Lydia DeRoss, former wine bar manager at Arome in Redmond, will open her own wine bar next month in Centennial Park called Beyond the Vine, where the focus will be wine education and good times.

The soft opening for the new wine bar and bottle shop, in the location of the former Pig and Pound Public House, is scheduled for mid-November. A grand opening will be in December or January, DeRoss said. But in the meantime she is eager to share her wine knowledge and expertise with the community.

“Wine became my passion in the last five or six years after taking some classes and changing careers to work in the business,” DeRoss said. “I found it was really something that I connected well with, and love learning about and love teaching about. So I decided to go out on my own and open up a new space.”

Beyond the Vine, at 423 SW 8th Street, will offer a variety of wines from around the region and the world.

DeRoss managed Arome’s wine bar for more than a year. She said that part of her duties were to be a wine buyer, which allowed her to make connections with wineries. She said her time at Arome sparked the desire to open Beyond the Vine.

“That launched me into realizing how much I love doing this. And how much I loved having those interactions and conversations with people. Finding wines that would excite them and drive some of their passion for wine as well,” DeRoss said.

She also enjoys the education component to a tasting, including “teaching them some of the basics so they felt more confident when they walk in and they are ordering a glass of wine. Making it an approachable, fun experience.”

DeRoss’ philosophy on wine is that drinking it should be a fun, experimental journey that, if done well, includes the right food. DeRoss said she plans to offer some smaller offerings to pair with wine. Longterm, DeRoss said she has aspirations for more comprehensive food options.

“With our soft opening we will probably start a little bit smaller, but having a commercial kitchen here opens up a lot of possibilities for in the future having more robust meals and that is the long term goal,” DeRoss said. “I’d also like to do some popup nights with different chefs and hopefully with some food trucks and do some partnerships where we can highlight both of our businesses.”

Beyond the Vine will also be available to rent as a private venue. DeRoss hopes to keep the front patio open most of the year by providing heaters. The inside will seat around 25 people. She will also offer non alcoholic beverages, mocktails, and beer for those who aren’t wine lovers — yet.

DeRoss said she looks forward to being a part of Redmond’s growing offerings that put wine first and foremost. She said there is enough room for the area’s entrenched beer culture to coexist with a new up-and-coming wine scene.

“I feel like the wine culture here in Central Oregon is a little behind the beer culture obviously,” DeRoss said. “And I love good beer, too. Wine is just what I prefer, it’s going to be my drink of choice.”

DeRoss said her favorite vintages all depends on her mood and what she is cooking. She enjoys a good champagne and often leans on French and Italian varieties, she said, but the possibilities are endless. She hopes other are up for trying new things alongside her.

“That would be the best compliment ever for you to come in and say ‘Hey, what are we talking about today? What are you putting in my glass?’ and we can play with it and learn something new,” DeRoss said.