D’Vine Gourmet has the perfect gifts
Denise McCreery was just experimenting when she began taking the wine her husband would bring home from wine tastings and started making “spirit jellies.” Living in Tucson at the time, Denise decided to try and sell the product and made 1,000 jars that she thought would last through the craft fair season.
“We sold all 1,000 jars in the first two days,” she says.
At that moment, Heavenly Spreadables was born. D’Vine Gourmet, a company focusing on unique holiday and event gift baskets, was the natural progression for McCreery. The gift baskets are filled with high-quality, delicious treats that include, obviously, Heavenly Spreadables and other products that are primarily locally produced.
“We always try to use local vendors whenever we can,” McCreery says. “We like to support the local businesses.”
And D’Vine Gourmet is a true local business as the McCreery’s have made the move to Chandler following her husband’s job transfer. Denise will soon open a retail space at 1075 East Riggs Road (at McQueen Road) to hopefully take care of any last-minute shoppers looking for a great local gift.
Some of the popular gift baskets include the Buon Dia, which includes fresh-baked scones smothered with Blackberry Cabernet wine jam, Italian brewing coffee, Chai tea mix, biscotti and a hand-painted spreader; and the D’Vine Pantry. a steel-ribbed willow basket with wine jellies, bourbon pecan brittle, crackers, wine infuse cheese, liquer cake, decadent sipping chocolate and other treats.
Of course, the Heavenly Spreadables wine jellies are still a staple of the business, which McCreery says is composed of about 70 percent corporate gifts. She has 20 different products including popular choices such as Black Pepper Merlot, a deep, fruity merlot flavor made even more piquant with fresh ground black pepper; Apple Chardonnay, a light, crisp, yet bold true California Chardonay combined with fresh, sweet apple juice; and Tequila Lime with Habanero, with real Mexican tequila, lime juice and freshly chopped habanera peppers.
McCreery says all the alcohol is eliminated during the cooking process and all the wine and spirit jellies are free from additives and preservatives.
McCreery built her business in Tucson through actively marketing herself and her business and she’s doing the same thing in Chandler. She’s joined the Chandler Chamber of Commerce and various other networking organizations. She recently also set up a display of her gift baskets and Heavenly Spreadables during an event at DVine Wine Bar and Bistro for an organization called Women In Need of Shopping (WINOS).
In 2007, Denise was honored with the Entrepreneurial Spirit Award, Women Entrepreneur of the Year for a Product-Based Business and was named one of Arizona’s Top 10 Women to Watch in 2005 by BizAZ magazine.
Those interested can visit www.dvinegourmet.com to see her companies selection of gift baskets, wine jellies and other gourmet gifts.
Written by Kirk Kern
D’Vine Gourmet has the perfect gifts
Denise McCreery was just experimenting when she began taking the wine her husband would bring home from wine tastings and started making “spirit jellies.” Living in Tucson at the time, Denise decided to try and sell the product and made 1,000 jars that she thought would last through the craft fair season. (more…)
Complete Feed
