Meet Bethany of Brookhaven Wines

Tuesday, July 5, 2022

Brookhaven Wines, located in Brookhaven Village, is one of our favorite local wine shops! They've been one of our partner pick up locations since the beginning, which means you can pick up your G&G orders from their shop on Mondays, and grab some wine to pair with your meal kits while you're there–a win, win! We talked with Bethany, a Certified Sommelier at the shop, about wine pairings, wine delivery, and becoming a sommelier. Keep reading to learn more, and see Bethany's pairings for our menu that will be delivered the week of 7/10 here.

Tell us about Brookhaven Wines! Where exactly is the shop located and how long has it been open?

Brookhaven Wines opened in 2013 and is located on Dresden drive in the heart of Brookhaven Village. Highlights of the shop include a 6-bottle monthly wine club, curated collectors club, educational wine classes, wine tastings, food & wine pairing dinners, and custom winery trips.

How did you get into wine? What was the process like to become a sommelier?

Wine started out as a hobby. I enjoyed tasting and studying wine and attending food and wine events and always said my dream job would be to become a sommelier. Working in the marketing and public relations industry was not bringing joy to my life so I decided to take a shot at my dream job. I got a part-time position at a lovely local wine shop in Kirkwood called Savor Wine Boutique. Thanks to the owner, Kyla Cox, for giving me the opportunity to get my foot in the door without any actual wine sales experience! From there my passion became stronger and I used all my free time to blind taste and study every wine book I could get my hands on.

I am a Certified Sommelier, which means I passed level 1 and level 2 exams with the Court of Master Sommeliers. Level 1 requires the passing of a written exam and Level 2 requires the passing of 3 areas: wine theory (written), blind tasting, and table service. To pass Level 2 requires several months of studying, blind tasting, and service practice. All of that studying and practice paid off when I received the Walter Clore Scholarship for getting the highest grade in my class!

What is your go-to bottle of wine?

I seriously love all good wine. The biggest influencers to my decision are whether I will be drinking it with food, thus considering the type of food, as well as the weather and occasion. My personal fridge is always stocked with bubbles, Champagne should not just be reserved for special occasions, I can find any excuse to open a bottle! In the summertime I always keep in stock tons of rosé, light whites (Spanish Albariño is a favorite), and chillable reds (especially Beaujolais!).

Do you have any general tips for pairing wine and food?

Have fun with it and experiment! And disregard stereotypical “rules” like white with fish and red with steak. In general, make sure that the intensity of flavor in wine matches the structure of the meal. Whether the meal is light and fresh or rich and hearty, the wine should complement the food profile. A few things to keep in mind:

1. Spicy foods clash with high tannins and high acid. Try a juicy, chillable red like Beaujolais or a white with residual sugar like off-dry German Riesling.

2. If you have dishes with a lot of acid (citrus, tomato), you need a wine with high acid.

3. If you are serving a sweet dish or dessert, your wine should always be a touch sweeter than the food.

4. Matching the sauce of your dish is more important that matching the protein.

5. Ask your local wine shop pros for advice!

What kind of delivery and pick up options do you offer at Brookhaven Wines?

We can deliver anywhere in the Brookhaven area within a few hours’ notice and most places in the city with a day notice. We also offer call-ahead curbside pickup.

Are there any tasting events coming up?

Follow @brookhavenwines on Instagram to stay up to date on our events.

How can we join your wine club?

Our monthly wine club is a great way to explore new wines! Members receive six bottles a month for $100 (choice of All Red, All White, or Mixed Club) with a retail value of $130–$150. All wines are taste-tested and approved by our team of wine pros! You can sign up in the shop or give us a call to place a card on file. Super easy, no minimums or time commitment. Wine clubs make a great gift and can even be prepaid.

Extra Club Perks:
- Monthly emails with detailed information and food pairing suggestions for each wine
- Receive 10% OFF any additional purchase of wine club wines
- Access to club-exclusive events and tastings

What’s the best bottle of wine you’ve ever tried? Can you describe it?

There is absolutely nothing like drinking wine with the winemaker in a beautiful vineyard. It’s impossible to separate the experience from the wine in that moment. So many people come back from Italy or France and ask me to source a wine from their trip, but they always say “it doesn’t taste quite the same” as it did on their trip. One of my most vivid memories of a glass of wine comes from a trip to Franken, Germany in 2019. The first sip of the 1997 Weingut Rudolf Fürst R Burgstadter Centgrafenberg Spätburgunder (aka Pinot Noir) changed my life. I had no idea that Germany could create such complex, elegant reds! It was filled with aromas and flavors of sour cherry, blood orange, dried rose petals, and a dusty earthiness. The palate was medium bodied with smooth, persistent tannins and moderate plus acid – giving it extreme aging capabilities. I would love to try this same vintage again a few years down the road!

Is there anything else you’d like to share with us about Brookhaven Wines, wine in general, or really anything else?

Shopping local is ALWAYS the best way to get exactly what you are looking for. If you shop at Brookhaven Wines or a similar local wine shop, you should be able to converse with wine experts about what you are looking for and the best ways to pair your food. Even if we don’t have the particular wine you would like, we can always find something that fits that category, and hopefully find you a new favorite!

Visit Brookhaven Wines online here, and follow the shop on Instagram here!