Grape Expectations

A local winery spills its start-up secrets

Written by Rachel Luman
Photo by Mark Susan

When deciding to open their own business in Scottsdale, Cory and Christina Whalin wanted to get it right. They found a business concept that was missing from the surrounding area and took advantage of pre-established branding. Their smarts and savvy have brought Scottsdale its first winery, located in the heart of Old Town.

Tucked into a business corner near Main Street and Goldwater Boulevard, Su Vino Winery is a perfect fit among art galleries and cultural attractions. Passers by are invited to taste specialty wines and enjoy appetizers such as cheese trays, antipasto and stuffed dates, as well as cheesecake, stuffed strawberries and Fairytale Brownies for dessert. The large space features bright windows and high-top tables, along with an impressive 27-foot-long bar that serves as a tabletop for wine tasting and leisurely happy hours.

But the highlight of the venue is its role as a full-blown winery. Large stainless steel fermenting tanks glisten on the raised floor near the shop’s south end. A workbench equipped with mechanics and tools for corking and bottling gives away the amount of hands-on work being done in the winery. A carefully monitored storage room holds hundreds of bottles at the proper temperature and humidity until the wines are ready for drinking.

Su Vino’s Scottsdale location is the second installment of the award-winning winery founded in Grapevine, Texas. Not only has the business won over 36 medals for their wines, but they are the first winery in the Scottsdale area and the first to offer customers the opportunity to have wine made specifically for them and their palate.

“People are tired of having their tastes dictated to them,” says owner Cory Whalin. “They want to have a say in taste and not just [be told] what label to buy.” That’s where Su Vino really comes through. “Using my wine as the starting point, [I’ll ask] would you like more oak or less? Are you a fan of the robust upfront oak or the subtle vanilla-flavored oak?” From these tasting notes, customers are invited back to taste their customized wines after two to five months of aging to make sure the flavor and finish is just right. Once a wine is approved, the wine is then bottled, corked and finished with a customized label designed by the customer. The customer is involved in the wine-making process every step of the way, bringing every bottle’s individual character to a new, more personal level.

Family-owned-and-operated, Su Vino, Scottdale, took advantage of pre-existing brand recognition, high-profile awards, and a licensing agreement with vineyards that supplies the grapes necessary for creating a consistently good product. In terms of advertising and customer approachability, presence on the web has been the number one medium for Su Vino Winery. At their website, customers can learn more about Su Vino, make large or small wine orders, customize labels for gifts and events, and even purchase wine accessories.

With a great start, the Whalins hope to expand their business. “We’re getting this location established and then going from there,” Whalin said. “We are always looking to the future and [exploring] different options and locations.”

Through the bustle of building a business, the company vows to never lose its number-one focus: taste. “Drink what makes you happy and how you like it!” Cory insists. “If you’re in the mood for a white wine and your eating red meat, then have a white wine with your steak. For every expert out there saying to [drink wine] one way, there’s another who says that way is wrong and you should do it his way and buy his book.”

To experience Su Vino for yourself, stop by for Relaxed Wine 101 every Tuesday through Friday, 4-6 p.m., and Ladies Night every Friday, 5-10 p.m.

Su Vino Winery
7035 E. Main Street, Suite 110, Scottsdale
480.994.VINO (8466), www.suvinowineryaz.com

Make Your Own Wine
Homemade wine is easy to make and works well for casual drinking or cooking. You will need a sterile milk jug, a large latex balloon and a rubber band to complete the project. Keep in mind that homemade wine can be a bit stronger than the store-bought table version.

Ingredients:
1 (.25-oz.) package active dry yeast
4 c. sugar
1 (12 oz.) can frozen juice concentrate (any flavor except citrus), thawed
3 1/2 qts. cold water, or as needed

Preparation:
Combine yeast, sugar and juice concentrate in a gallon jug. Fill the jug the rest of the way with cold water. Rinse out a large balloon, and fit it over the opening of the jug. Secure the balloon with a rubber band. Place jug in a cool, dark place. Within a day, you will notice the balloon starting to expand. As the sugar turns to alcohol, the gasses released will fill up the balloon. When the balloon is deflated back to size, the wine is ready to drink. It takes about 6 weeks.

Note: Use a frozen juice concentrate without added sweeteners for best results.