For more than a decade, Coronado residents and visitors have enjoyed the popular boutique wines and artisan flatbread pizzas found inside Wine A Bit.
This family-owned small business welcomes new and old wine aficionados with a wide selection of appetizers paired with the vibrant tastes of more than 20 selected small production wines and live music performers two days a week.
The 16-year-old establishment can be found at 928 Orange Ave., in between 9th and 10th Streets. It is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Journey began in 2007
Business owners Patti and Dale Nordengreen shared that this business journey began in April 2007, when the establishment was known as WineStyles.
“It was more of a passion for wine and being able to open up with a franchise supporting me, to have that type of support and opening up a new business was really valuable,” said Patti Nordengreen. “We learned very quickly that we could pretty much do it on our own, and that’s why we broke away a few years later.”
Wine A Bit continues to craft a unique experience for people who enjoy wine, she said.
An outdoor patio greets all, followed by a wine bar and wine-tasting area, adjacent to merchandise.
The final section, beyond a rich wine-like colored arch, is an event room, also known as the “Tasting Room and Scott Jacobs Gallery.”
The restaurant offers wine tasting daily and features weekly specials dedicated to specific days, such as “Tuesday-Date Night,” “Wine Wednesday,” “Live Music Friday” [and Saturday], and “Sunday-Fun-Day.”
Unique and fun experience
The Nordengreens promise a unique and fun experience with wine and food, while also providing a relaxed atmosphere with a sommelier or wine steward and trained staff members.
“We categorize the wines by taste characteristics,” said Dale Nordengreen.
“Staff members can help direct you to the type of wine you enjoy or probably would like,” added Patti Nordengreen.
Wine Club Membership
Wine A Bit also has a monthly Wine Club with approximately 250 members, of which more than 70 are considered VIP. They include folks from Arizona and Nevada.
Monthly members pay $44.99 to receive 2 boutique bottles of wine, a discounted price on all wine purchases, a $30 complimentary wine tasting card, and invitations to special events like blind wine tastings.
For an additional $79, quarterly VIP members get two high-end red wines, usually valued at $120 or more, said Patti Nordengreen.
“They’ll come in once every six months, and they’ll call us, and they’ll say ‘I haven’t been in to pick up my wine club, can you get it set up for me?’” said Dale Nordengreen. “We’ll give them six months worth of wine club.”
Members can savor wines from multiple producers and regions, sampling from places like Italy, France, Spain, Chile and Portugal.
“We’re a little heavier on California because people like California wines, but we do represent everywhere we can,” said Patti Nordengreen.
“The self-guided wine tour of the world”
Challenges posed by the pandemic halted business after 2019, but not entirely.
“We were real fortunate to be essential during COVID, so we were able to stay open on the retail part, which we did a lot of deliveries,” said Patti Nordengreen. “Our wine club in Coronado was incredibly supportive, many stayed with us during the COVID period.”
Social distancing regulations expanded the wine bar and introduced wine-tasting stations, offering 28 kinds of affordable and premium wines daily.
“After COVID, we realized that we weren’t going to be able to pile 60 people into our tasting room. We installed the wine stations,” said Dale Nordengreen. “We call it the self-guided wine tour of the world.”
People may order wine by the glass or use a smart card for wine tastings to keep track of one, two, or five ounce samples to be charged at the end.
Now, the Wine A Bit team is constantly looking for new things to change and expand.
Current considerations include Uber Eats and DoorDash deliveries and expanding craft beer options.
We’re looking at always changing out our wines, growing our wine club, adding new things to our menu, putting in new musicians.”
-Patti Nordengreen.
“We’re looking at always changing out our wines, growing our wine club, adding new things to our menu, putting in new musicians,” said Patti Nordengreen.
Mix and Match
Beyond the membership, other specials include two mix and match options known as “6 for $66” and “5 for $75” wine selections.
Patti Nordengreen said the first option allows six of the same or a mix and match of any red and white wines from 30 to 40 options. The second mirrors this concept with higher-end wines.
Apart from gourmet chocolate truffles and wine-related merchandise, Wine A Bit features theme and holiday related gift baskets, which are very popular among Hotel del Coronado tourists and local families, said Patti Nordengreen.
“It’s a labor of love”
Thinking back on their beginnings, Patti said coming to Coronado was a real blessing.
“Our joke is we went from high-tech jobs to being winos, which is more just a passion for wine, but it’s been a lot of fun,” said Patti Nordengreen.
The married couple said their previous high-tech backgrounds have provided a sales, customer service and business perspective.
They also shared that they support each other by balancing the work based on each of their skills sets.
“It’s been great working with [Dale], I wouldn’t do it without him,” said Pattie Nordengreen. “It is a lot of work, but it’s a labor of love…we’re enjoying life.”
