Class Notes
47
Wine connoisseur’s dream becomes a reality Red, white, dry, sweet, sparkling and rosé are only a sampling of wine selections available around the world. Wine connoisseur Jennifer Ager Stanton ’85, ’86, owner and founder of Wines by Jennifer, a global wine boutique/wine bar located in downtown Parkville, has tried them all. After 17 years of working in the agriculture and energy trading industries for Fortune 150 corporations, Stanton decided that it was time to make a change in her career and her lifestyle. “I wanted to start a business of my own where I could not only enjoy interacting with customers in a more relaxed environment centered around wine and food, but I also wanted to be closer to home so I could enjoy my family and friends,” Stanton said. “Wine was a fun passion for me and a hobby. One idea led to another, and the end result was Wines by Jennifer.” The dream of a quaint wine boutique became a reality when Wines by Jennifer opened in a historic, three-story home in the Kansas City area. From wine tastings and specialty foods to weddings and educational wine classes, the business that recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary offers a beautiful location and a friendly 14-person staff including Stanton and her husband, Don, and son Daniel. When visitors come to sample wine, they have a varied selection of wines changing each week, a selection of
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more than 40 cheeses and many other treats. The boutique also offers handcrafted beers from around the world and a varied selection of spirits. The Stantons travel frequently to visit wineries they enjoy supporting, but also to Jennifer Ager Stanton ’85, ’86 couldn’t be happier about her decision to leave search out her successful career in the agriculture and energy trading industries to open her new and exown wine boutique, which allows her to combine her love of wine, food, travel, citing wines, family and friends. beers and spirits from around the world, as evibook in which each dish is paired with a denced by their recent backpacking tour chosen wine or beer from recipes served through five South American countries. in her boutique. Her business continues “Our weekly themed wine tastings to thrive with special events, classes that offer hand-selected boutique wines from elaborate on wine, beer and spirits, priregions around the globe,” Stanton said. vate parties and quarterly artist debuts “We enjoy the conversations we have that highlight the works of featured local with our customers regarding all aspects artists. of wine, from the wine-making process During Stanton’s time at Northwest and grape varietal to the cultures of the studying marketing, management and areas that the wine comes from. This earning a master’s degree in business, allows our customers and staff to not she is thankful to have had experiences only taste the wines, but to learn about and met faculty who positively impacted different winemakher life. ing regions around “One of the most influential instructhe world. It’s not tors I had was Don Nothstine,” Stanton just about drinking said. “He saw in me the qualities that it the wine, it’s everytook to excel in the sales and marketing thing that goes into arena and guided me in that field, and it for these farmers he was right. I really loved it. I was also and their families. fortunate to be Dr. Dean Hubbard’s first It’s a business, a graduate assistant at the University. I passion, an art and owe so much to both of them plus the their livelihoods.” many other faculty at Northwest because Stanton’s passion they made a huge impact on my life.” for entertainment For more information on Wines by is evident in her Jennifer, visit www.winesbyjennifer. recently released com. n 160-recipe cook-
# Photo submitted (see pg. 51)
Spring 2013
Northwest Alumni Magazine