A NEW wine shop is coming to a Cumbrian town, set to be the first premises for a Lake District business.

Lake District Wine will set up shop in Keswick, converting the former premises of the Hungry Caterpillar café in Packhorse Court, into a shop and tasting room for all things wine.

Jenni Hutchinson, the owner of Lake District Wine, explained: “It’s the first premises we have had.”

Jenni said that she started studying wine after she and her husband’s children entered school.

Wine has been a long-time passion for Jenni, and with the training, she started Lake District Wine as a wine-tasting company that puts on events in various locations.

With this new premises, however, she is hoping to bring that wine-tasting element alongside the wine shop to Keswick.

She explained: “It’s primarily a retail shop, but I will also be selling wine by the glass and taster measures.

“It’s an opportunity for people to try things they wouldn’t have tried before, without having to buy a full bottle.

“It can push people out of their comfort zones.”

Jenni said she also hopes to be selling craft beer from a Keswick-based supplier, as well as cheese, and incorporate the latter into her tasting sessions at some point.

With this new venture, Jenni said she is hoping that this brings something new to Keswick, while also offering something missing in terms of how we drink alcohol: “After Covid, people don’t seem to be going out for a Friday night drink after work anymore.

“I think the nightlife has suffered, and I want to encourage that sort of relaxed attitude around going out for a drink, I think it’s important to offer people this.”

Jenni doesn’t have a set opening date for the Lake District Wine shop but said people should keep their eyes peeled in the coming weeks when she said the shop should be open.

In the meantime, Lake District Wine will be selling mulled wine during the Christmas market in Keswick to showcase what she can offer.

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