After two years of preparing the space, diVINE on Main officially opened Monday, May 10, on Main Street in Peterborough.

Owner Lisa Witte said the wine bar is an unpretentious place to sit, chat and enjoy a glass of wine.

“If you come here, there’s no preconceived notions. We’re not wine snobs, just people who enjoy sipping, the environment,” Witte said.

Inside, comfortable chairs are set up next to side tables where people can place a glass or snack off a charcuterie board. There aren’t formal dining tables, and Witte said, “It’s conducive to sitting and chatting,” which makes it a good spot for a casual drink, meetings or special events. 

They currently have more than 30 different wines and offer snacks like pretzels, burrata, chips and dip and a vanilla bean cake with a caramel lava. 

“I think we have a little something for everyone,” said Witte, currently the superintendent of the Monadnock Regional School District until the end of the 2023-2024 school year, when she plans to leave.

Witte said she was inspired by MJ’s, a wine bar she loved in Portland, Maine. When she first moved to Peterborough, she thought, “This is the perfect little town for something like MJ’s.” Years later, when the space opened up downtown, it was what she’d been looking for.

“It’s so fun to see people in here now,” said Witte.

The location was previously a clothing store, so changing uses meant a long renovation process, attaining permits and following codes, plus they experienced supply chain delays. There were a few days of a soft opening with family and friends before opening to the public, which Witte said was a great opportunity to iron out details. 

Witte is thrilled with her team.

“I hired a bunch of amazing people,” she said, and her new husband, Peterborough Fire Chief Ed Walker, helps out as well. “I’m not an expert by any means,” but “I know what I like.” And she just finished a Wine and Spirit Education Trust level 2 class (WSET2), which included learning about tasting methodology, structure and geography of grapes.

“Everyone has been really complimentary,” Witte said, “I welcome all feedback.” Her team is keeping track of comments, suggestions and ideas. 

They plan to start offering wine flights, and Witte is considering mimosas on Sundays. Witte hopes to open the porch area either late this summer or next summer, which requires a separate license to serve wine outside.

diVINE on Main is open Wednesday through Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m. It will be open on Memorial Day, Monday May 29, from 2 to 8 p.m. Summer hours will start June and run through August on  Wednesday and Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m., Friday from 4 to 9 p.m., Saturday from 2 to 9 p.m. and Sunday 2 to 8 p.m.

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