Wine Down on Market in Parkersburg, West Virginia: Meet the Owner
We sat down with Owner Pam Creel and Executive Chef Autumn Walcutt of Wine Down on Market in Parkersburg, West Virginia. They provide exclusive "extras" including monthly wine tastings, live music evenings in The Cellar, six distinct wine-themed five-course dinners annually, and a truly exceptional quarterly dining event known as “The Chef Experience.” Each course is a surprise, crafted to engage your senses and highlight premium ingredients with flawless presentation.
Wine Down on Market in Parkersburg, West Virginia
Our story behind opening our wine bar and restaurant is not typical. Neither me or my husband Kip had worked in the industry prior to opening except McDonalds as teenagers. In our early 30's we took an interest in wine. We found some friends who also enjoyed wine and that led us to meeting with 2 other couples on a monthly basis to share the enjoyment and expand our knowledge by watching and following an educational video series. our knowledge grew and our love for wine grew. In the summer of 2020 Kip and I found ourselves dreaming of creating a space for wine lovers to come and enjoy wine and great food. And so the foundation for what is now Wine Down on Market was created.
We wanted to build a place that provided a large variety of wine, and we wanted an approachable "fine dining" experience without the formality of fine dining. We wanted to create a Vibe that appealed to attract females and friends nights, to date nights, or just a casual Tuesday night just because you want great food and a delicious glass of fresh wine.
We may be small, only seating up to 49 people, but offer over 100 varieties of wines, with about 30 of them offered by the glass and staying fresh by using a winekeeper (tap system).
Executive Chef Autumn Walcutt creates featured entrees and small shareable plates weekly—so there is always something new and exciting going on with food. But, we must say that we love a great filet any day of the week! And, you can never go wrong with a flatbread or charcuterie to go with a wine flight to experience something new. Shareable plates and flatbreads are a focus because they do pair so well with any of our 12 wine flights, including a designer flight—giving the option to create your own flight of wine.
We bring a positive energy that can set the tone for the entire guest experience. We focus on cultivating a great team—finding people that share a love of food, wine and a passion for people as well as people who have an aligned vision for hospitality. When you get like minded people together and things click—the culture grows and strengthens. People work as a team when they enjoy the work they do and enjoy spending time with each other. Our entire team understands the importance of consistency—we talk about it every day! It is the number one thing that has propelled our growth over the last 3 years.
Wine Down on Market in Parkersburg, West Virginia
One of our greatest accomplishments is just the consistent growth we have been seeing, day after day, month after month, year after year, seeing record days and weeks we never dreamed. We added on an event space in late 2022 and it has blossomed into a cozy, speakeasy vibe, a place to chill and unwind. People can rent the space for private parties, like birthdays or corporate celebrations. We use the space monthly for wine tastings which have been a huge hit!
Executive Chef Autumn Walcutt: Hands down, my favorite chef is Vivian Howard, co-owner of Chef & the Farmer in North Carolina. She focuses on locally sourced farm to table cuisine. We are both similar in our approach to modern cuisine; but more recognizable and approachable fine dining.
Executive Chef Autumn Walcutt: why should someone visit Wine Down on Market? There is just not another experience like it in Parkersburg and surrounding area. From our scratch made desserts to our handcrafted cocktails, we take pride in creating an amazing experience in Parkersburg. In striving for excellence, we aim for a comfortable, casual dining experience.
I truly enjoy being about to give the type of experience customers only believe they can get in a bigger city—yet it's right in their backyard. I love seeing the surprise and delight when people have thoroughly enjoyed their time at Wine Down. I love that they want to bring their friends or loved ones. I love being a little unexpected gem right here in Parkersburg, West Virginia.
Wine Down on Market in Parkersburg, West Virginia
Owner, Pam Creel: My favorite drink is a beautiful crisp Sancerre any time of the year. For a cocktail we created what we call a Martini Thyme, with Bombay Sapphire gin, dry vermouth, a splash of lemon and our thyme-infused simple syrup in a chilled martini glass—only the frostiest will do!
Executive Chef Autumn Walcutt: Patron, chilled, straight up with lime. Keep it simple!
Wine Down on Market in Parkersburg, West Virginia
Tell readers why they should visit your wine bar?
We offer unique "extras" such as our monthly wine tastings, music nights in The Cellar, 6 unique wine themed, 5 course wine dinners each year and a very unique dining experience each quarter called “The Chef Experience” — Inspired by the Japanese tradition of omakase, meaning “I leave it up to you,” this experience invites you to place your trust in the chef’s expertise. Each course is a surprise, designed to delight your senses and showcase the finest ingredients with impeccable style.