Kyla and Gregory Cox, the owners of the store at 1963 Hosea L. Williams Drive specialize in what they call affordable artisan wines that are anything but ubiquitous.
Sure, the world's well-known wine regions — France, Spain and South Africa — are well represented.
But the Coxes are focused on offerings from those places that are a little off-beat and not mass produced. Think fair trade wines, organic wines and yes, even vegan wines.
Savor builds on two wine-related ventures Kyla Cox has already started, the five-year-old Grape Crush Productions and Atlanta Party Starters.
Both companies produce unique food and wine events throughout the year.
East Atlanta Patch caught up with Kyla Cox to ask her about the new venture:
Q. When did you develop a passion for wine?
A. "My background is in Corporate Marketing & Special Events so food and wine has always been a big part of my career, whether planning a dinner outing for visiting executives or enhancing a nonprofit fundraiser or social event with the perfect pairings. When I launched my own event marketing firm I naturally gravitated towards wine-themed events and eventually went on to create and produce popular local events such as the Buckhead Wine Festival, Organic Wine & Food Fair, Chefs in the City and Inside the Cellar. I became obsessed with not just wine, but artisan wine [small batch, limited production], seeking out the smaller family owned vineyards, which tend to offer the best value. Those winemakers really care about the "art" of wine. One family we work with, Bodegas Carrau from Uruguay, has been producing wine for nine generations- since 1752!
"Luckily, I married someone that shares my passion for wine. My husband took an "Evening at Emory" wine course in 1998 and has been hooked ever since. We don't consider ourselves experts, but we like to share what we do know and act as a conduit to knowledge. Look for locally and internationally renowned Sommeliers and wine experts to lead tastings and classes at Savor. Our assistant store manager, Debbie Jones, is a Certified Specialist of Wine and has a great palate."
Q. A lot of people mull the idea of starting their own business but only a smaller percentage actually go through with it. What made you decide to go for it?
A. "I've been an entrepreneur for almost a decade now. I recommend starting slow while you still have the comfort of a regular paycheck from your day job. Test the waters and get the infrastructure of your business into place while building your client portfolio. You will know when the time is right to give it your full attention. Also, a business plan is key. For me it's a living document, not something that sits on a shelf to collect dust."
Q. Why did you pick Kirkwood Station?
A. "Many factors led us to Kirkwood. We were seeking a mixed-use development and Kirkwood Station, at only a few years old, was ideal. The modern, loft-like aesthetic of the space combined with our rustic wine country touches is just what we envisioned. We also love the walk-ability of the area and the close proximity to downtown — just 5 miles away — and my corporate clients. However, the neighborhood's natural affinity for wine was ultimately the deciding factor. The Kirkwood Wine Stroll just celebrated its seventh year this past September and we were lucky enough to be able to not only offer a sneak peek of Savor Wine Boutique during the event, but curate all of the wines for the event. This was the largest Stroll yet and many people commented on the great wine selection this year."
Q. What's the one thing going into opening a new business that everyone should know that you wish you knew going into your venture?
A. "My husband and I are planners by nature, so for us things tend to be very black and white. Planning and deadlines are extremely important to us, but some things are simply out of your control. We have been ready and set to open our doors since early September, but we just received our final permits last week and were able to open our doors on Nov. 1. The last few weeks of waiting — and waiting and waiting some more — have been tough, but now that we are open, customers are enjoying the space and the wine just as we intended. We really couldn't be happier, the Kirkwood community have been so supportive! We had a tremendous opening weekend and never felt like we were out there on our own. On a side note, we recommend to all new businesses to get to know the community before you sign a lease or purchase a property. It was important to us to find a community that embraced our concept. We did our due diligence and met with and spoke to many of the neighbors and local business owners to ensure we were a good fit for the area. We worked closely with the area's Neighborhood Planning Unit and we even joined the Kirkwood Neighbor's Organization and Kirkwood Business Owners Association and attended the meetings well before opening our doors."
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Q. Georgia has a wine industry but it has a bad rap relative to California's wines. I've been told Georgia wineries are making a name for themselves, however. What's your assessment of the Peach State's vino?
A. "I think people will be pleasantly surprised with the evolution of local wines! We plan to bring in several in January. One in particular is Tiger Mountain Vineyards. The boutique winery is owned by native Georgians John and Martha Ezzard and has been in their family for five generations. They are highly acclaimed on the national wine competition circuit and in 2012 won Best In Class at the Los Angeles International Wine Competition with their 2011 Petit Manseng taking home the Gold medal with 91 points — amazing! Recently, I had the Deputy Food & Wine Editor of a renowned local publication in the store for a preview tasting and I pulled together an assortment of wines guests can expect to savor at our wine shop. Before leaving we gave him the option of selecting his favorite wine to take home and enjoy. Guess what he chose? The Cab Franc from Tiger Mountain! And we had wines from around the world in the tasting lineup. I wasn't surprised at all.
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Q. Are certain personality types attracted to certain wines? What, if anything, can you tell about a person who likes merlot over moscato?
A. "I love that you asked that question, the answer is a resounding YES! In addition to weekly wine tastings and special events we offer monthly educational classes at Savor Wine Boutique. These are seated classes for no more than 25 guests, more formal than our drop-in tastings. One of the classes we will offer beginning in January helps guests to define their "wine style" based on personality and lifestyle traits. You'll just have to come to an upcoming class for the answer!"
Q. In that vein, which wine best describes each of you? Why?
A. "Honestly, each wine on the shelf at Savor Wine Boutique is a reflection of us both. We've personally given our stamp of approval to every wine available in the store. Our small batch wines offer the best quality at a reasonable price. They are each unique, have a depth of flavor and are very approachable — just like the two of us!"
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