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Lexington, KY - Ask Renee Saunier Brewer, owner of Wine + Market, to make a suggestion for a good wine and she’ll turn your inquiry into a personal experience. Within a few seconds, the Lexington native, who has done extensive traveling in her 31 years and developed her palate by tasting wines across the globe, narrows down her suggestions based on the individual’s price range, personal tastes and the food with which he or she will drink the wine.
Presenting a couple of bottles that fit all the criteria, Brewer then explains her choices, often telling the customer interesting anecdotes about the winemaker and a brief description of the components of each wine, making them sound irresistible.
It’s an enlightening process, and yet Brewer does it with ease. Her eyes sparkle as she relates the wine, and she seems to light up inside whenever the subject is discussed. Perhaps that’s why when former Wine + Market owners, Andrea Sims and Krim Boughalem, decided to sell the store, it was a no brainer to ask Brewer to take the reins.
“It’s always been my dream and goal at some point to have my own wine shop,” Brewer said. “I thought it would be further in my future, but when this opportunity came up, I couldn’t say no. It was just the right fit.”
Nestled on the corner of Second and Jefferson Streets, Wine + Market makes a bold statement before one even enters the building with its cobalt blue exterior and crimson-colored front door.
The interior of the establishment is rustic, with wooden tables scattered throughout the front room and a gleaming glass case stocked with handcrafted cheeses and other gourmet foods. In the wine room, hundreds of bottles are neatly arranged in racks against the walls, each one priced and labeled with care. Colorful artwork by Sims is positioned throughout the building, giving it a warm and inviting feel.
In addition to its plethora of wines, Wine + Market has a menu of eight gourmet sandwiches served daily. Only the freshest ingredients are used –– French ham, prosciutto, duck confit, baby arugula, tomatoes, pear, organic fig, artichoke and spinach, just to name a few.
It doesn’t seem like any slight coincidence that Brewer ended up at Wine + Market. She grew up learning about wine from her mother, Catherine Jaubert, whose parents immigrated to the United States from France after WWII.
After graduating from the University of Kentucky with a double major in French and agricultural economics, Brewer’s sense of wanderlust prompted her to teach English in France for a year while she decided what to do next. She discovered a French-based graduate school program called the International Organization of Wine and Vine (OIV), which is affiliated with the University of Paris. The program matched perfectly with Brewer’s desire to take her interest in wine to a higher level.
Brewer applied and was accepted to OIV, with which she traveled to more than 20 countries. She met with industry leaders, learned about their various wine-making techniques and trends, toured the local vineyards, and tried a countless number of wines.
Upon completing “wine grad school,” Brewer went through two wine-related internships in California, after which she moved back to Lexington, where her now-husband, Seth, is based.
Although Brewer was in a bit of culture shock after spending time in such prime wine hubs around the world, it wasn’t long before she landed a job as a Lexington-based wine sales representative for a boutique distribution company. When the economy took a turn for the worse, however, the company was forced to close its doors, and Brewer went back to the drawing board.
It was then that Sims and Boughalem, with whom Brewer was already an acquaintance, recruited her to work at Wine + Market.
“I helped Krim open up the wine side and pick out all the wines to stock his shelves,” said Brewer of the store, which originally opened in 2008.
Brewer officially took over ownership from Sims and Boughalem in November 2011 when the couple decided they needed more time to focus on other business ventures. Sims and Boughalem, who own the downtown restaurant Table 310, are currently working on opening a new eatery.
Brewer said running Wine + Market thus far has been a “fun challenge.”
“Part of what I’m most passionate about when it comes to wine is wine education,” said Brewer, who shares her knowledge during free wine tastings at Wine + Market every Friday night from 5 - 8 p.m. “I’m usually good at putting something in people’s hands that they want or they need.
“The (wine selecting) experience is important, because when you have a boutique shop, you have to hand-sell everything and you build a relationship with the customer, and that’s something that makes me really happy,” she continued. “I know the wines I bring in here are good.”
Since becoming owner, Brewer has expanded the store’s services to include more specialty wine classes and a wine of the month club. One thing she will never change, however, is the quality of her inventory.
“My focus is on quality and value,” said Brewer, who purchases her wines from a few boutique distribution companies. “I want people to know they can come in here and get a great bottle of wine for a good value.”