By Maggie DiGiovanni
Elmore/Autauga News
Top Photo: The crew during a recent EAN visit included April, Ashley and Kate.
Planning a picnic, party, or a romantic evening? Provisions Cheese and Wine Shoppe is perfect for finding just the right foods whatever the occasion. Belgian chocolates beckon when customers first visit this exceptional place. A few steps upward bring them to deliciously difficult decisions.
Which of over 100 cheeses and sometimes 400 wines does one choose? That poses a delightful dilemma. No matter what the final decision, whether electing a delightful brie or a personal favorite, “Drunken Goat,” the cheeses are superb. Opting for an inexpensive wine or the 40-year-old port, satisfaction is almost certain at Provisions.
When planning a party, the host or hostess may hand over part of the work to the friendly people at this shop. They cater events and make charcuterie boards for pickup. Dreading the cleanup after a party at home? Why not reserve the shop for an After Six Event? Simply choose beer, wine and charcuterie board items and leave the rest to a top-notch team.
Every other Friday night the owners hold a wine social in the back of the shop. Tables and chairs are set up for those wishing to taste various wines. A $10charge per person is split with fifty percent of proceeds and tips going to a charity or organization chosen prior to the event. Recently, the American Heritage Girls were the recipients. They used the funds for Wreaths Across America. This is a mission to remember, honor and teach about wars and veterans. A wreath is placed in honor of each veteran each December.
The story of how Provisions came into being is one of friendship and family uniting to pull a dream together. Kate and Lucky brought the idea to Jeremy and April. Kate dreamed of such a place and Lucky hammered out the details. When they spoke to their friends about a sleepy town in Alabama where it just might work, Jeremy and April agreed to come down South for a whole new lifestyle.
Their children joined the enterprise. And the people of Wetumpka welcomed them with open arms. April and Kate told of fellow merchants sometimes bringing newcomers into the cheese and wine shoppe. Others insisted it was one place no one should miss while visiting the area. Gradually word spread of a place where people can go to relax as well as purchase products.
The back of Provisions’ company T-shirt reads: “Not just cheesy…we wine a lot, too.” As April assured me, they want to have fun and want their guests to enjoy the atmosphere.
Jeremy who is fond of the European way of welcoming guests declared that all of those at Provisions prefer European methods for running their business. That means letting a person sit upstairs in the lounge to enjoy their drink or food whether for seven minutes or seven hours without worry of being pushed out. Relaxation is key to their shop and for their customers.
To find out more about this interesting and pleasant addition to Wetumpka, call (334) 478-4393 or follow it on
https://www.facebook.com/ProvisionsCheeseandWineShoppe
To visit, head downtown to 101 E. Bridge Street, Wetumpka.
