In 1972, Paul Kalemkiarian launched The Original Wine of the Month Club in Southern California. Nearly every Tuesday morning for 35 years, Kalemkiarian would go to his tasting room and taste wine with experts who came in from all over the world, resulting in more than 100,000 documented wine tastings over the years.
“What I realized about five years ago is that these people are flying in from Europe, from Argentina, from Chile, and they tell me their story over this tasting that lasted 10 to 20 minutes,” Kalemkiarian told What Now Los Angeles. “When they left the building, there went the story. Wine and liquor are about the story. I thought it was a waste that these famous people would just leave, go to the next account and maybe five people a day would hear their story.”
As a result, Kalemkiarian extended the tastings to 30 or 45 minutes and launched the Wine Talks podcast so he could share these stories with a wider audience. He has interviewed chefs and wine experts from around the world on his podcast, attracting guests such as acclaimed chef and restaurateur Nancy Silverton.
“We’d sit on the couch, turn on the cameras and they would start telling their stories,” Kalemkiarian said. “There are some amazing stories about what goes on in the back room of a winery, distillery or kitchen.”
Now, Kalemkiarian is preparing to add a new retail element to his business. He will open a small shop called 10 Over at 318 W. Chestnut Ave. beside his podcast studio in Monrovia, with plans to sell premium liquors and wines at 10% over. The store will offer “a narrow window to visit, talk shop and buy stuff,” according to Kalemkiarian.
The store will have limited hours of operation that are still TBD. Kalemkiarian also does not have a set opening timeline yet as he awaits his liquor license transfer.
The space will feature a simple wine cellar design and will focus on high-quality wines and liquors that are difficult to find. Expect to see items such as high-end burgundies and bordeaux and high-end liquors like Pappy Van Winkle bourbons.
“The plan isn’t completely established yet but we’re going to open it up, and the prices will be really good and it will be stuff that will be hard to find,” Kalemkiarian said.
Kalemkiarian will also carry products from guests on the podcast so listeners can purchase them.
