Turquoise Wine Bar sets August opening in Surprise

Turquoise Wine Bar is planning a mid to late August opening at Surprise City Center. The location will feature small lot wines, small plates, weekend live music and wine club memberships.

Turquoise Wine Bar is planning to open between mid and late August at 14462 W. Elm Street, Suite 113, in Surprise City Center. Franchise owner Tim Wagenseller is bringing the wine bar concept to Surprise with a focus on wine, food and time spent with other guests.

The brand was founded by Jen Sinconis and Laura Hernandez as a modern wine bar and tasting room built around small lot wines, hospitality, education and community. The Surprise location will offer wine flights, with one wine or bottle in each flight changing every month.

The food menu will center on small plates, including salads, flatbreads, charcuterie boards, desserts and Champagne cupcakes made in house with real Champagne. The room will not have televisions, and live music is planned for weekends so guests can spend more time talking and listening.

Memberships will be part of the business. Wine clubs will offer between one and six bottles per month, with special events tied to holidays such as Valentine's Day, Father's Day and Mother's Day. Travel benefits are also planned, including trips next year to France, Italy, Rome and other European destinations connected to wineries and vintners.

Wagenseller grew up in Sedona around wine culture and hospitality before spending about two decades building aquarium businesses. The Surprise wine bar marks a professional shift for him into a field he has known since childhood.