Frank Valente has been in the liquor business since 1991, first with the BC Liquor Distribution Branch and then on his own with The Wine Emporium since 2001. “Because of the way things were expanding with BC wineries, I thought that there was a niche market ready to be reached,” Frank says. “I thought it would be a good transition.”
Frank was right. Since opening his business, BC wineries have more than doubled in size and reach across the province. “We were the first store that exclusively sold BC wines in the Fraser Valley. Now, there are around 20 stores in BC that operate using the same business model as The Wine Emporium.”
The business model is simple: create partnerships with local wineries by being extensions of the winery. With over 200 wineries in BC, there is a wide selection of wines available to choose from. “We work for the wineries,” Frank says. “Culturally, local wine has become more popular in BC over the years.”
