WORDS Tara Crutchfield
PHOTOGRAPH Amy Sexson
Obscure Wine Company If you like good vibes, good wine, and ‘drinking for yourself,’ Obscure Wine Company is calling your name – and you must go. Owner and Sommelier Wellie Bethea and Former United States Air Force combat controller turned Executive Chef Robert Bethea have poured themselves into their Central Avenue wine bar and shop. ‘Obscure’ is a nod to the lesser-known and harder-to-get wines around the world. “I want to bring people wines that are obscure, that are indigenous because [...] that to me is as natural as it can get.” Obscure will offer an ever-changing selection of wine by the bottle and glass, private wine courses, a wine club, and a supper club.
I felt like everybody just wanted to see the community grow and for others to succeed.” Hailing from three generations of restaurateurs, Wellie grew up helping her parents work in their restaurants. “I’ve had my hand on every aspect of hospitality. […] I’ve experienced Michelin all the way to fast-casual and in our food truck,” said Wellie. When it was time to go off to college, her parents gave her three options for study – engineering, law, or medicine. Wellie decided on engineering and soon found that she didn’t enjoy it. “I had enough chemistry credits that I used them when I found out that I loved wine, on getting a certification in winemaking and viticulture,” she said. “The one thing I hated brought me to what I loved.”
“This was a big passion project for me, and I wanted to make sure it was as authentic as possible,” Wellie said. “I want to bring great wine that is quality, that I know is ethically made. I want to change people’s minds about brands.”
Wellie worked for Premier Safaris, a company that was partially bought out by Benjamin Rothschild, part-owner of the acclaimed and coveted wine brand Château Lafite Rothschild. Her interest was piqued. She wanted to know what drove the cost and value of an expensive wine like Lafite Rothschild.
PURSUING SOM-THING SPECIAL Wellie grew up in Orlando but said Winter Haven was an ‘easy choice’ for their passion project. “I love Winter Haven. I grew up not too far from here. Winter Haven is the first place that I’ve spent time that I feel real, genuine support. Here,
Looking to slake this ‘thirst’ for knowledge, Wellie took her first sommelier exam with the Court of Master Sommeliers. After studying over more than a few glasses of wine on - CONTINUED ON PAGE 38 -
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