Yvonne Foucher announced on Facebook that she was closing her CataVinos Wine Shoppe & Tasting Room by Aug. 29. The building has been sold, putting an end to her 10-year run.
It seems only fitting that CataVinos Wine Shoppe & Tasting Room owner Yvonne Foucher end her 10-year run with a βTaste βem βTill Theyβre Goneβ wine tasting series.
The wine-tastings will run over the next several weeks as Foucher closes in on her Aug. 29 finale. Thatβs the date she has to vacate the building at 3063 N. Alvernon Way where she has run CataVinos since fall 2007.
From its opening day, Foucherβs 1,800-square-foot shop attracted the attention of wine connoisseurs on a budget. The store has more than 150 varieties of wine and bottles that sell for $15 or less. She also carries some Arizona wines that she sells for $28 or less a bottle.
CataVinos was one of the first wine stores to offer regular wine tastings, with proceeds often benefitting animal causes, most of them centered on cats. The store has a feline mascot, Vino, who Foucher, in a July 21 Facebook posting announcing the closing, said she will bring home with her.
βIβm going to try and turn him into a house cat, any bets on how that might go?β she wrote. βI just bought a tracking device that Iβm going to put on him because Iβm terrified that he is also going to miss the shoppe and all of you guys so much that he is going to try and find his way back to you.β
Fouche could not be reached Monday for additional comments.
In her Facebook posting, she said that while her inventory is depleting, she plans to continue filling special orders for customers and stocking the βabsolute favoritesβ in the store.
But Fouche also hinted that a another wine shop might be in her future β if she doesnβt retire to a beach in Mexico or return to her pre-wine shop career as an architect.
Beginning next week, Fouche said she will begin liquidating the shop’s furniture, which includes wine racks, boxes and dishes. For details, call her at 323-3063 or visit the shop. Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesday and until 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. Details: facebook.com/TucsonCataVinos
CataVinosβ closing will come within weeks of what should be have been the shopβs 10th anniversary. It opened in early September 2007.
