WOLFEBORO – Imagine a beautiful shop with an eclectic selection of wines and mouthwatering cheeses from all around the globe, a relaxed open feel, and a knowledgeable, friendly staff.

Welcome to Wolfeboro Wine Cellar, which opened June 15 on 51 North Main Street in Wolfeboro. Whether you’re a seasoned wine connoisseur or a curious newcomer; this charming spot is a must visit.

Just one word of caution: If you venture in and sample the goods (such as the five-year-aged Gouda from Holland), you may find the memory of the Gouda lingering deliciously on your taste buds, necessitating a return trip.

Oh my. Now, that is how cheese was intended to be.

Along with fine wines and artisan cheeses, this intimate spot offers options for all budgets, a snob-free/zero intimidation atmosphere, wine accessories, gifts, and complimentary tastings.

“It’s a store for everyone,” owner Robb Karstedt said. “It’s not just for the wine elite. Our wine ranges from $10 and up. Good wine doesn’t have to be expensive, definitely not.”

Unusually dedicated to getting everything right, Karstedt, 24, grew up in Wolfeboro, graduated from Brewster Academy, and attended UNH’s Whittemore School of Business, where he studied entrepreneurship/venture creation. Throughout college he worked at the Portsmouth wine and cheese store, “Corks and Curds,” where he soaked up knowledge, did tastings, and helped customers find wines they’d enjoy.

Karstedt takes his business very seriously, and clearly cares about being a community asset, being responsible, and achieving the highest possible standards.

The same can be said of Nastassja Alfredson, 23, his girlfriend and right-hand woman in this vino venture. Both take pride in their work, and strive to make visitors comfortable.

“We just really want it to be a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere,” Alfredson said.

The two had talked of opening a wine store in Wolfeboro for more than a year.

“Once the space became available I jumped at the opportunity,” Karstedt said.

Located at the corner of North Main and Mill Streets(in front of Nordic Skier Sports and next to Winnipesaukee Chocolates), Wolfeboro Wine Cellar is a visual feast with hardwood floors, wooden wine racks, eye-catching décor; beautifully designed displays and amazing attention to detail.

“We specialize in our favorite wines and cheeses and we taste everything before we put it on the racks,” Alfredson Said. Both love to travel, and enjoy discovering even more wines and cheeses to add to their already impressive repertoire.

Customers can place special orders, and get as much wine-buying guidance as they like, including recommendations on pairings. Want to know which wines should go well with that salmon? You’ve come to the right spot.

“Shopping by label is the wrong way to do it,” Karstedt said. “When you go into sauvignon blancs, there are so many different styles. Not all of them pair well.”

That’s where the knowledge and experience come in.

Wolfeboro Wine Cellar “takes the guessing out of buying your bottle of wine,” he said. “We like to focus on personal service, finding what our customers like, and introducing new things to them.”

A proud sponsor of the Wolfeboro Folk Festival, Wolfeboro Wine Cellar offers in-store tastings Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with several reds and whites on hand for folks to sample. IDs are carefully checked, Alfredson said, and small-pours are served.

Saturdays also feature wine and chocolate pairings with Winnipesaukee Chocolates.

Manning the store’s cozy corner wine-tasting station, Karstedt opens a Petite Sirah and gently swivels the red wine around in a glass.

“The swirl works up a good nose on the wine, while at the same time increasing the rate of aeration, letting it breathe,” he explains, before taking a sniff. “The most important part (of tasting) is you want to hold it on your tongue for five seconds, which gives your taste buds a chance to wake up.”

Wolfeboro Wine Cellar will also provide and serve wine at private gatherings and events at the store or at your place. Open year-round, with limited winter hours, it is a great place to shop for gifts, such as picnic baskets, cutting boards, wine glasses, red-wine-stain-remover, wine accessories, decanters, and H & K steel sculptures imported from Germany – unique wine-bottle holders that incorporate a wine bottle into each whimsical figure. Karstedt also plans to add a humidor and offer a nice cigar selection.

Wolfeboro Wine Cellar is open Tuesdays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Fridays & Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is closed on Mondays. Located at 51 North Main St, Wolfeboro, the store can be reached at 569-3321.