EP #53 The Burger Bosses of Fredericksburg: Meet James and Catie Wine

From government contractor to burger specialist, James Wine and his wife Catie have created something special in Fredericksburg's food scene. Their passion project, Smashed Life, has grown from a food truck into a soon-to-open brick-and-mortar restaurant while maintaining the quality and community focus that made them local favorites.What makes a great smash burger? According to the Wines, it's not just technique but heart. Despite neither having formal food industry backgrounds—James works in facilities management while Catie coaches travel soccer—they've built a reputation for exceptional burgers complemented by house-made sauces that have customers begging for bottled versions. Their signature "smash sauce" pairs perfectly with Catie's homemade ranch to create what regulars affectionately call "smanch."The journey hasn't been smooth. From electrical failures that nearly derailed their first event to the challenges of balancing full-time careers with entrepreneurship, the Wines have persevered through determination and community support. They've given back by sponsoring youth sports, participating in fundraisers for causes like cystic fibrosis and autism, and creating special promotions that benefit local schools.Now permanently located at Maltese Brewing Company's Bowman Center, Smashed Life is preparing to evolve into Smashed Life Grill by Christmas. The expansion will allow them to grow their menu beyond their famous bacon cheeseburgers and brown butter toffee chocolate chip cookies to include wings and other pub favorites that complement their partnership with Maltese.Want to experience what makes Smashed Life special? Visit them at Maltese Brewing, follow them on social media for promotions like Ten Tuesdays and dollar fry Wednesdays, or check out smashed-life.com to learn more about the couple turning passion into delicious reality in Fredericksburg.James and Catie WineSmashed [email protected]+1 540-645-2803Partlow, VA, United States, Virginia