In 2016, PA history was made! This was the moment a privately-owned wine shop opened in Philly, the first since 1919. It was a small step but an important one in the privatization of wine sales in Pennsylvania.
The staff was trained at the Wine School, and I acted as their first wine buyer, until they got up to speed. We focused on delivering high quality wines that offer good value, and that means stocking wine from small family-run wineries.
It started off as a tiny wine shop, with only about 100 selections. Over time, it grew and diversified. It is now part of a locally owned grocery. If you ever want to see where a little bit of PA wine history started, check out the wine shelves at The Richmond Shops IGA at 2497 Aramingo Avenue in Port Richmond.
Over time, many more wine shops have opened up, and former students at the wine school have started many. There are now plenty of independent wine shops around Philly. It’s taken over two decades to get this far, but it’s been worth it.