Lisa and Erik Dix have a vision of bringing unique specialty wines to Clatsop County. They opened Brut Wine Bar at 240 10th Street on October 30th, and already they’re seeing tremendous support from Astoria residents and visitors. The Dix proudly consider themselves “wine geeks,” and they adore French and Italian wines. “If we like it, we’ll sell it,” they said.
Lisa has been selling wine since 2007. She found she loved getting to know the community, learning about wine, and tasting all the delicious creations from local wineries. She loved it so much that she grew her territory to over $1 million in annual sales. Now that’s a lot of wine! The couple recently turned their passion for delicious wine into an entrepreneurial experience and is excited to introduce many unique wines to their Astoria neighbors and friends.
Brut Wine Bar specializes in unique complex wines often overlooked by larger distributors and wine stores. A good example is Beaujolais, a type of wine and region in France that is best known for its annual celebration of Beaujolais Nouveau Day, which takes place on the third Thursday in November. The celebration includes fireworks, live music, and festivals. Under French law, the wine can’t be released until 12:01 a.m. when parties are held all around France.
Photo credit: Beth Ann Bauer
Brut Wine Bar is featuring Beaujolais flights (tastings) all week starting on November 19th and pouring Nouveau on the 21st, which is Beaujolais Nouveau Day. Drop by Brut Wine Bar and participate in the celebration! You can try many different wines and enjoy some tasty tapas. Pair some Beaujolais with a fresh hummus plate, fruit plate, or prosciutto, and bring out your own hidden wine geek.
Soon Brute Wine Bar plans to start a wine club and host some pop-up events featuring local chefs. They’re anxious to grow their wine business in Astoria and have lots of fantastic ideas for combining wine education with responsible drinking and celebrating the art and craft of superior winemaking. You can follow them on Instagram, Facebook, or on their website.
