Ali Buckler stopped into Down Time Wines, a small Chandler winery, for a casual pour. However, like a good finish, something lingered. 

She loved the vibe, the wines and the idea of community. Less than a year after that 2025 visit, the Amazon business coach opened Poura at 393 W. Warner Road, Suite 109. 

“I thought that if very important people with very large businesses in the e-commerce space take my advice, why am I not doing this for myself?” Buckler said. 

“I have always been in the consumables space — health, beauty, wellness, grocery, pets. I thought the beauty industry might work well for me. It’s always captivated me. As I was looking into more and more businesses that were for sale, I realized I wasn’t aligning with this.”

Wine, however, was a different varietal.

“I love wine. I’m passionate about wine,” she said. “I love connecting with people over wine. Even at Amazon, if we would go out for happy hour, there was always a bottle of wine on the table. I thought that might be a better fit.”

Her parents persuaded her to go for it; her father, Jamie, even offered to learn how to make wine. 

She purchased it in December 2025 and took ownership in February 2026.

“That’s when the real journey started,” Buckler said.

DEEPER DIVE: Global Ambassador tops Arizona’s best resort list

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: Want more news like this? Get our free newsletter here

Corporate meets community

Buckler’s first months as an owner served as a crash course in alcohol compliance. Inspectors were patient, industry peers were kind, and she learned quickly.  

Buckler’s father, Jamie (“Jay”), is now Poura’s winemaker, a role he enjoys. He studies “The Wine Bible,” experiments with suppliers, and is already dreaming of visiting vineyards abroad.

“He has been such a blessing because we didn’t know how it would go,” she said. “I am lucky that he absolutely loves it. We’re looking to expand. We get all of our juices and our grapes from overseas, through our supplier.

“He said that we could go to other suppliers, or maybe he would go vineyards abroad to make connections. It’s been really fun to work with my dad and have him here. We can go over things together and still love each other.” 

The upgrades from Down Time Wines are sweeping yet intentional: dimmer lighting, comfier seating, a custom bar, and a shift from deli‑bright afternoons to a more evening‑forward, lounge‑style space.

She changed the menu and hours. Poura is open 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays; and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays. Buckler said the menu is focused on food that pairs nicely with wine.

“We offer a variety of small plates and bites like burrata bowls, skewers and charcuterie,” she said. “Our most popular item thus far is our bruschetta. We have three options to choose from, or you can mix and match. We continue to roll out new flavors as we grow.” 

Clean and surprisingly global

Poura offers 45 varietals, sourced from Italy, Spain, Portugal, Australia, British Columbia, and a few from California. Buckler kept the global sourcing model from the previous owners, largely because of the quality.

“You have to think about how climate affects the soil,” she explained. “We live in a desert. Those wines are going to typically be more earthy because we don’t get super cold in the wintertime. That’s another reason why we bring in [juices and grapes] from other countries. They live in the perfect climate to make wine, and it’s going to taste better.

“I love wine from other countries, too, because it’s all very regulated. The wine is cleaner. Not only that, but we have low sulfites, which are the preservatives.”

A recent customer vouched for that. She told Buckler she’s allergic to wine, as it causes her to swell. However, she tasted an entire flight without a reaction.

“She said, ‘Oh my gosh. I finally found a wine I can drink — and not just one. There are 45 here.’ Wine is not the healthiest thing for you, but if we can do it in the healthiest way that we can, I feel better about it.” 

Buckler acknowledged that choosing from a list of 45 wines can be intimidating. She’s making it easier for her guests. 

“We’re going to rotate it so it’s not overwhelming to customers,” she said.

The overarching favorite is the Blackberry Velvet Merlot, which, Buckler joked, is “a gateway to wine.” 

“It tastes just like grape juice,” she said. “People love it. We do have the traditional reds. They are so good. The wine is awesome. That’s a big part of why I wanted to buy the business. I saw the winery. I came and tried the wines. There are so many directions I can see this going.” 

Poura is still in its infancy. Buckler is honest about the tears, the late nights, and the stress, but that keeps her going.

“I honestly believe the harder it is, the more successful I’ll be in the future.”