{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Husband and Wife Team Transforms Passion into a Thriving Wine Bar: Chuck and Amanda Azar","description":"I was walking on Pier Avenue in Hermosa Beach and I spied some activity in what was a small French inspired restaurant which had closed months earlier. I decided to poke my head in a find you what was going on.  Greeted by a smiling, pleasant woman, I sat at the new wine bar named Malendrina. And the conversation ensued as I was completely taken by Amanda Azar and the story of her and her husbanc, Chuck and their venture into enrtrepreneurship. Amanda Azar may be the only person who can make \u201ctorturing\u201d her partner with bad wine sound like a priceless education, but that\u2019s just the tip of the bottle here. In this episode, you\u2019ll enter the world of two hospitality visionaries who\u2019ve poured sweat, soul, and every saved penny into their dream\u2014a wine bar born from decades inside both the supplier and distributor trenches of the wine industry. You\u2019ll hear stories of failures\u201410,000 wine brands, 99% of them doomed\u2014and how the real magic comes not from corporate playbooks or celebrity endorsements, but from relentless perseverance, deep culture, and a partnership fueled by passion, humor, and plenty of grape leaves. Here, a glass isn\u2019t just filled; it\u2019s accompanied by stories, family, and genuine warmth. There\u2019s inspiration in Amanda\u2019s Sicilian childhood, where wine was never taboo but a natural extension of family, food, and connection. Pair this with her partner\u2019s Palestinian heritage, and you\u2019ll witness how root-deep values of generosity and community shape not just the service but the heart behind it all. The episode uncorks what it truly means to build something together: overcoming headwinds, trusting each other\u2019s strengths, and redefining what success and hospitality can look like. And if you\u2019ve ever wondered what working side-by-side with your spouse looks like when exhaustion and dreams are equally shared, you\u2019ll find insight\u2014and camaraderie\u2014at this table. Listen in and you will learn: \ud83c\udf77 Why \u201cwhat grows together goes together\u201d is more than a catchy phrase\u2014it's a philosophy for pairing wine, food, and life. \ud83c\udf77 What it really takes to work with your spouse in business, blending strengths, sharing burdens, and supporting each other's dreams. \ud83c\udf77 How to curate a wine list that resists commercial sameness and instead tells a story, elevates the experience, and educates palates. \ud83c\udf77 The secret power of genuine hospitality\u2014treating staff and guests as family, and why that matters more than any fancy marketing. \ud83c\udf77 Real-world lessons from the trenches: why passion, persistence, and authenticity are worth more than a celebrity name on a wine label. You\u2019ll come away not only inspired by their grit but with a deeper sense of what it means to use wine as a vessel for true connection, discovery, and belonging.   Tensley Winery: https:\/\/www.tensleywines.com Malendrina Wine Bar: https:\/\/www.malendrina.com Wine Talks: https:\/\/www.winetalkspodcast.com BevMo: https:\/\/www.bevmo.com Trader Joe\u2019s: https:\/\/www.traderjoes.com Southern: https:\/\/www.southernglazers.com ","author_name":"Wine Talks with Paul K.","author_url":"https:\/\/www.winetalkspodcast.com","html":"