University Star

Downtown San Marcos will soon be getting a classy new addition.

Roger Hestand is the owner of the Ruby Heels Wine Shop, which is set to open near The Square. Hestand is now the producer of a variety of wines including pomegranate wildberry.

Roger Hestand, a San Marcos native, has decided to introduce Ruby Heels Wine Shoppe near The Square. He hopes the vast variety of wines offered in the shop will encourage patrons to stop by.

“My passion and interest for wine started about a year and a half ago,” said Roger Hestand. “It was during that time that a friend of mine and I traveled to Gruene, and while staying there we decided to visit one of their local wineries.”

The winery where Roger Hestand and his friend stayed ended up leaving a lasting impact on his life. Because of that winery, he learned how to make wine and was taught the differences between its flavors. Roger Hestand waited many years before finally deciding to start the business of his dreams. With the help and encouragement of his wife, Kathleen Hestand, he was able to use some of the money from her 401K to put toward the wine business.

“I was very hesitant at first when it came to starting up the winery because I knew how bad of shape our country’s economy was in, and I was fearful of whether or not the business would be able to make it,” Roger Hestand said. “Eventually, I decided to just go out on a limb and start the winery anyway. I couldn’t wait any longer.”

When designing the winery’s environment, Hestand wanted to make sure to create something future customers would view as fun and unique. Kathleen Hestand was put in charge of handling most of the renovations for the winery. Most of her days were spent buying and picking out paints to use for the walls and tables of the store.

“I wanted to make sure that once the clients stepped inside the shop they would automatically feel intrigued by the unique atmosphere and ultimately feel at home,” Kathleen Hestand said.

Roger Hestand is excited to have the opportunity to educate his future customers about all of the different wines the shop will have in inventory.

“I’ve been to many different wineries in San Marcos and I know that Ruby Heels Wine Shoppe offers many things that those places don’t,” Roger Hestand said. “I’m proud of the work that I’ve put into the place and hope that it will pay off.”

Roger’s work and dedication is already being noticed.

“I can already tell that the winery will add some much needed change to The Square,” said Aaron Stephens, public relations junior. “It definitely looks like a cool place to check out and browse through.”