Wine Maniacs Wine Bar and Bistro is located on Hwy. P in the Town of Oconomowoc. Jeff Cox is the owner and operator. We would like to thank Jeff for taking a few minutes to talk to us about his business and life in Lake Country.
Question: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
Answer: “As a wine consumer, I disliked how Americans had to buy wine, through wine clubs or going to Napa or Sonoma Valley every year. We offer 50 wines by the glass, and our customers can taste each one before buying them by the bottle.”
Q. What is your favorite restaurant in Lake Country, and what do you love there?
A. “I love the Union House in Genesee Depot. They have excellent specials, although my favorite is the roast duck.”
Q. How long have you lived or worked in Lake Country?
A. “For twenty years, in both Pewaukee and on Lower Genesee Lake.”
Q. If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why?
A. “I’d to to Italy because the food and wine is amazing. Their culture is friendly, easy, and diverse, your experience alters dramatically based on the region.”
Q. What is your favorite movie OR what is the first movie you remember seeing in a theatre?
A. “Lord of the Rings”.
Q. What is something on your bucket list?
A. “To visit the wine region of Argentina.”
Q. Name three bands you would like to see (dead or alive).
A. “The Eagles, Dire Straits and Carlos Santana.”
Q. What current / former local business makes you the most nostalgic about Lake Country?
A. “Musky Mike’s”.
Q. Choosing anyone alive and a non-relative: with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? Where in Lake Country would you have lunch?
A. “I’d like to meet Lee Iacocca for lunch at Wine Maniacs, of course!”
Q. Even for friends or family, what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A. My Dad was a photographer for National Geographic. I was with him on assignment in the Grand Canyon. I was struck by lightning, and as a result, was blind for a year while my corneas healed. I was 18 years old.”
Q. What 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
A. “Home is where you belong.”
The Faces of Lake Country is a project to showcase the amazing people that live or work in our community. If you would like to nominate an interesting person to be featured, please click the button below. Interview by Dani Austin-Rauch.
