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Our unique concept is simple: to combine wine buying with wine tasting in a casual and fun atmosphere. So, you can sip, nibble, or drink at our traditional Zinc-countered bar while shopping for affordable, off-the-beaten-path wines in the retail store. The focus is on unpretentious wine exploration. Whether you’re a novice wine drinker, or a well-seasoned one, we offer something different for everyone. With the help of our knowledgeable staff, we can help you customize a flight of wines and cheeses to match, pick out a glass to sip on, or help you choose the perfect bottle of wine. The casual environment and rustic feel encourages you to ask questions and try new and different wines from around the world.

Our Vision

Our unique concept is simple: to combine wine buying with wine tasting in a casual and fun atmosphere. So, you can sip, nibble, or drink at our traditional Zinc-countered bar while shopping for affordable, off-the-beaten-path wines in the retail store. The focus is on unpretentious wine exploration. Whether you’re a novice wine drinker, or a well-seasoned one, we offer something different for everyone. With the help of our knowledgeable staff, we can help you customize a flight of wines and cheeses to match, pick out a glass to sip on, or help you choose the perfect bottle of wine. The casual environment and rustic feel encourages you to ask questions and try new and different wines from around the world.

The Atmosphere

The setting is simple: imagine wine tasting in a traditional winery in Europe combined with relaxed lounge seating.

The Bar….the 14-person large stone bar itself is topped with a zinc counter found in many European wine bars or taverns. As you’re sitting at the bar, your view above is of a chalkboard listing 40 wines that you can order by the glass, half-glass (we call “taste”), or bottle. Behind the list of that week’s wines are wine barrels framing the bar. Apart from the bar seating, which fills up rapidly, are our wood-topped wine barrels surrounded by comfortable couches and chairs.

Meet the Staff

Ken Mills, Founder / Principal of Wine Steals has extensive experience in the food and beverage industry. He served as the Food and Beverage manager for Hornblower Cruises for 12 years and has lived and traveled through Europe for many years of his life. Ken is the visionary; without his ingenuity, Wine Steals wouldnt be so adaptable and successful! He and his wife Wendy Mills worked together to create the concept and build Wine Steals into the venue that it is today.

Warren Mack, Principal. Warren joined forces with Ken in 2006 to expand Wine Steals. He has extensive experience in building, financing and guiding the operations of numerous successful new business ventures. An avid taster and collector of wine for over 25 years, Warren is thrilled to help bring the Wine Steals experience to new locations in San Diego (and beyond?).

Michael Bartley, General Manager and Wine Buyer, served as a supply officer in the Royal Navy for 9 years, was a sommelier on the Queen Mary for 5 years, was the San Diego sales manager for Bronco JFJ wines for 5 years, and food and beverage director for Hornblower Cruises for 11 years. Mike is our humble captain and cheerleader, and the amazing wine buyerhes why we can call ourselves Wine STEALS!

Tasha Kuxhausen, General Manager / Wine Buyer for Point Loma. After heading the Cheerleading squad during High School in small town Nebraska, she received her Bachelor of Journalism. She beefed up her wine knowledge while studying in Boston which lead her into the wine industry here in southern California. She gained an abundance of knowledge while selling wine for Importer/Master Sommelier Fran Kysela which she used to become a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW).She has also passed intermediate levels of the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) and entry level Master Sommelier programs. Her winning personality and knowledge have and will continue to grow Wine Steals as a company.

Markus Roessler, General Manager / Wine Buyer for Hillcrest, lived in New York and danced with Caberet, and developed an amazing palette after touring Californian wineries and by consistently and enthusiastically tasting everything in the store. Apart from his dancing ability, and exceptional palette, his other talent is in music. You may have heard one of his talented performances at Wine steals? His playful and cheerful personality, not to mention his ability to move at lightning speed on the floor is why Wine Steals is The Best Wine Bar of San Diego. (City Beat, 2004 and 2005)

Copyright 2007 Wine Steals
Hillcrest - 1243 University Ave. San Diego, CA 92103 619-295-1188 | Point Loma - 2970 Truxtan Road San Diego, CA 92106 619-221-1959