A new wine destination is preparing to debut in Surprise later this summer.
According to state licensing records and information shared by franchise owner Tim Wagenseller, Turquoise Wine Bar is expected to open between mid and late August at 14462 W. Elm Street, Suite 113, in Surprise City Center.
The franchise location will introduce the brand’s approachable take on wine culture, combining curated wine programs, small plates, live entertainment, and member experiences designed to bring people together.
“We’re a wine bar, but ultimately, we’re selling an experience,” Tim Wagenseller told What Now Phoenix.
Founded by Jen Sinconis and Laura Hernandez, Turquoise Wine Bar was built around the idea that wine should feel welcoming rather than intimidating. The concept positions itself as a modern wine bar and tasting room experience centered on boutique wines, hospitality, education, and community.
That philosophy was one of the reasons Wagenseller decided to bring the concept to Surprise.
“Our wine is all small-lot, well-curated selection. We have quite a few different flights that we carefully select, and we switch out one bottle or one wine from each flight monthly.”
The rotating wine program is designed to appeal to both seasoned wine enthusiasts and newcomers.
“It’s not a pretentious approach with wine. It’s more catered to people whether they know everything about wine or someone who knows really nothing about it, and everything in between.”
The upcoming location will offer a menu focused primarily on small plates. Guests can expect salads, flatbreads, charcuterie boards, desserts, and Champagne cupcakes made in-house using real Champagne.
According to Tim Wagenseller, the overall experience extends well beyond food and wine. The wine bar will not include televisions, instead encouraging guests to engage with one another while enjoying curated wines and live music performances on weekends.
“We’re really trying to just get people to sit down, not look at their phones, not be distracted, and really engage with each other and spend some quality time over really good wine.”
Turquoise also places a strong emphasis on membership experiences. Guests can join wine clubs offering between one and six bottles per month, access special events throughout the year, and receive exclusive benefits tied to travel experiences.
“We also offer an assortment of different events. Through the holidays, we have events through Valentine’s Day, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day. Really, any holiday that you can think of, we do events around that.”
The membership program will also include opportunities to visit wine regions around the world.
“We’ll be doing quite a few trips throughout the year next year going to different places like France, Italy, Rome, and really different places through Europe, experiencing the wineries out there, meeting the vintners that oftentimes we get our wine from.”
For the franchise owner, the venture represents a new professional direction.
Although he grew up in Sedona surrounded by wine culture and hospitality establishments, he spent the last two decades building aquarium-related businesses before deciding to pursue wine on a more professional level.
Over the past several months, he has completed wine certifications and immersed himself in learning the industry. When it came time to choose a location, Surprise ultimately emerged as the right fit.
Wagenseller said the city’s investment in creating a vibrant downtown-style district, combined with its proximity to the Texas Rangers’ spring training facility and growing mix of restaurants and retailers, made the opportunity especially attractive.
If construction and final development timelines stay on track, Turquoise Wine Bar will welcome its first guests before the end of summer.
Additional updates and opening information are being shared through Turquoise Wine Bar Surprise’s Instagram account as the team prepares for its debut.
