ABOUT WEST
ABOUT WEST
WHO ARE WE?
West is owned by Amy & Evan Bates and Michael Sisois.
HOW DID WEST COME ABOUT?
It was a few years ago, when Amy (that's me) first started thinking about the idea for wine shop and tasting room. I had a passion for wine but didn't like the wine buying process. Wine selections were always either massively overwhelming and intimidating or the same basic selection from one grocery store to the next. I was forced to shop by price and label bouncing back and forth between the few grapes I knew I loved. It was limiting and boring. When I did branch out, I either overspent on a bottle and loved it or tried something new and hated it. So I went out and got my wine education and certification, began working in the industry to learn the ropes from the ground up, and created a business plan where customers could try wines before buying them at a shop with a wine-educated staff and a curated selection.
AND THEN...
Evan's best friend and college roommate Michael came to visit us from San Jose. Michael, also a huge wine lover and life-long, card-carrying member of Chateau Montelena, sat in our living room and let me ramble on about the wine shop I wanted to start. And then he said, "so what are you waiting for? Let's do this!" So... we did it.
WHY WEST COAST WINES?
Because they're awesome. But so are wines from all over the world. But for many, understanding wine regions, varietals and producers from France and Italy and around the globe is a lot to take on. Sometimes beginning with a certain region is the best way to learn and understand wine without feeling overwhelmed. Evan's family is from Washington and each time we would visit I fell more in love with the wines from that region. And then we'd returned home to California, only to find they were nowhere to be found. I also realized that there was a lack of representation for the amazing wines being produced in Oregon. So began the idea of West Tasting Room.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN THAT YOU FOCUS ON WINERIES, NOT WINES?
I've worked for a winery and will say, most people never know how much time, care, love, effort (and money!) goes into creating a wine. It takes a village, it's hard work, it's farming, it's a passion. Every wine of quality has a point of view, be it from the winemaker or the family who owns the estate. When you taste through a winery's line up of wines, you can see and taste that point of view. You gain an understanding for the land and the region. You develop an appreciation of what that grape does, on that piece of land, in that winemaker's hand. At West, we bring the winery tasting room experience to you. We offer 4 bottles from each winery we represent, so our guests can experience the wine as it should be. And our winery's can get the recognition they deserve for all their hard work!
HOW CAN I GET WEST WINES?
If you want a bottle (or a case!) We will get it to you! Our tasting room is located in Thousand Oaks, California. You can order online for pick up or join our monthly wine club for a regular does of our wine each month.
WHY DID I READ THIS VERY LONG ABOUT US PAGE?
Hopefully because you love wine as much as we do! We want to share our passion for wine with you. And we're here to help guide you along your wine journey, whatever that may be!
CHEERS!
Amy, Evan & Michael
West is owned by Amy & Evan Bates and Michael Sisois.
HOW DID WEST COME ABOUT?
It was a few years ago, when Amy (that's me) first started thinking about the idea for wine shop and tasting room. I had a passion for wine but didn't like the wine buying process. Wine selections were always either massively overwhelming and intimidating or the same basic selection from one grocery store to the next. I was forced to shop by price and label bouncing back and forth between the few grapes I knew I loved. It was limiting and boring. When I did branch out, I either overspent on a bottle and loved it or tried something new and hated it. So I went out and got my wine education and certification, began working in the industry to learn the ropes from the ground up, and created a business plan where customers could try wines before buying them at a shop with a wine-educated staff and a curated selection.
AND THEN...
Evan's best friend and college roommate Michael came to visit us from San Jose. Michael, also a huge wine lover and life-long, card-carrying member of Chateau Montelena, sat in our living room and let me ramble on about the wine shop I wanted to start. And then he said, "so what are you waiting for? Let's do this!" So... we did it.
WHY WEST COAST WINES?
Because they're awesome. But so are wines from all over the world. But for many, understanding wine regions, varietals and producers from France and Italy and around the globe is a lot to take on. Sometimes beginning with a certain region is the best way to learn and understand wine without feeling overwhelmed. Evan's family is from Washington and each time we would visit I fell more in love with the wines from that region. And then we'd returned home to California, only to find they were nowhere to be found. I also realized that there was a lack of representation for the amazing wines being produced in Oregon. So began the idea of West Tasting Room.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN THAT YOU FOCUS ON WINERIES, NOT WINES?
I've worked for a winery and will say, most people never know how much time, care, love, effort (and money!) goes into creating a wine. It takes a village, it's hard work, it's farming, it's a passion. Every wine of quality has a point of view, be it from the winemaker or the family who owns the estate. When you taste through a winery's line up of wines, you can see and taste that point of view. You gain an understanding for the land and the region. You develop an appreciation of what that grape does, on that piece of land, in that winemaker's hand. At West, we bring the winery tasting room experience to you. We offer 4 bottles from each winery we represent, so our guests can experience the wine as it should be. And our winery's can get the recognition they deserve for all their hard work!
HOW CAN I GET WEST WINES?
If you want a bottle (or a case!) We will get it to you! Our tasting room is located in Thousand Oaks, California. You can order online for pick up or join our monthly wine club for a regular does of our wine each month.
WHY DID I READ THIS VERY LONG ABOUT US PAGE?
Hopefully because you love wine as much as we do! We want to share our passion for wine with you. And we're here to help guide you along your wine journey, whatever that may be!
CHEERS!
Amy, Evan & Michael