THE idea of developing a wine culture in Guyana was always a topic for conversation when three good friends – Marcelle Shewjattan, Ravi Mangar and Varsha Sharma – took vacations together; travelling the world and never missing an opportunity to sample wines and even visit vineyards.

After toying with the idea for a number of years, the friends finally decided to consider it seriously and make it into a reality with the opening of ‘The Wine Vault’, located at the Marriott Hotel last July 1.

The retail wine store – the first of its kind in Guyana with its catchy advertising slogan “purveyor of fine wines” – seeks to introduce a vast array of wines from around the world including from France, California, Argentina, Chile and Italy.

Local wines are also on the shelves and a plan is in place to begin importing from Australia and Spain before this Christmas.

The original idea was simply to import wines to improve the variety available in the country, but in just roughly six weeks since its opening, the owners have already started distributing to some restaurants and bars in the city, thanks to the positive response they have been receiving so far.

“Each time we travel, we would think, ‘If only we had these wine experiences home in Guyana. Why must we only have them when we’re travelling?’ We would always say it would be nice if one day we can open a wine shop,” Shewjattan recalled in an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine at The Wine Vault.

The wine shop is not the main business for any of the three owners, as Shewjattan co-owns ‘Auto Fashion’ with her husband Rupie; and Mangar and Sharma, who are husband and wife, are the owners of Gizmos and Gadgets. Being the wine lovers they are, however, they were all bent on pursuing a wine business.

“The Wine Vault evolved as a hobby. It is our passion. We just want to provide a world-class service and put something different out there. We also thought of seizing the opportunity at this time with the influx of foreigners in Guyana since our oil find,” Shewjattan expressed.

Mangar also feels the same way, adding, “Our love for wines moved from just drinking it, to exploring the many regions in the world to find that ‘perfect wine’. We are also big foodies so we love to have a culinary experience paired with our wines.”

DOING THE RESEARCH

The friends visited Italy, Sonoma County and the Napa Valley wine region in California, among other places. “We visited vineyards and tried to figure out the winemaking process; the varietals, the grapes, the history; what makes one better than the other,” Shewjattan said, while adding that they would often seize the opportunity to attend wine seminars.

With the knowledge and experience gained from visiting vineyards and attending seminars, the trio is better equipped to train and educate both staff and customers locally.

“Our business plan does not just include buying and selling but it comes along with the three of us who have the knowledge and experience to pair our wines with any delectable food menu,” Mangar expressed, adding, “Our goal is to continue exploring new wines and introducing the wonderful world of wine to all Guyanese one glass at a time.”

He recalled how friends played a pivotal role in urging him, Sharma and Shewjattan to pursue the idea of a wine business. “Our friends would think we are crazy to be so obsessed with smelling and tasting the wines, rather than just drinking them only. With the passion they saw, they prompted and encouraged us to get into the business.”

“We laughed a few years over the idea but eventually came around and seriously considered it after realising we can offer much improvement to the local wine industry, especially since Guyana is expecting a cultural evolution in the near future with the oil and gas boom,” Mangar further expressed.

Sharma told the Pepperpot Magazine that she and her friends always knew that one day they would embark on this business venture.

“And I couldn’t be happier it’s happening right now! Although we are all three wine enthusiasts, we also bring different expertise to the business model which is important for its success,” she said, adding, “After all it’s not just about loving wines. But we are [experienced] in business in Guyana for many years and we know our customers well and how to satisfy their needs.”

Sharma said she knows that improving the food and beverage industry in Guyana will not happen overnight; nor will the presence of their retail location do it. But she is confident that success will be achieved with much focus on wine education and tasting and smelling events, among others.

“So far, we have been getting tremendous support from the vineyards and distributors we deal with. So if you are interested in learning more about wines, follow us on social media or visit our location to keep up-to-date on our exciting events coming soon,” Sharma said.
Persons can visit the website at www.thewinevault.gy and emails can be sent to thewinevaultgy@yahoo.com. There is also a Facebook page with the name ‘The Wine Vault at Marriott.’ The store is opened at 08:00hrs daily until 22:00hrs.

According to Shewjattan, the team is in the process of starting a wine club where customers can pay a monthly fee and have three to six new wines, depending on the package they sign up for, delivered to them on a monthly basis.

The team is also trying out new ideas at the Marriott Hotel. For instance, a ‘wine flight’ has been added to the menu so that customers can have three small servings of different wines before deciding on their ultimate choice.

Customers can also place orders online and have their wines delivered for free.