While we are always up for a good cocktail (duh), we took a step away from the hard stuff again this month for our drinkin’adventure, spending a leisurely afternoon with Richard DeBondtat Northampton Wine and Dine. Tucked away under the Church Street bridge near downtown, it’s one of our favorite haunts!

 

History and experience…a winning combo

The original Northampton opened in 1975 (same year disco arrived on the scene for a bit of trivia) and has been going strong ever since – with a couple of location changes. Richard and Robert Warth were working at Sonny’s Steak House out on Wade Hampton way back then.  Sonny’s had an incredible wine list which sparked their interest.  They opened their own shop, and the rest is history. Richard and David E. Williams own and run the current version with a few more bells and whistles thanprevious iterations.  Still stocking that impressive array of wines, they have been serving up fine food and even selling liquor for nearly 20 years now. Obviously, they know a thing or two about this biz.

As for the drinkin’ part of this assignment, instead of highlighting three different wines – because personal preference is the name of the wine game – we thought we would give you three different reasons to visit this old-school gem…

 

By the glass…

 Need to take a quick afternoon break – or occupy yourself for a couple of hours when “consumption” is an option?  There’s a seat at the bar with your name on it.  On any given day, Northampton will have 20+ bottles lined up for your by-the-glass choosing.  And these are not just any old wines – or their attempt at cost-cutting.  Their pour-on-demand bottles are chosen based on their merits and highlight some of the very best of each variety.  It’s like all your favorite candies in a row, just waiting to be savored!

You do you…

One thing that David and Richard like to focus on in the wine-purchasing area is finding and offering the best of what each distinct wine region has to offer.  They choose to purchase from vineyards who do what they do really well, producing the latest, greatest wines that represent and highlight the nuances of theirarea. Not everyone needs to attempt to produce a Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, or any other variety, just because it might sell…kind of the “you do you” of the wine world!

20,000 and counting…

Walk in and take a gander.  Those cubbies are stocked to the gills with over 1600 different wines…that’s around 20,000 bottles on hand and ready to be enjoyed!  Stop in and give them an idea of what you might be cravin’ – they’ll have it.  Purchase by the bottle to enjoy with dinner on-site or take it home – or stock up on a couple of cases!  And if you need some coaching, they offer 50-80 wine tastings each year (almost every Friday). We can all stand to learn a thing or two!

Dine with your wine…

Whether you’re just popping in for a quick bite on the more casual “bar side” or you’re looking for some fine dining on the more “formal” side, you will not be disappointed with their from-scratch, first class menu.  And if you want to bring a real crowd, their private room seats up to 40!  Regardless of the size of your party, the wine makes it more intimate.  The sharing of a bottle – and the chatter surrounding it – just brings folks together.

Open every day except Sunday, Northampton definitely has its “regulars”, but they are always happy to make new friends!  And one special note for this month in particular…it’s a great spot to consider when planning that romantic evening with yoursweetheart come the fourteenth – hint, hint.  

Northampton Wine and Dine . 211A E. Broad Street .  Greenville . (864)271-3919 www.northamptonwineanddine.com