Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 21, Number 12, 1 December 2004 — 'Closet' local wine drinkers' delight [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

'Closet' local wine drinkers' delight

Recipient of an OHA loan for Hawaiian-owned businesses, the Wine Stop has become the toast of the town by helping inexperienced customers refine their palate

By Sterling Kini Wong Liane Fu's immersion in to the world of fine wines ean be traced to one moment six years ago when she washed down some foie gras with a glass of Pine Ridge 1997 merlot and had, as she called it, "a cathartic experience." "It was the perfect pairing of food and wine," said Fu, who prior to that moment had only dabbled in wine. "It took me to a whole another dimension. A door was opened." Several years later, in September 2003, with the help of an OHA Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund business loan, Fu opened another door, this time to her new wine boutique, appropriately called the Wine Stop. Located in a quaint old house a hloek past the McCully Zippy's on King Street, the store offers connoisseurs and novices alike a one-stop shop for everything needed to enjoy wine. Kim Karalich, Wine Stop's beverage buyer, said they have been

discovering that a lot of loeal people are what she called "closet wine drinkers." "A lot of loeal people are interested in wine," she said, "but they just don't know how to piek it out." To help elevate customers' wine knowledge, the shop offers free tastings every Saturday from noon to 4 p.m., and wine seminars on various Sundays, whieh cost between $15 and $25. Fu said the seminars help explain often esoteric wine terminology and culture, and teach people how to pair wines with food. "The idea of pairing wine - cooking, eating and drinking with friends - is very loeal," she said. Fu, who is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools, said she would have never been able to open the Wine Stop without her OHA business loan. The Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund (NHRLF) was created in 1988 to expand business ownership and employment opportunities for Hawaiians through lending and entrepreneurial

training. Since its inception, the NHRLF has disbursed 371 loans totaling $16.1 million. While the Wine Stop also has collections of specialty scotch, bourbon, sake and micro-brewed beers, wine is definitely the main attraction. The store features over

400 wines from 13 different countries, as well as bottles from domestic and loeal wine makers. Fu said she tries to interact with customers to get a feel of what they're looking for. "We try to create a relationship with our customers so we ean get to know their tastes and what they like," she said. Karalich added, "We try to teach people that wine is not just about getting a buzz. It's also about the taste, amhianee and experience." The Wine Stop offers several gift baskets that are perfect for the holidays. Baskets range from $35-$75, and custom baskets ean be created according to budget and taste. The boutique also has a wine club, with members receiving special wines and discounts. For more information about the Wine Stop, visit their website at winestophawaii.com, or eall 946-3707. For more information on OHA's NHRLF, eall 594-1752. ■

Pā'oihana

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Wine Stop owner Liane Fu

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