Today we’d like to introduce you to Suzanne Zizzi.
Hi Suzanne, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started out in the entertainment business, like many people in Los Angeles. After a twenty-year career in producing and development, I was laid off in 2007 and decided to be a stay at home Mom to my two young children. When I was ready to go back to work full time, I decided to pursue a career in the wine business. After taking classes in wine knowledge and working in a wine shop, I began looking for a space to open my own business. When I discovered this beautiful little store for sale in Atwater Village, I jumped at it. In a way, I was biting off more than I could chew, as the small shop included a large wine bar in the cellar. But it’s been over five years, and Oeno Vino is still here!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Opening this wine shop/wine bar has been the most difficult challenge of my life (and I’m a single mother to two teenagers!).
I used to scoff at friends who complained about the hurdles of owning a business in Los Angeles, but it is true! So many rules and regulations. Just obtaining (and keeping) the necessary licenses can be a full-time job. Luckily, I have a very good staff of people working with me.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At Oeno Vino, we specialize in small production wines and craft beer. Our employees all have a thorough knowledge of the wine world and the products that we sell. If it’s on the shelves, someone on staff has tasted and approved it.
The wine bar is open again post-Covid shut down. We serve daily staff picked wine flights in addition to a by-the-glass menu. Customers can also open any bottle from the shop with a small corkage fee. We offer pizza, salad, and gourmet cheese and charcuterie boards.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
The best advice I was given was from the head of the UCLA Extension wine program. She said, if you want to own a wine shop, go work in one first. I took her advice and worked in a wine shop for about nine months. So that is my advice now. Whatever field you want to flourish in, start at the bottom and see if you truly enjoy it before jumping in headfirst.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: oenovinowines.com
- Instagram: @oenovinowines
- Facebook: oenovinowines
- Yelp: oenovinowines
Image Credits:
Sam Lane Nicolas Argo
