April 15, 2010 - Vintner’s Circle Andover will be celebrating its new winemaking enterprise this Friday, April 16th, with a Ribbon Cutting ceremony. ANDOVER, NJ, April 13 – Todd and Janine Billingsley, franchise owners of the first Vintner’s Circle in Sussex County, along with the Chamber of Commerce, will cut the ceremonious red ribbon this week. An Open House, featuring complimentary wine tastings, will follow.

The new Vintner’s Circle in Andover provides space for wine lovers in Northwestern New Jersey to make personalized wine, in all months of the year. The shop provides the professional guidance and tools to help eager vintners create their own, personalized bottles of wine. People can reserve individual or group winemaking sessions, join group winemaking classes, and enroll in wine tasting educational courses. Vintner’s Circle also has daily, complimentary tastings of wines made in the shop, deliciously introducing potential winemakers to styles made in the shop.

Todd and Janine Billingsley opened the doors to Vintner’s Circle Andover this past January, after venturing inside Vintner’s Circle Hackettstown the year before. Todd had been making beer and wine at home for years, and was intrigued by the Winemaking Shop sign outside the Hackettstown location. He purchased a Limited Edition New Zealand Merlot winemaking kit, and was extremely pleased with the quality of wine it produced. When an accident put Todd out of work for a long time, his wife Janine suggested he consider going into the winemaking franchise business. Together, the two decided that opening a Vintner’s Circle would be a wonderful way to turn their love of wine into a profitable venture. Todd says of his wife, “Janine said that this was a calling to me, not only as a new beginning on life, but also a new career.”

Vintner’s Circle Andover’s Ribbon Cutting is yet another example of the growing wine community in the Northeastern United States. Vintner’s Circle opened its first shop in Hackettstown, New Jersey in May 2006; there are now six locations across New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and the company is looking to expand. Vintners Circle Franchising recently exhibited at the International Franchise Expo, the largest franchise trade show in the United States. VCF welcomed hundreds of visitors interested in opening their own wine making franchise. David Schmeltzle, President of Vintners Circle Franchising, says, “Making wine is a wonderful way for people to spend time with friends and family, and opening a winemaking shop can be a great business opportunity for people who love wine and enjoy working with people. We want Vintner’s Circle to be the place where people go to enjoy making great tasting wine, while spending time with each other, in a warm, friendly environment.”

The Ribbon Cutting event provides a special opportunity for those interested in personalized winemaking, and visiting the new Andover shop. The ceremony begins at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 16th. Todd and Janine will be there to meet with members of the community, and speak about the wines made at their shop. Following the Ribbon Cutting, there will be an Open House with complimentary tastings, for those who would like to get a few sips of possibility at Vintner’s Circle.

About Vintner’s Circle

Vintner’s Circle is a place for friends and family to gather, spend time with one another, and enrich their lives through making, tasting, and enjoying wine.

Corporate phone number: 908-979-9463

Vintner’s Circle Andover phone number: 973-940-7348

View Company Website: http://www.VintnersCircle.com