3 facts you didn’t know about wine from Finch Fine Wines’ sommelier

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When it comes to wine, finding the right bottle can feel intimidating—especially when faced with an overwhelming selection. How are all these wines different? How much do I need to spend to get a quality wine? 

However, buying wine doesn’t have to be stressful. We spoke with Nate Dauphin, Finch Fine Wines’ Sommelier and General Manager, to learn more.

Finch Fine Wines, Birmingham’s neighborhood wine shop

For outstanding wines in Birmingham, there’s no better place to go than Finch Fine Wines. Located outside Mountain Brook Village along Highway 280, Finch Fine Wines was founded by Ed Finch in 2019. Finch’s passion for wine can be traced back to Bernie Fradin, an old-fashioned wine merchant in New York City who taught Ed and his friends how to appreciate a glass of fine wine. 

Despite his shop’s small size, Bernie was able to sell a significant amount of wine thanks to his underground wine cellar that extended under an entire city block—far more than the shop’s ground level footprint!

As a result of a significant change in the Birmingham market and his passion for wine, Finch decided to provide Birmingham with a new wine experience. Recalling Bernie’s small shop and big cellar, he decided to emulate that strategy with a small shop and a large virtual cellar.

Like Bernie’s wine shop in New York, Finch Fine Wines is different from your typical wine shop. For instance, you won’t see endless rows of reds and whites—at least, not in person. Instead, you’ll find about 300 wines hand-picked by Nate stocked in-store and a wide selection with over two thousand other choices available in Finch Fine Wines’ online cellar. 

Fortunately for Finch Fine Wines, Ed met Nate in 2020 who agreed with the vision of having a shop that focused on the customer experience and offering quality products.

“We’ve really enjoyed demystifying the world of wine while still showing people the complexity and the beauty of this product.”

Nate Dauphin, Sommelier, Finch Fine Wines

Check out their website and sign up for their email list so you never miss an event!

• Finch Fine Wines: 205.441.8122 | Email | Website | Facebook | Instagram
• Address: 2737 US Highway 280 South, Suite 144, Birmingham, Alabama
• Hours: 10AM to 6PM, Monday — Wednesday; 10AM to 6:30PM, Thursday — Saturday; Closed Sunday.

About the Sommelier at Finch Fine Wines

When you walk into Finch Fine Wines, you can rest easy knowing that each and every bottle available is the very best you can buy at each price point. In fact, each wine has been hand-selected by Nate.

“Nate completed his certifications from the most highly-rated Sommelier school in the world in Aspen, and had the opportunity to study under several Master Sommeliers. After he got back, he ran the beverage program at Cafe Dupont. I was looking for someone to step in and fulfill my vision for Finch Fine Wines, and I got incredibly lucky and met Nate who had been running the Dupont wine operation for 4 years.”

Ed Finch, Proprietor, Finch Fine Wines

In addition to selecting all of Finch Fine Wines’ products, Nate leads several programs at Finch Fine Wines:

• Finch Wine Club — A monthly wine club subscription with stunning wines hand-selected by Finch Fine Wines’ sommelier. 
• Wine Tastings — Both in-store and virtually via Zoom, these sommelier-led wine tastings are held throughout the month.
• Beginning Connoisseur School (coming soon!) — A bit more educational than a wine tasting, this program is meant for aspiring wine connoisseurs who want to take their understanding to the next level.

Learn more about these programs on Finch Fine Wines’ website, where you can sign up for their email list.

3 facts you didn’t know about fine wine

1. Pairing wine and food doesn’t have to be complicated

Although a wine novice myself, I’ve often heard the “rule” that red wine should be paired with meats and white wine paired with fish. While speaking with Ed, I was surprised to learn that the answer is not so simple.

“When they ask, I always tell my friends that most food goes with most wine. At the end of the day, your taste in wine always comes down to personal preference—if you like a bold Cab with a piece of snapper, or a Chardonnay with a steak, there’s nothing wrong with that.”

Ed Finch, Proprietor, Finch Fine Wines

Nate added that part of the fun in wine pairing is finding that combination that enhances the dining experience for you. 

“To me, wine pairing is exciting because when you get it right, you create this harmony that enhances both the food and the wine. Typically, I try to pair food and wine of equal intensity, so that one does not overpower the other. When you get that pairing right, it becomes a melody on the palate.”

Nate Dauphin, Sommelier, Finch Fine Wines

2. Shopping for wine isn’t difficult

Since making great wines accessible to all is a core value of Finch Fine Wines, Ed, Nate and Assistant Manager David Foster strive to create a friendly, down-to-earth wine-buying experience that is welcoming to people at any stage in their wine journey. 

“New customers that are unfamiliar with wine are some of my favorites to work with, because it’s an opportunity to help them identify a solid understanding of their own wine preferences. By helping them understand how they perceive flavor, it takes away part of the ‘guessing game’ when shopping for wine.”

David Foster, Assistant Manager, Finch Fine Wines

Since Finch Fine Wines only carries wines selected by a sommelier, finding a great bottle is as easy as possible, whether you’re buying in-store or online. In fact, Finch Fine Wines is one of very few wine shops that will actually let you complete your purchase online—all you have to do is pick up the wine at the store. They’ll even bring your order out to your car!

P.S. Did you know that you can get wine delivered from Finch Fine Wines through Shipt? Visit Shipt’s website to start your delivery.

3. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a great bottle of wine

When it comes to wine, one of the common misconceptions is that you have to spend a lot of money to get great wine. On one hand, the better wines do command a higher price; however, Finch Fine Wines prides itself on carrying the best wines at any price point.

“Wines from the Iberian Peninsula, South America and South Africa are often a great value; affordable wine that drinks like a more expensive bottle. Whether you’re buying a $25 dollar bottle or a $75 dollar bottle, each wine we carry is the best you can get for the money.”

Ed Finch, Proprietor, Finch Fine Wines

Click here to learn more about wines in-stock at Finch Fine Wines.

Finch Fine Wines’ Top Picks under $25

Stark-Condé Cabernet Sauvignon — Hailing from the Stellenbosch region of South Africa, this New World Red is bold, full-bodied and tastes very similar to what you’d find in Napa Valley, California. Nate recommends this wine to people familiar with the big, bold and rich flavors of Cabernet Sauvignon.

Columna Albariño Granito — Grown in warmer and drier conditions in Condado de Tea, an undersung subzone of Rias Baixas, Spain, Columna achieves beautiful balance and ripeness under the careful guidance of Rodri Mendez, considered one of the best growers and winemakers in Galicia and a world-class authority on Albariño.

Ameztoi Txakolina “Rubentis” Rosé — This pale pink Rosé showcases wild strawberries, juicy watermelon and citrus peel flavors, finishing with a soft effervescence and cleansing briny acidity. Nate says this wine is perfect for hot weather, tapas and seafood!

Learn more at Finch Fine Wines

With exciting opportunities to try and learn more about wine happening each month, there’s never been a better time to visit Finch Fine Wines. Check out their website and sign up for their email list so you never miss an event!

• Finch Fine Wines: 205.441.8122 | Email | Website | Facebook | Instagram
• Address: 2737 US Highway 280 South, Suite 144, Birmingham, Alabama

Have questions about wine? Tag the Finch Fine Wines team at @finchfinewines to learn more!

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