Within a year of the opening of its flagship location, Drum Roll Wine has made a name for itself in downtown Renton for wine tasting, live music and just a cool place to hang out.

“We built this place thinking about wine, but very shortly after we opened, we realized that it’s really more about connection,” said musician Matt Frazier, who owns and operates the business with his wife, author Sundee Frazier. “Wine is the excuse to build a space where people can connect with each other.”

Drum Roll Wine is downtown’s lone wine bar — and is also kid-friendly and dog-friendly. It has made its way into the Best of Renton contest as a runner-up in the category of “Winery,” thanks to the combination of the location’s modern and inviting setting with comfortable seating and the excellent wine, which received an award for “Best White Wine” at last year’s Cascadia International Wine Competition.

For the Fraziers, their hard work has paid off, as their schedule of events and their musical guests grow. In February, they had Tacoma musician Stephanie Anne Johnson, who was a contestant on “The Voice,” perform at Drum Roll Wine.

For Sundee, support and enthusiasm for the space from the community has been a big surprise.

“That’s been really encouraging to see. Like when people come in here and say, ‘Wow, this is a great space’ and ‘We’re so glad you’re here, what a cool vibe,’” she said. “And you definitely get the sense that people are excited to discover us and they plan on coming back again and again.”

Before opening Drum Roll Wine on Oct. 7, 2023, the Fraziers had been promoting their wine through farmers markets. Sundee says that the power of a brick-and-mortar space cannot be underestimated.

“A number of people will come in and it’s like it’s brand new and they didn’t know we existed,” she said. “And that was a little surprising to realize that half the people who come in here, they’re just seeing us for the first time because we have a sign on the street now.”

As Drum Roll Wine grows, the Fraziers find that they like becoming a staple of downtown Renton.

“The biggest surprise is just how many people I’ve gotten to know, in a short period of time,” said Matt. “It’s been fun to meet folks, mostly from the community or Renton and getting to become part of the community in a way.”

Drum Roll Wine is located at 911 South Third Street in Renton and is currently open Fridays from 2-7 p.m., Saturdays from 1-7 p.m. and Sundays from 1-6 p.m. Drum Roll Wine can be contacted at 425-221-5650 or info@drumrollwine.com and can be found on Instagram under the handle @drumrollwine.

For more information and to join the Drum Roll Wine Club, visit drumrollwine.com.