By Mary Ann O’Toole Holley (Original Article)
When Cottleville residents completed a recent community development
survey, the unanimous conclusion was that they wanted “quaint and cute.”
Apparently, their mayor, Don Yarber, is right on track with them.
Yarber and his wife Sylvia, and fellow Cottleville resident Gary Grafeman recently opened Cottleville Wine Seller and Wine Garden capitalizing on cute in the biggest of ways. From the scattered petunias, hydrangeas flowers and shrubbery that surround the fully-restored 1849 residence-turned-wine-cellar and gift shop to the restful wine garden designed around an 80-year-old maple tree and a 60-year old pine, Cottleville Wine Seller and Wine Garden is, indeed, cute.But step inside the shop and deli and cute segues to sensational with its antique hand-carved-oak tasting bar, original maple flooring and reproduction pressed tin ceiling panels.
“I don’t know where we got our inspiration. I guess we just included what we liked,” Don Yarber said. “We attract so many people from as far as Eureka, Granite City and Chesterfield. It’s another reason to come to Cottleville.”
Whimsical Lolita hand-painted wine glasses ($24) with delightful matching gift boxes, sequined wine motif T-shirts (pick me, squeeze me, make me wine) and cute as a bug’s ear wine toppers with crystals dripping from their ceramic tops fill the gap between Cottleville Wine Seller’s hundreds of bottles of fermented libations from 150 worldwide labels.
There’s also a “tasting wall” featuring nine bottles of white and nine bottles of red wines—all provided for only a smile and a nod and maybe a twinkle in your eye.Sylvia says her favorite wine is the Canaletto Nontepulciano wine, because of its full bodied taste and long finish.
“You can taste it long after you’ve drank it,” Sylvia said.
“The house was awful inside when we bought it a year ago,” said Sylvia Yarber. “The three of us had a variety of ideas, but once we told the contractor what we wanted, he did it.”
Sylvia oversees the operation while her husband is busy being mayor; Grafeman works hands-on; and manager Gail Ranken handles the business.
One of the more unique offerings at Cottleville Wine Seller is the Mercer’s Wine Ice Cream and the Wine Cellar Sorbet in Sangria Rojo. Sylvia says it was a great find, and she believes they are the only outlet for the product within 30 miles.
“It’s 5 percent alcohol and you have to be 21 to buy it,” Sylvia said. “Now how about that.”
A full line of deli sandwiches are served by wait staff to those enjoying the wine garden and its trickling fountain.
Cottleville Wine Seller and Wine Garden is open year-round with the help of roll-down side canvas walls and infrared heaters that can take the temperature from 25 to 65 degrees with the flip of a switch.
Cottleville Wine Seller & Wine Garden
5814 Hwy. N. • Cottleville • 636-244-4453
Hours: Mon. — Thurs. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Fri. — Sat. 11 a.m. to midnight
Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 9 p.m.