Quincy native returns home, takes over downtown wine bar

QUINCY - The Lovely Grape owner Melisa Lovely seems at ease behind the counter of her downtown Quincy wine bar, as she rattles off her favorite wine and food pairings.

At the top of her list is a California port wine and Havarti cheese. It's the same combination that initially got her interested in the world of wine, she said.

"I used to not even be a fan of wine, I never liked it," Lovely said. "But I did like cheese."

Lovely said she visited a California winery a few years back with some of her coworkers. Although she didn't care for the wine, there were a few good selections of cheese, she said.

But one of the winery's employees insisted she try one of their wines with the cheeses. Lovely said she decided to try a port wine with a slice of Havarti cheese.

"Surprisingly, it was amazing," she said.

Lovely said she liked how the wine intensified the flavor of the cheese, and vice versa.

"I thought, you know this wine is actually really good," Lovely said. "And I just went from there and started trying different wines."

Over the next couple of years, she said she began helping friends and other coworkers find wines they liked. It wasn't until earlier this year that she got the opportunity to do it full time, she said.

Lovely was in Quincy visiting family when she heard The Grape was being sold.

At the time, she was serving active duty in the Army, she said.

"But I wanted to give my sons some stability instead of always moving around," Lovely said. "I also went to high school in Quincy until my senior year and I thought it would be a good place to move to."

She and her husband, Steven Lovely, made an offer on the wine bar earlier this year, she said. It was accepted, and they officially took over as owners July 1.

Although the name changed a little, Lovely said customers will still find a great selection of wines and beers from all over the region.

On tap is five brews from the Ancient Lakes Brewing Co., she said. The Lovely Grape carries wines from Basin operations like Jones of Washington, Milbrandt Vineyards and Beaumont Cellars.

Wines also come from Walla Walla and Wenatchee.

The Lovely Grape will be open from 4 to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Lovely said a grand re-opening event will be held at the wine bar Friday. Customers can enjoy free wine tasting and half-off select wines and draft beers from 4 to 7 p.m., she said.

There will also be a variety of giveaways including gift certificates, bottles of wine and other prizes, Lovely said. A couple of gift baskets with wine and other items will be up for silent auction that night as well.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/TheLovelyGrape or call 509-787-5170.

The Lovely Grape is located at 2 D St. SE in downtown Quincy.