Q&A with Beth Giacomo, owner of Wine4U

Photo by Rebecca Miller Photography

By Like Media Team

Sandpoint's only dedicated wine shop didn't start as a storefront. Beth Giacomo was running a wine club from a back room when customers started asking to come see what she had. That demand grew into Wine4U at 1309 Ponderosa Drive, offering wines, events, four wine clubs, and international trips.

Q: Sandpoint had gone 12 years without a dedicated wine shop. Why did bringing one back feel important to you?

A. After working for distributors and grocery stores, I saw that grocery wine comes through a corporate channel. You can get the same bottles nearly everywhere. My wine club customers kept asking to see what I had. I had wine in a small room, and it was a mess! I moved into a larger office to display the wine and outgrew it in six months. The landlord next door offered to build out a space for me. It was a great opportunity for me, and I jumped on it!

Q: For someone who has not visited yet, how would you describe the shop and the overall experience?

A. Be prepared to be awed! I didn't want it to look like a liquor store. I wanted it to be charming, fun, and warm. I have a small bar area for wine, by the glass or by the bottle, a patio, and gifts you won't find everywhere, including locally made jewelry and cards. Customers interact with each other when I'm busy. It is very welcoming in a Cheers kind of way!

Q: What makes Wine4U different from a traditional wine shop?

A. I am a wine educator at heart. I want to get people out of their box of only drinking a cab or a chardonnay. When I am tasting wines for the shop, it isn't unusual for me to write customer names next to bottles they might enjoy, reminding me to let them know. My shop is an experience. It is important for my customers to know that I am listening to them and directing them toward what they will enjoy most.

Q: Tell us about your wine clubs, monthly tastings, pop-up events, and VIP wine and food trips. What do you love about creating those experiences?

A. I have four wine clubs, with monthly and quarterly options. I host tastings at Baxter’s Backdoor on the third Monday of every month and pop-up events with winemakers and winery representatives at the shop. The VIP trips are something I've always wanted to do. Our first was a 12-day trip to Northern Italy that included visits to 13 wineries, cooking classes, a balsamic vinegar tour, and an afternoon on a boat on the Mediterranean. We have a trip to South America coming up in April 2027, and another special trip for Fall 2027 in the works! I love wine, travel, and the friends I've made.

Q: What would you like locals and visitors to know about finding Wine4U and stopping in?

A. We are not far from downtown. Maybe five minutes! We have plenty of free parking. I carry wines you won't find in grocery stores and also offer special orders. As long as it is distributed in Idaho, I should be able to get it. I can't have a sign on the front of the building, but I have one on Division, and you can park right in front. Come in and see for yourself. I guarantee you will want to come back!

Wine4U

1309 Ponderosa Dr., Suite 116

Sandpoint, ID

208.217.8321

Wine4UOnline.com Check out more Q&As here!