick tasting coming up on Friday, June 9th from 4-7pm. We also will have a custom engraver there that night engraving the Elijah Craig bottles. They make a wonderful Father’s Day gift!
Any new products that you recently started stocking?
We’ve got many new additions to our 90+ Wine Section. So many, in fact, that we recently expanded this section in our store. Every wine in this section has been rated at least 90 Points by a wine expert. Each bottle is labeled with the rating and a detailed description of the wine. It’s really a GREAT place for customers to expand their knowledge of wine.
Do you have a personal favorite of the products you offer?
Well, I always tease that I have the best “research & development” job ever. I get to taste almost all of our new products! Right now I’m hooked on Cava’s (Spanish sparkling wines) because I just recently visited Spain, but I’m also a fan of the new High Noon Tequila Seltzers that recently came in. They will probably be my summer go-to.
Deliveries are a really unique service that you offer; how does it work? What inspired you to do deliveries?
We have been delivering for quite a few years for large parties, weddings, graduations, etc. But our delivery service really started taking off during and after COVID. Many customers really seem to enjoy being able to place their order online and then either pick it up curbside or have us deliver it to their home. You can find out the details and place an order on our website: www.thewineryki.com
Are there any women who inspire you?
Women who are able to balance being a wife, a mother, and working or especially owning their own business inspire me. Maintaining that balance is extremely challenging, and I am in awe of those who do it so well. I myself work at getting better at it every day.
I am also inspired by women who are active in volunteering and charity organizations. I am proud to serve on the board of Bosom Buddies Charities with some fantastic women that I am fortunate to call my friends. There are so many wonderful organizations in our county, and I would encourage your readers to get involved. It’s truly so rewarding to give-back to the community.
What led you to joining the Power of 100: Chesapeake Women Who Care?
I was invited to join Power of 100 by a dear friend of mine who is one of those women who continues to inspire me every day. I have enjoyed networking at the meetings and learning about some very worthy causes. It’s a very simple way to make a BIG IMPACT locally. Again, I encourage your readers to join the group.
If you would like to learn more about The Winery you can go to their website here: https://thewineryki.com/. There you can see new arrivals, schedule a delivery and more!