Wine Collective to open new location

Kings Mountain residents will soon be able to relax, sip a glass of wine and enjoy a cozy space to gather with friends.

Mary Montalvo opened Wine Collective, a wine shop and tasting room in Shelby earlier this year with the intention of opening a second location in the future.

The new location will be opening the last week of August at 214 S. Railroad Ave. in the former Sweet Station location, which moved across the street.

Montalvo said the building was mostly ready to move into, she just had to paint and add her personal touches. She said it will be decorated with the same mid-century flair as the Shelby location on Lafayette Street.

She said the Kings Mountain Wine Collective, which will be open Tuesday through Saturday from noon until 9 p.m.,  will have one large room with seating and places for people to enjoy a glass or bottle of wine. She said it is open to the community and a membership is not required.

Montalvo, who is originally from Puerto Rico and formerly owned and operated businesses in Florida and Asheville, said it was important for her to build a sense of community in Shelby, which she now calls home.

She is the visionary behind Wine Collective and the founder of The Wine Academy. Montalvo has many years of experience and wine education, including being a certified Wine & Spirit Education Trust Educator and numerous wine and spirits certifications. She also holds a juris doctor degree from the University of Puerto Rico along with a masters degree in public relations and journalism from Florida International University.

She said the Kings Mountain location, which is just under 1,000 square feet, will concentrate on wine by the glass and wine flights. There will also be a wine locker where people can pay for membership and have a place to store their wines.

“It’s a nice place to sit down, it’s going to be exactly what we do here in that sense. It’s a place you can go and chat and meet with friends,” Montalvo said.

She said there will be a grab and go fridge with breads, charcuterie, cheeses and other options provided by Chris Perry, of Perry Culinary Services. She is also in the process of expanding the Shelby location and will be adding a small kitchen space for Perry before the end of the year.

“The plan was always to have three locations,” she said. “One in Shelby, one in Kings Mountain and one in Belmont.”

She said she hasn’t yet found a location in Belmont, but her plan to open two Wine Collectives in Cleveland County is coming to fruition. She plans to make Shelby her home base and hire employees to run the Kings Mountain store.

Montalvo said she is excited to introduce Wine Collective to the community and plans to bring an elevated wine experience for both wine lovers and those who just want to learn more about wine. She said people can learn from someone knowledgeable about wine and who makes them feel comfortable.

“I try to keep wine simple as much as I can,” she said.

Wine Collective held its first wine walk last month in Shelby with another planned for the end of September.

For more information on Wine Collective and upcoming classes and events, visit winecollective.com or find them on Facebook.

This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Wine Collective to open second location in Cleveland County