Spotlight on Chambers Wine
If you love discovering limited-production wines from classic Old World regions, Chambers Street Wines warrants a closer look.
Often shortened to Chambers Wine, this old street wine shop focuses on European wines from small, mostly family owned wineries.
Lillie Wolff 2001: The Beginning Chambers Wine and Spirits
David Lille founded Chambers Street Wines with partner Jamie Wolff in 2001. The idea was to specialize in small-production, primarily organic wines from Europe.
At the time, almost all NYC wine merchants in New York focused on the big American brands. This was true even of liquor stores in Tribeca.
Yet Mr. Lille suspected that there would be buyers for his European wines. At the time, contemporary culture was just beginning to focus on a more artisan approach to both food and wine.
Mr. Lille developed his passion for European wine after touring France with wine importer Joe Dressner. Always sensitive to sulfites in wine, Mr. Lille responded positively to the more natural approach vignerons took in the vineyards and in the winery.
He also appreciated the lower alcohol levels and subdued fruit aromas and flavors in European wine. Jamie Wolff, Mr. Lille’s partner, had extensive knowledge of old and rare wines. He was especially passionate about the wines of Piedmont.
Launch of New Chambers Wine
The first few months of the new store went well. Then on September 11th the World Trade Center was attacked. That day, Mr. Lille and his team were forced to evacuate. Times were rough in the months and first years that followed.
Yet now, nearly 20 years later, the Chambers Wine is thriving due to its inventory of limited-production organic and biodynamic wines from Europe’s most artisa producers. Collectors and wine enthusiasts can also find older vintages of their favorite wines from classic regions. These are almost impossible to find outside of wine auctions.
Chambers Wine: Offering Value: Complimentary Tastings & Winery Dinners
Mr. Lille reveals that many customers develop a close and almost emotional connection to the store. Chambers Street Wines offers a complimentary wine tasting virtually every week. Sometimes a winemaker, or even a book author, speaks.
Alice Feiring, American journalist and author known as an advocate for natural wine, has had many book signings at Chambers wine. Jancis Robinson Master of Wine has spoken at many events, most recently featuring Barolo wine.
Other times, a staff member gives customers a glass and pours out some wine. During the tasting, the staff member explains the region, the grape, and the winemaker’s philosophy.
An assortment of winemaker dinners and other events help customers connect with the shop. Winemakers tend to be “cult favorites” with a large Chambers Street Wines fan base. Restaurant venues can range from the upscale, chef-driven Racines restaurant, to more casual Italian cafes.
Final Thoughts on Chambers Wine
More and more wine lovers are learning about classic European regions in various publications and via wine education classes. And partly because of this thirst for wine knowledge, the store is attracting a fresh stream of energized consumers.
Chambers Street Wines is sometimes called Chambers Cellars because of its “Old World,” European atmosphere This might be due to dark wood interior and stacks of wine in every corner, redolent of a cellar.
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Spending an hour looking through the bottles, many of them old vintages, is almost an educational experience.
In contrast to some sleek wine shops popping up around town, Chambers Street Wines is a welcome classic.
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— Dominus Estate
— Chappellet Family Winery
— Hess Collection
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About Author Marisa D’Vari
D’Vari contributes to Forbes.com, Financial Times, World of Fine Wine, Quarterly Review of Wine, Decanter Robb Report, San Francisco Chronicle, South China Morning Post, and more.
She holds the (WSET) diploma, Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, a Certified Wine Educator through the Society of Wine Educators … to see it all, please click on bio
