Jason Niec, 31, is owner of the Black Chicken Wine Cellar which opened last month in downtown Matthews.
Black Chicken Wine Cellar opens in downtown Matthews
Downtown Matthews is now home to a unique wine shop. Stop into the
Black Chicken Wine Cellar and you’ll discover the owner has a
bachelor’s degree in anthropology but a true passion for wine.
Jason Niec, 31, was introduced to wine as a master’s student at Florida
Atlantic University when he took a job at a wine bar. He didn’t know
anything about wine and, in fact, didn’t even drink it. Soon after,
though, he nixed plans to earn his master’s in speech pathology and
stuck with wine.
“At first I was like, ‘I know beer, not wine. Why do I want to do
that?’” Niec said. “But I just fell in love with wine. I learned by
doing: hosting wine tastings and serving customers. I soon learned the
nuances of wine, the differences.”
At Black Chicken customers can choose from an array of red or white
wine by the glass, ranging from $5 to $11, including Le Lapin
Multiplicity from Paso Robles; Casa Marguery Malbec from Mendoza;
Ehlers Estate Merlot from Napa Valley; Charles de Fere Jean-Louis from
France; and Annabella Chardonnay from Napa Valley. The shop at 131-1B
Matthews Station St., has been open for more than a month now and
already has regulars, Niec said. And those regulars already have their
favorites, he said. The best-selling wines so far are Vines Tempranillo
from Spain, $5, and Southern Belle Shiraz from Mclaren Vale, $11, Niec
said.
Moving to Matthews in 2008, Niec said he wanted to start his own
business and opted for “something different.” He coined the Black
Chicken name from the logo of his favorite type of wine, Chianti
Classico. At the shop, which features wood wine racks and a bar Niec
built himself, customers also can book private parties and Niec will
host occasional wine tastings too.
“I thought that this town was ready for something grown up. Something
more adult but not loud and sports bar-like,” he said. “We are a wine
shop, but it’s not an exclusive wine shop and you don’t have to know a
lot about wine to come in here. You tell me what you like and I’ll help
you. Don’t be intimidated because I didn’t know anything about wine
when I started out.”
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