Located at 960 S. Coast Hwy 101 in Encinitas, Little Victory Wine Market was founded by husband and wife team Jeremy Simpson (a fellow surfer) and Kirsten Potenza. Their idea for the store was simple- that small is better; "when we scrape away our modern lives, there is truly nothing better than time spent with family, friends and neighbors, alongside a thoughtful meal and the perfect glass of wine". All of which you can get at their new location.
Jeremy is the former Beverage Director at Michelin starred Jeune et Jolie and lead the beverage programs of many notable restaurants in Los Angeles such as Bestia and Bar Calo. Kirsten, who designed the space and curated the market selections, is the CEO and founder of POUND Rockout Workout, a fitness and wellness company. Little Victory is truly a family owned and operated business, with Kirsten’s sister and brother in law, Korin and Nick, teaming up alongside Jeremy and Kirsten as business partners while David Potenza, the father of the Potenza sisters, handmade nearly everything in the shop at his studio in San Francisco.
In regards to what you can find at their market, there is a large assortment of wines of course, which are made naturally, from California and abroad. The wines are made with minimal intervention from both the new and old world and they carry emerging and exciting wine producers. Jeremy and Kirsten celebrate winemakers who treat their grapes and vineyards with care, intermingling organic and biodynamic, regenerative, and other sustainable farming practices with thoughtful winemaking techniques such as the use of wild yeasts, little to no sulfur additions, and zero filtration.
For food, the store offers a small selection of cured meats, cheeses, tinned fish and locally sourced products and homemade goods. From tinned octopus and handmade jams to small production olive oils and California grown tomato sauces, each product will enhance your experience of dining, drinking, and enjoying life. And if you're not a huge wine aficionado, don't despair, I even spotted a few craft beers in their refrigerated area.
One question I overheard a customer ask was if they'll have wine tasting. Once their tasting license is approved (which may be in the near future), you'll be able to sample on site. They also have a space towards the back of their store which could be used for wine-pairing dinners and other events.
So the next time you're in downtown Encinitas and need to pick up a few things for your next dinner or need that perfect bottle of wine- stop by Little Victory Wine Market and support your community!
