Wine Sage to reopen on Main Street after remodel May 22

In what owner Merit Wolff is calling the result of a “seven-year itch,” Wine Sage Merchant and Wine Bar is preparing to reopen after a remodel on May 22.

Wolff said she decided she wanted to “change things up” with the business at the end of last year.

She purchased a business called Sage Gourmet from Christine Filka and Laurie Bakke and renamed it Wine Sage and Gourmet in 2017. Wolff eventually shifted the focus from gourmet food and kitchen tools to wine.

In addition to being a boutique wine store, Wine Sage also offers wine by the glass and events such as cooking classes, wine dinners and tastings.

Before this recent remodel, Wolff said the wine was stored on the bottom floor of the two-story business, making it difficult for some customers to access.

“We just decided that it would be better serving our community on the main level,” Wolff said. “So, visibility is certainly a factor. Accessibility is certain a factor, and just to do something new and different and change things up after seven years.”

The main floor of Wine Sage has been closed since early February, with the business being run out of the lower level selling wine and hosting events while the top floor was being repainted and remodeled.

The business will fully reopen May 22.

Wolff said “there is a price for everybody” at Wine Sage, with bottles ranging from under $10 to over $200.

She said the business sells wines with names that are recognizable to customers, as well as some that may be more niche.

“We work with a lot of small family vineyards,” Wolff said. “We do a lot of organic, natural biodynamic wines. We work with a lot of smaller wholesale and distributors that are bringing wine to the U.S. that you just aren’t going to find in Target or Walmart or Harris Teeter or a grocery store.”

Wolff said that even if a customer has little to no knowledge of wine, they are still welcome in the store. She said that helping customers find a wine they like is something Wine Sage specializes in.

“We love to help people who are just starting out drinking wine or have been stuck drinking the same old thing,” Wolff said. “Maybe you only drink pinot grigio, come in here and we can help you find something that’s probably better and new and different and broaden your horizons.”

Wolff said Wine Sage has and will continue to be “community focused.”

“We want to be a place where people come and meet their friends and have a glass maybe before dinner or after dinner," Wolff said. "If you’re new to wine or intimidated by it, we’d love to meet you and help you out.”

Wine Sage is located at 416 North Main St. in Hendersonville.

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Karrigan Monk is the reporter for Black Mountain News and Hendersonville Times-News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kmonk@blackmountainnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Hendersonville's Wine Sage to reopen May 22