Todd and Janine Billingsley, Vintner's Circle Andover Franchise Owners

Q: Todd and Janine — How did you become involved with Vintner's Circle?

I have always enjoyed creating things with my own hands and had started making my own beer at home which had turned out to great hit for both friends and family. I had never really thought about the concept of wine at that time even though I enjoyed drinking and going to local wineries. I had in the past made wine from crushing my own grapes and making wine. The wines I had made were good but too strong in the alcohol content to be really enjoyed the way a wine should be enjoyed. It was also difficult to find a woman that enjoyed going to wineries and enjoying the qualities and health benefits that wine had to offer. I then met who is now my wife Janine, she and I enjoyed going to wineries and bringing our favorite wines to B.Y.O restaurants.


I had never really thought about the concept of owning my own wine making shop until one day my wife and I had left Blockbuster video in Hackettstown; upon leaving I saw a sign in the window that said Vintner's Circle. My wife, not knowing what Vintner meant, followed me into the store after I had explained to her that it was a wine making place. I went into the shop and discussed with the manager, What was Vintner's Circle all about? After chatting with her for several minutes and had learned that the wines were made from kits, I was a little hesitant, since I had always made everything from scratch. I went home and did some research and thought I would give it a try. I went back a few days later where I met Dave Schmeltzle and discussed with him the process of making wine at home. I purchased my first wine making kit, which was a limited edition kit (New Zealand Merlot). I went home eagerly to start it right away and followed the instructions exactly. About 7 weeks later when it was complete, I bottled it and was so amazed with the quality of wine it produced. After that I purchased several more kits and started handing the wines I made to friends and family and they were even more amazed.

After many months of being out of work due to a near fatal work accident, my wife gave me the inspiration to sit down and talk to Dave about possibly buying and starting my own franchise with Vintner's Circle. I was a little hesitant at first with the present economy but I new I had to start a new career since I was no longer able to return to my existing job due to health related problems. My wife, Janine said to me that this was a calling to me not only a new beginning on life but also a new career.


I had done a lot of traveling all over the United states and was away from home a lot during our marriage in order to restore power to thousands of people who had lost electricity due to natural disasters. This over the last few years took a toll on our marriage since I never knew when I would be home or if I would come home alive. That is why the Vintner's Circle concept is so great since it is a place for family and friends to gather, spend time with one another, and enrich their lives through tasting, making and enjoying wine.

After getting the financing I needed through the help of a local Community Bank and finding the perfect spot for my new business I started my build out in October of 2009. The build out was enjoyable one to me since I did and was able to do a lot of the work myself using my hands to create a new life for myself and my family while creating a whole new lifestyle. I opened February 4, 2010 and have met so many wonderful people from many walks of life and enjoyed their stories as well as being able to share some of my own. I am new to the Vintner's Circle family and am looking forward to the new Vintner's Circle family members that are soon to come.

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