Wine Lovers Find A Place To Share The Passion

By Laurie Borst

“A bottle of white, a bottle of red, perhaps a bottle of rosé instead.” Whether you are looking for a bottle of Nasiakos Moschofilero from Greece, a Tokaji Pinot Noir from Hungary, or a Columbia Chardonnay Wyckoff from Washington state, you can find it at the Cork & Keg in Southbury.

If it is not among the 3,500 labels on the shelves, store owner Lewis Gotch can order it for you. Mr Gotch makes it easy. He has created a website, corkandkeginternational.com, where customers can search 12,000 labels and place an order.

On the website is the following description: “Wine: a harmonious blend of grapes that sings a supple song of bliss when shared among friends.” This reflects Mr Gotch’s philosophy. He is passionate about wine and sharing it with friends, with the caveat, in moderation.

While he has enjoyed wine for a long time, he is new to the retail business.

Mr Gotch, a Newtown resident, spent 14 years working in loss and risk management investigating white collar crime. He was sought out by federal law enforcement agencies for his skills. He worked on the 9/11 investigation.

Then his wife got pregnant and they agreed it was time for a change.

“My dad always said do something you love,” Mr Gotch stated. Taking his dad’s advice and his own knowledge and enjoyment of wine, Mr Gotch opened a small liquor store in Southbury. When the space on Main Street became available, he moved the Cork & Keg into the 5,000-square-foot store.

Besides the 3,500 labels of wine on the shelves, Cork & Keg stocks 175 brands of beer, a couple of hundred spirits and champagnes, as well as one of the largest single malt collections in the area.

Mr Gotch does not let bottles sit on the shelves collecting dust. Every bottle in his store gets 60 days. If it doesn’t move, he puts it on clearance and makes room for something else. The store boasts 15 to 20 new items every month.

“I wanted a store that can help the average Joe who knows nothing about wine or the connoisseur looking for something special,” Mr Gotch explained. “I tell my new hires, don’t be intimidated, learn about the wines, try them.”

As the store gained a following, Mr Gotch wanted to take it to the next level. With a strong background in the Internet, he made the leap to the web.

Connecticut laws now allow Internet sales of alcohol. He receives requests from all over and can also ship to 37 other states. He has a contract with UPS for his shipping needs. During the Christmas season last year, he shipped more than 200 cases and has seen steady growth since.

The website offers a variety of information. There is the online store for orders. People also use the website to price shop. It is a good resource for people, Mr Gotch stated. This spring, beer will be added to the site.

A party beverage estimator link helps one determine what types and how much alcohol is needed for a particular size party. My second kitchen wine pairings offers recipes and wines to accompany them. New releases and presale items can be checked out before going to the store. An event calendar is another link.

Cork & Keg offers weekend wine and beer tastings. Wine education classes are offered monthly. In April, Wine Education 101, Wine by Country, and Wine by Region will be presented, each class lasting two to two and a half hours.

Classes have been held at the Heritage Hotel where the chef cooks the courses and a hired sommelier gives instruction on the chosen topic. Classes started in the store, but Mr Gotch found more ambience at the hotel.

Last summer, he held a wine tasting event at the Heritage, outside by the pool with food stations. About 150 people attended. It was a relaxed social event, more comfortable than in the store.

Mr Gotch wants to do a different class each month. For example, in May the rosés come in and he would like to offer a class on rosé wine.

Cork & Keg offers “club cards” that track points a customer earns for items purchased. A weekly email newsletter to goes out to club members, 2,200 emails every week.

The next step will be to add a wedding business offering event and party planning. Mr Gotch has a company that supplies personalized labels. This is popular for wedding table favors, small bottles of wine with the bride’s and groom’s names on the label.

“This is my third year in the store and I don’t miss my other job,” Mr Gotch shared. “It’s a lot of fun. I’ve made a lot of good friends.