Husband and wife duo Patrick Watson and Michele Pravda have made a name for themselves peddling artisan cheese (Stinky Bklyn), wine (Smith & Vine) and a cocktails (JakeWalk) to Brooklyn connoisseurs. Now they've crossed the East River and combined all their ventures under one roof, almost (more on this in a moment), with a new Stinky outpost and a large wine shop called Back Label Wine Merchants in Chelsea.
With their 3,000 square foot wine shop, the couple wants to develop a budding oenophile's relationship not only with different types of grapes but also the winemakers and importers responsible for bringing the raw product to fruition, so to speak. They've organized the shop not just by region but also devoted special sections to specific producers, a nod to the informative labels on the back of wine bottles and inspiration for the shop's name. Continuing their informative theme, a large bar hosts classes, tastings and forums on wine and spirits found at the store.
Next door, Stinky Bklyn's new Manhattan outpost boasts an international selection of cheese and meats, in line with the Brooklyn original's exemplary selection of specialty products. The shop also doubles as a grab-and-go outlet for coffee, Dough donuts, chocolate, candies and freshly made sandwiches from the counter. Dedicated craft beers taps pour suds for growlers, including a few lines just dispensing Brooklyn Soda Works and Kombucha Brooklyn beverages.
Back
Label
Wine
Merchants
is
located
at
111
West
20th
Street, open
daily
from
10 a.m. ‐ 10 p.m. Stinky
Bklyn
NYC
is
located
at
107
West
20th
Street, open
daily
from
9 a.m. ‐ 9 p.m.
