Jon and T. Frick McNamara are West Seattleites and the owners of the Junction's newest business Bin 41, at 4707 California Ave. S.W. in the heart of the Junction. A wine shop, Bin 41 will hold it's "soft opening" on Tuesday, March 16th.

The shop will feature wines from all over the world but offer a concentration on Northwest wines (although they can order almost anything).

Surprisingly they are not competing with the well known West Seattle Cellars, they are working with them instead. "West Seattle has room for two shops and by working together we can create a stronger portfolio and diversity of wine selections, we can increase the number of classes and special events...it just allows the community to get more exposure to fine wine," McNamara said. "We are working together and collaborating. We see this as a benefit. They are definitely wine experts... we're just passionate about wine." The McNamara's make it themselves, planning on introducing a custom branded Chardonnay sometime this spring, made in a bonded facility they use in Woodinville.

The couple, both landscape architects and urban designers, went into that business because it combines "science and craft and that's kind of what got us into wine. The idea that it starts at the vineyard with the slope orientation and the micro-climate, the soil it's growing out of. Then it goes from the vine and how they manage the vineyard to the harvest and then to the winemaker where they put their personality into it and then the the whole marketing of the package."

Originally from Wisconsin the McNamara's have lived in West Seattle for ten years. "We first started falling in love with good wine in Oregon so that's why we want to have a good selection of Oregon wines."

T. left her landscaping work only four weeks ago but both of them plan to keep working on landscape design "when we can find the time."

The grand opening is April 1- 4, featuring wine tastings every day and local West Seattle vintners Darby English and Chris Gorman. The 1st is a big day because "It's our day one but it's West Seattle Cellar's 15 year anniversary," T. said.

The shop has been designed in a modular fashion with many bottles on wheeled stainless steel racks that can be moved to accomodate dinners and other special events. Weekly tastings will be themed and staged on Saturdays in the afternoon.

"Our goal is to expose our customers to wines from all over to see what they like," T. continued, "one of the big things about us is that for us it's about wine in every day life. The social aspect of it. Food and wine is very important to us. Wine with friends family and special events. So that's what we're trying to do, is offer a good diversity of wines, all price ranges."

To keep up with Bin 41 and their events and new wines visit their website Bin41wine.com