Thyme for wine

New wine bar and wine shop opens in North Conway Village

Just in time for the holidays, a new wine bar and wine shop opened in the middle of North Conway Village last month.Wine Thyme, owned by Cathy and Rick Smith of Wolfeboro, moved into the space formerly occupied by Coyote Rose on the corner of Main Street and Kearsarge Street. The bar has a selection of about 40 different labels of wine to sell by the glass, as well as beer and cordials (no hard alcohol) and a light restaurant menu. The bar also offers a selection of spiced wines, spritzers and wine cocktails like "Something Blue," made with white wine and Hypnotic, a blue liqueur. Patrons can sample and become educated about a variety of fine wines, by the glass or by the flight, along with soups and salads, sandwiches, tapas and other light fare, and a special menu for Sunday brunch. They will also have a chance to enjoy wine tasting dinners, by reservation, where their host will pair wines with a special dinner menu. And they will host experts, like Peter Merriam, of Merriam Vinyard in California, who will be visiting in FebruaryThe Smith's son, Jason Smith, who has a background working in the restaurant business will be managing the operation and he and his wife, Marina, will be the wine buyers for the business (they met at a vineyard on Long Island). "They were the catalysts for this," Cathy said. As a European, she said, Marina has an extensive background in wine. The offerings at Wine Thyme will include domestic wines and wines imported from all over the world. Victoria Noel will also be helping with the wine buying.In addition to a license to sell alcohol on the premises, the Smiths have an off-premises license, allowing them to sell bottles of wine to take home. The retail shop sells selection of about 120 different bottles of wine, as well as gifts and cheeses. The Smiths are expecting that the retail business will do well with those staying in local inns and bed and breakfasts who might be looking for wine and cheese to take back to their rooms for an evening snack, as well as those looking for gifts or to stock their own wine cellars. The shop holds free wine tastings on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from noon to 7 p.m., hosted by Donald Poulin, who recently retired after 33 years at the N.H. State Liquor Store in Conway.They found the overnight-guest trade to be a big part of their business at their other retail shop in Wolfeboro, down the street from the Wolfeboro Inn. They opened that store over the past summer and, initially, they had hoped to have a wine bar in Wolfeboro too, but said the plan was shot down by the town. The Wolfeboro shop, located at 40 North Main Street in Wolfeboro, sells wine and cheese, deli foods, and a a selection of prepared food to go.When on a trip through North Conway Village, they saw that the former Coyote Rose location was was up for rent, they knew they had found the perfect location. "This is what we wanted," Cathy said. "It's fabulous." Not only did the North Conway location offer more year-round business, but the Smiths said that the community has been very welcoming and business-friendly every step of the way. Making the decision to open the North Conway shop just before Thanksgiving, they had to scramble to get the business up and running in time for Christmas. With help from many people, they said, they were able to meet that goal. "From town officials to the electrician to the sign guy, everyone has helped us," Cathy said. "The people who lived in the village have all come in. They have embraced us."They opened the retail shop on Dec. 16, just in time for last-minute Christmas shoppers, and the wine bar on the 23rd, in time for those looking to a place to celebrate. They held their first wine tasting dinner, a four-course meal paired with five different wines on New Year's Eve.Large windows along the front of the building make for a bright interior for the half a dozen tables inside, and the menu has already begun to attract a lunch crowd, particularly on weekends. As soon as the weather warms up, the Smiths said, you can expect to see tables on the patio as well. "Any fine nice day, we'll open the patio," Cathy said.The restaurant menu is developing under the guidance of the Smiths and their chefs Curtis McFarland and Jason DeVeries. Although they are new to the business, it has been a dream for Cathy Smith for at least the past 18 years. While working as a real estate appraiser, she developed her own recipes and palate while throwing wine tasting parties for her friends. Cathy leans toward Mediterranean cuisine for her choices and said she was thrilled to see that the first thing ordered off the menu, bubbling brie, was one of her creations.With the appreciative visage of someone who has enjoyed that experience many times in the past, Rick jumped in with, "Oh, that's really good.""This is my baby. I love this. I like the action, the interaction. I love turning people on to new wine they didn't like before that didn't cost them an arm and a leg," she said.Many of their customers come to sample new wines, asking for suggestions and trying a flight, which is a selection of several small glasses of a variety of wines."A lot of people are really good about having Jason make selections for them. To pair the right wine with the right food is very important," she said. "But ultimately wine is personal." Although the current state of the economy has caused some worry, they are optimistic. "Every year spring comes," Cathy said.And so far, business has been good. While others are concerned that business is down, she said, "For us there is no down. Every day is up."Wine Thyme is located at 2697 White Mountain Highway. The business is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. A Web site is in the works, but is not up and running yet. For more information, call 356-VINE (356-8463).