By Bob Flynn

For several years, local residents have had numerous bars and restaurants in downtown Somerset where they could go to enjoy beer or their alcoholic beverage of choice and socialize with friends.

Unfortunately for the local wine lovers, there were no such options available.

But fear not wine aficionados: You too now have a unique place of

your own, to sit and enjoy a glass of your favorite wine and mingle with friends in a warm inviting space.

Southern Vines Wine Bar opened its doors in November 2025 at 208 E. Mt. Vernon Street in the former location of the Jack and Jill Shop and most recently, the United Way offices.

With Valentines Day quickly approaching, Southern Vines is the perfect spot to take your date or spouse for a glass of wine before or after going

out for dinner.

Southern Vines will be offering Valentines Day special packages as well.

The opening was a culmination of a fouryear journey by Somerset High School graduate Lee Redmond and her son Jake Redmond.

Lee left Somerset in 1983 when she joined the Air Force and traveled around the world before settling down in the Texas hill country.

It was there that she developed a love for wines.

“ In 2020 I was living in Fredericksburg building rental cottages in southern Texas and they had a lot of vineyards there," she said. " I was very much into wine at the time so I thought, why not go back to Somerset and do something with it for the citizens here?

“ So I talked to Jake about what I wanted to do and asked him if he would be interested in helping,” she added. Jake, who lives in an apartment above the wine bar said the timing of her