By Annette Gallagher
Coorespondent

The Wine Studio on Hooksett Road in Manchester plans to hold art openings in conjunction with wine tastings. (Mirror/Annette Gallagher)

Great wines and good cheeses and lovely art, oh my. You don’t need a yellow brick road to find The Wine Studio, located in the same plaza as Blake’s Restaurant on Hooksett Road, but the array of goodies inside is more wonderful than anything Dorothy found in the Emerald City.

Owner Maureen Adams gave up her corporate career to focus on her twin loves of art and wine.

“I know a bit about wine, and even I find many wine shops intimidating,” she said. “Because of that, I wanted a bright, friendly, spacious shop where people could enjoy and browse and taste and learn without fear of knocking anything over or being looked down on.”

The Wine Studio is all that and more. Almost a third of the space is dedicated to art (hence the “Studio” in the name). Adams also is a professional photographer.

“There aren’t any places for photography exhibits around here,” she said. “Every month I will feature a new artist, photographers and other media, and open the exhibit with a tasting, to which they can invite all of their friends and family and fans, as well.”

Although the space, which is professionally designed with track lighting and cable racks, currently features photographs, a future exhibit will feature two artists who work in pastels. For many people, the marriage of art and wine is a natural one, not available anywhere else in Manchester.

Adams currently has 150 labels in her shop and hopes to increase that to between 300 and 400.

“There are things I will bring in based on customer requests, and I wanted to start smaller and let the consumer demand shape some of the future purchases,” she said.

Although The Wine Studio offers selections from France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Australia and South Africa, one of the most interesting wines (as far as the label) is the Californian Marilyn Merlot, named for the iconic actress and pin-up girl. Selling for $34 a bottle, the Napa Valley wine is both delicious and an investment, according to Adams.

“I’ve seen empty bottles sell for $100 or more on Ebay and a recent 5-year-old full bottle went for $3,500!” Every bottle features a picture of Marilyn Monroe, with each vintage getting a different look.

Besides wine, Adams sells gourmet goodies such as chevré from Vermont Butter & Cheese, Grafton Cheddar, smoked salmon and brie; groceries such as Private Harvest soft cheese toppers in pear, cranberry and sun-dried tomato; and chocolates from Merrimack’s Swan Chocolates.

She also carries wine accessories such as bottle labels, picnic basket/backpacks, cloth napkins and place mats, high-tech corkscrews, stoppers and bottle toppers, cheese boards and, of course, wine glasses.

Tastings are a weekly event and are held Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m.

“Some of the tastings will be run by distributors,” Adams said, “but some of them will just be what I want to serve that time around.”

The Wine Studio is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and can be reached at 622-WINE (9463). The Web site, which is now under construction, is www.thewinestudionh.com.