Bob and Laurel “Meet The Press”!

The story below was featured in the Libertyville Review:

New store wants wine shopping to be a pleasure

September 3, 2009
By STEPHANIE KOHL

Whether a wine expert or a new aficionado, S&S Wine and Spirit Warehouse in Libertyville aims to please. The new store, opened by 15-year Libertyville residents Bob and Laurel Stemper, offers more than 800 wines, 150 spirits and 100 beers from wineries and distilleries from all over the world.

Bob Stemper has 30 years of experience on the wholesale and import side of wine and spirits and has incorporated his favorite thing from the thousands of stores he has visited in his career into his store, 830 S. Milwaukee Avenue.

A unique feature of the store is a wine dispensing machine, the “Winestation,” that offers low-priced samples so customers can explore the differences between the wines before purchasing a bottle to take home. Since the store opened August 13, the Sonoma-Cutrer has been the most popular in the Winestation.

‘Old favorite’

“We want shopping for wine to be a pleasure, not a challenge,” said Laurel Stemper. “Whether the customer works with a member of our educated staff, tastes a wine from the ‘Winestation,’ or comes in seeking an old favorite, we want customers walking out of the store with their perfect match.”

And education is a big part of the wine experience, said Bob Stemper. He added the staff is well-equipped to offer wine suggestions by seeking detailed information about what the customer is looking for. For example, if a customer asked for Bob Stemper’s help selecting an appropriate wine, he would ask several questions, including the shopper’s price range, whether the bottle is for a meal, a gift, sipping, etc., preferences for red or white wine and taste preferences. Bob Stemper suggested a Cabernet with red meat and a Tuscan of Chianti with pasta.

Bob Stemper acknowledged people are conscious of the economy and the store offers an extensive selection of wines in the $7.99 to $24.99 range. “With the economy the way it is, people have discovered some very good wines for $10 to $14,” he said.

Customer demand

The store’s offerings will change based on customer demand.

S&S Wine and Spirit Warehouse will also offer Wine 101 classes in the Stemper Wine Learning Center. The first class from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. September 16 will feature instruction by Liz Liebovich, state manager of E&J Family of Wineries. The class is $35 and includes a bottle of wine to take home. All classes are limited to 12 people.

“It’s small and intimate and we want to keep it that way,” Bob Stemper said.

In addition to its alcoholic offerings, S&S Wine and Spirits also offers accessories including purses, jewelry and embroidered items. Guest artists will also be invited to display their work in the store.

S&S Wine and Spirit Warehouse will host a Grand Opening Ceremony at 5 p.m. September 3rd with a ribbon cutting with Mayor Terry Weppler. Guests will have the opportunity to sample wines from around the world and are eligible for special discounts on selected items.

The store is open from 10:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed Sundays. For more information, log on to www.wineandspiritwarehouse.com or call (847) 549-6900.