Certified sommelier opens wine and vintage shop at Lake Anne Plaza

Jennifer Monago spent years as the friend everyone called for wine advice. Now she has her own shop.

Kinship Wine + Wares opened in early July at 1635B Washington Plaza in Lake Anne Plaza, bringing a combination of hand-picked wines and vintage housewares to one of Reston's longtime gathering spots. Monago, a certified sommelier, told Northern Virginia Magazine the shop is a culmination of her life and career experiences.

The space sits next door to Elden Street Tea Shop at 1633A Washington Plaza, owned by Monago's close friend. When the storefront became available, Monago said she knew it was time.

"I really got hooked on the geekiness of wine, the story of wine, and really got to know the people who made wine," Monago told Northern Virginia Magazine in a profile. "That was my passion, my hobby."

From fundraising to fermentation

Monago's path to the shop was anything but direct. After college, she worked in political fundraising in New York. Following the 2002 election cycle, she shifted to retail at Restoration Hardware and was promoted to the company's California headquarters, where she handled corporate store operations and communications. Weekend trips to Marin County wineries turned a casual interest into an obsession.

After moving back to the East Coast with her family, Monago earned her sommelier certification, hosted tastings and classes, and worked for wine distributors. Kinship is the business she said she always wanted.

What's inside

Monago describes the shop as "tiny" but stocks it only with wines she has personally tried and loved. She rotates the selection frequently to feature new finds. Vintage décor fills the rest of the space, which Northern Virginia Magazine's Amy Ayres described as feeling like "your friend's cozy living room."

The shop offers in-person and virtual wine tastings, hands-on workshops and consulting for customers building a wine cellar. Tasting times are posted on Instagram at @kinshipwine.

Hours and grand opening

Kinship Wine + Wares is open Wednesday through Friday, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturdays starting at 10 a.m. (closing time varies; check @kinshipwine on Instagram). A grand opening celebration is planned for September; a specific date has not yet been announced. Residents can check kinshipwine.com for updates.