Meet Two Favorite Local Companies at GrapeFest 2025

GrapeFest, the Largest Wine Festival in the Southwest, returns this September, and residents across the Dallas-Fort Worth Area can’t wait to see what the City of Grapevine has planned.  This year’s theme is The Grape Gatsby, celebrating the 100th anniversary of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s famous novel.

While GrapeFest brings together dozens of vendors, entertainers, and wineries from across Texas and beyond, there are a few local companies that Grapevine residents look out for. One has been a staple in Grapevine for six years, while the other recently opened in 2024.

Get to know Winestein’s Tasting Room and YaYaYum Boards and discover why Grapevine has the best wine and cheese pairings around. 

Winestein’s Creates Opportunities to Explore Wine Downtown

Winestein’s Tasting Room opened less than a year ago but has already built a loyal customer base of people who enjoy its wines and events. Michael and Maranda Einstein say, “Anyone who drinks at Winestein’s is a genius,” regardless of their experience with wine.

The tasting room enables customers to sample wine before they commit to an entire bottle. For the Einsteins, it doesn’t matter what the cost of the bottle is, only that the customer enjoys the flavor profiles and drinking experience. The tasting room has around 125 bottles for retail sale and is focused on boutique wineries from around the world.  

“One of the things we thought was missing on Main Street was education and exploration of different kinds of wines,” says Michael. “The Texas wine scene is well represented in Downtown Grapevine, and we love our local wineries, but we thought there was something we could add.” 

The Einsteins Are Committed to Making Wine Approachable

Winestein’s is built on the idea that high-quality items don’t have to be expensive. When a customer visits the tasting room, Michael or Maranda asks about the types of wines they like to drink. Some people know what they like, while others might only know whether they prefer white or red.

“Your palate is your palate, and you shouldn’t feel bad about the wine you like,” says Michael. “I really want our customers to enjoy the glass or bottle they buy from us.”

To increase approachability, the Einsteins adjusted how customers enjoy flights of wine in their tasting room. Instead of using complicated terminology, customers rate each wine on a scale of one to five Einstein heads. Each wine comes with descriptors that customers can use when they ask for wines in the future. This way, if someone dines out and feels overwhelmed by a restaurant menu, they know what words or phrases to use to ask about wines they might like.

“We like to take down the barrier of the high-end restaurant where you meet with a sommelier,” says Maranda. “Many people want to ask questions without feeling silly or stupid.”

The Einsteins meet people where they are in their wine knowledge. They create a safe space where people can use whatever terms they want to describe wine and share what flavors they get from it. 

Winestein’s Credits the City’s Support for Their Success

The Einsteins say there has been an outpouring of support from city leaders as they opened their doors downtown, and new geniuses (customers) visit the tasting room each week. Winestein’s is walkable for many people who live around Main Street, creating a community hub for those who enjoy relaxing with a glass or flight of wine.

“The city has been an amazing partner,” says Maranda. “Its goal was to grow Main Street, and city leaders were excited about our vision. I don’t think we could have built this business anywhere else.”

Michael credits word-of-mouth support to Winestein's growing customer base. It already has more than 65 members in its wine club, and Michael is leading a wine tasting trip to Oregon later this year.

“We wouldn’t be nearly as successful without the community,” he says.

Winestein's will be participating in GrapeFest in two different areas, so you can meet this new business and congratulate them on a successful first year in Grapevine.

YaYaYum Boards Offers Small and Large Charcuterie Orders

Of course, you can’t have wine without cheese, and Ayesha Patel at YaYaYum Boards makes sure everyone has the perfect bite with her various charcuterie boxes, platters, and grazing tables. You can pick up a charcuterie snack box for one or two people, or order catering for your next large-scale event.

Patel makes it easy to order charcuterie boards with her clean and detailed online presence. Customers can build their own boards or order platters in a pinch. There are same-day pickup options or delivery if you have a little more time.

“We really focus on what’s in season,” says Patel. “Holidays are busy because we do a lot of custom-theme boards around parties and events.” 

Patel Started the YaYaYum Brand in Her Parents' Kitchen

Patel discovered her passion for charcuterie during her college years. Her friends would decide on meat and cheese boards for dinner, and she would take over in the creation and presentation of the platters.

“I love food and have always been a visual person,” says Patel. “I liked cutting things neatly and presenting them in a specific way.”

When she graduated from college in the summer of 2019, Patel wasn’t sure what to do with her life. She started making charcuterie boards in her parents’ kitchen and delivered them around town. In October 2020, the business had grown to the point where she could open her own storefront in Grapevine. In October 2024, she opened a second location in Dallas.   

Patel Offers Workshops to Teach the Art of Charcuterie

Patel doesn’t have formal culinary training. Instead, she uses her palate and years of experience to find unique pairings that create the perfect bite. She references the Pixar movie Ratatouille when describing creating different pairings. The saltiness of bleu cheese can pair nicely with dark chocolate, but many people don’t think to combine the two.  

Patel’s workshops focus on creating boards that feed two to four people. They cover topics like bringing in different flavors and presenting them in an appealing way.

“My top tip is to always start with the largest items and work to the smallest,” she says. “There’s no right or wrong way to make a board because it’s abstract art. It’s going to be okay no matter what you do.”

Her advice is that if you are creating a charcuterie board for more than four people, it’s often better to buy it. Purchasing a board offers more diversity of food options and allows you to save time instead of cutting and placing each item yourself.  

YaYaYum Will Have Snack Boxes at GrapeFest

GrapeFest attendees can pick up individual snack boxes and charcuterie cups from YaYaYum. Beyond this event, Patel is about to launch her workshop calendar for the fall season, including specialty classes for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. She says the catering schedule fills up quickly in the holiday season and encourages customers to order ahead if they need a charcuterie board and grazing table.

Foodies can also follow Patel’s Instagram account, YaYaYum, to find other delicious bites in the area. 

GrapeFest Showcases the Vibrant Community of Grapevine

GrapeFest has been named one of the Top 10 Wine Festivals in the United States, but it earned that title because of the local community. Small businesses like Winestein’s and YaYaYum are eager to participate and contribute to the event. Throughout the year, the local community invests in new ventures across Main Street, making these companies viable.

Learn why more people are choosing Grapevine and why businesses thrive here. The business resources, city engagement, and community support have created a healthy environment for startups and entrepreneurs. We can’t wait to see how brands like Winestein’s and YaYaYum grow, and we are happy to welcome any new ventures and big ideas that complement them.