Our Philosophy

      There is more to being a wine merchant than simply offering wine for sale. A wine merchant is, in the truest sense of the word, a professional. In Europe and Great Britain , the wine trade is ranked along with medicine and law as an honorable profession. It is unfortunate that in the United States, the prevailing opinion has been that if one could sell any commodity, be it shoes, insurance, cars, computers or real estate, then one was qualified to be a wine merchant. The result has been the proliferation of a large number of "experts" and "consultants" whose knowledge of the intricacies of wine is marginal at best, whose commitment to their trade ends at their pay packet, and who have profited from consumer newness to wine. One need not look far to find uninformed, mass market techniques in the wine trade. The choices are limited. The local package store is usually at the mercy of their purveyors. The selection typically is unimaginative and limited to mass marketed, industrial quality wines. The local package stores rely on shelf talkers and assurances from their purveyor's for the quality of the products they stock. The second option is the large volume "Discount" Wine Warehouse type of store. These barn like structures feature massive floor stacks of wine, row upon row of bottles, sterile atmosphere and often, cold, impersonal service. These are the regrettable trends/hallmarks of the wine trade in the United States.

      We at The Shelburne Falls Wine Merchant refuse to conduct business in this manner. We offer an alternative - the knowledge, dedication and involvement of a truly professional wine merchant.

      Our philosophy of being The Shelburne Falls Wine Merchant is simple, clear and honest. It involves selling only quality, carefully-selected wines and spirits at fair prices. We taste every wine and spirit before we purchase it. We can state unequivocally that the wine or spirit will be representative of the grape varietal, style or region that is indicated on the label. It means offering the benefit of our professional commitment to you in both products and service. It means that in our small corner of the world of wine, we are trying to restore an image of professionalism to the wine trade in the United States , and prove that quality is not necessarily expensive or impossible to attain. We would like you to view our service as a useful accompaniment to your daily enjoyment of food and wine, just as your healthcare professional is a useful adjunct to healthful living.

      Our staff is professional, friendly and unassuming. We adhere to the Japanese adage that "The Customer Is God". We feel confident that once you have experienced the services of a true wine merchant, you will notice the difference. We of The Shelburne Falls Wine Merchant will appreciate the opportunity to be that kind of professional for you in the years to come.