The story of Wine Junction begins not in Virginia, but on the other side of the world — in Almaty, Kazakhstan, the hometown of owner Zhanna Issatayeva.

For over two decades, Zhanna has built a distinguished career in banking and finance. But beyond the office, she and her husband Timur shared a different kind of ambition: exploring the world, one glass at a time.

In 2006, with Timur’s encouragement, Zhanna took a bold leap — opening Kazakhstan’s first-ever wine shop and bar. Her establishment, Via Del Mondo, became a pioneer in the region, offering 1,500 labels sourced from across the globe and earning prestigious recognition from Wine Spectator for several consecutive years.

In 2022, Zhanna and Timur brought that vision to the United States, settling in the Washington D.C. area and making an immediate impression on the local dining scene through a partnership with acclaimed Chef Pepe Moncayo.

Along the way, Zhanna’s passion for wine has opened doors to extraordinary connections — among them, members of Luxembourg’s royal family and the storied Rothschild dynasty. It’s that same devotion to wine, and to the people who love it, that makes Wine Junction what it is today: a place where every bottle has a story, and every guest feels at home.