If you have any interest in wine, great food or craft beer, then you must check out Wine Merchants in Winston-Salem. This place is a unique blend of a gourmet wine shop and a farm-to-table bistro with 21 wines and 16 beers on tap. Wine Merchants was nominated by the Winston-Salem Journalthis year for Best Wine Store, Best Wine Bar and Best Place to Take a First Date.
Proprietor Alan Miller and Vine Commander Caleb Flint became majority partners in Wine Merchants and The Bistro at Wine Merchants in October of 2016. They want it to be a place where people can go to get great food and drinks, with the assurance the ingredients came from local farms and sources. Miller said, “We want our guests to know we always use small, sustainable farms and provide locally-sourced organic and natural food as much as possible. It is important to us that we sell handcrafted boutique wines that are made in small batches by ‘mom and pop’ wineries and small production beers. Wine Merchants is the place to try the local flair.”
Meet the Team
- Alan Miller
Alan is the man behind the scenes. He has a true passion for providing guests with a unique experience and the freshest, highest quality products available. You can find him having dinner in The Bistro every night it is open. Alan’s wife, Sarah Shoaf, makes all of the homemade bread and desserts for The Bistro.
- Caleb Flint
Caleb is the managing partner. He has 20 plus years experience in the restaurant business, spent ten years as the beverage manager at Foothills and was the 2016 Bartender of the Year. He met Alan when he was bartending at Foothills, and they attended charcuterie classes together at NC State.
- Michael Croezen
Michael’s focus is managing and organizing the wine shop. He spends his days gaining knowledge of boutique wines and maintains the shop’s inventory. Many of the wines are not available in other retail shops.
- Chef Justin Pinch
Justin is an experienced chef who has worked in kitchens all over the world. He is the head chef for The Bistro at Wine Merchants and has handcrafted the menu. He works to create unique specials that change daily based on the fresh ingredients that are available.
It’s Not Just a Shop and Bistro
One of the best parts of Wine Merchants is there is something for everyone. Whether you know everything about wine or you are a novice, they have created a prime place to learn about wine, wine tasting, and wine pairing in a relaxed non-judgemental environment.
- Wine Tastings
The first Monday of every month at 6 pm Wine Merchants brings in boutique wine distributors and provides you the opportunity to try, discuss and then pre-order unique wines at better than retail prices.
- Wine 101
The third Tuesday of the month is the Wine 101 Class. You will learn about wine – where it is produced, the main wine growing regions, and other information from a certified sommelier. Each class is subject based or has a regional theme.
- Wine Pairing Dinners
This is an event you will not want to miss. Enjoy an intimate dinner where wines are paired with each course to provide you with an incredibly fresh and delicious experience. You will have the opportunity to talk about the wines with a knowledgeable representative and also speak with the chef.
- Brunch
To help celebrate the weekends, The Bistro has Brunch each Saturday and Sunday from 10am-3pm. Wonderful wine cocktails, as well as daily specials such as omelets, waffles, poutines, and charcuterie dishes, are featured and change daily.
- Friday Night Music
Every Friday night, you can enjoy dinner and drinks to the sound of live, acoustic, adult contemporary music.
- Private Events and Parties
The Bistro at Wine Merchants can host 40-50 people for business or private events. Intimate dinners or large parties can be accommodated easily for tapas or even four-course meals.
- Catering
The Bistro at Wine Merchants is also available for catering throughout the local area.
Whether you want to pick up the perfect bottle of wine, enjoy one of their unique events or just have a fantastic meal, Wine Merchants and The Bistro at Wine Merchants will not disappoint. You cannot help but notice their passion for excellence throughout your experience. It truly is the most unique place in the Triad.
Located at 205 S. Stratford Rd, Suite N, Winston-Salem, NC. 336-765-8175. For more information, see their website at vin205.com.
