Walk up the staircase to the second floor of Vin Fromage, a European-style wine and cheese shop in Wenham, near Beverly, and you’ll first be struck by the opulent chandelier and its warm glow. The shelves wind around the room and brim with condiments, olive oils and vinegars, sauces, spice blends, pasta, preserves, coffees, teas, spirits, and cocktail essentials — many from small-batch producers around the world, offering a selection rarely found in larger markets.
There’s much to discover here, from Birdy’s small-batch mustards to the handcrafted jams and marmalades from England’s London Borough of Jam. Indulge in Gin & Tonic Milk Chocolate bars by Spain’s chocolatier Cacao Sampaka — and explore more than 150 types of wines from lesser-known regions in Greece, Croatia, Hungary, and Georgia. The wine is chosen by beverage director Howie Rubin, a wine industry veteran with 43 years at Bauer Wines & Spirits on Boston’s Newbury Street. “Everything is hand-picked,’’ he says. “It’s all small producers — no big brands.’’
Rubin first crossed paths with Vin Fromage’s co-owner Mark Harris on Newbury Street, where Harris — who also owns Salon Marc Harris — was a longtime Bauer customer. Together with his wife, Maria Lekkakos, Harris opened Vin Fromage a year and a half ago, assembling an expert team, including cheese manager Dan McElligott, a certified cheese professional with more than a dozen years of experience.
Venture downstairs, and you’ll discover a glass case stocked with cheeses — cheddars, blues, bloomy rinds, hard cheeses, and farmsteads — also from artisanal producers that McElligott has selected. A wall is filled with a selection of 250 wines spanning Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, the United States, and bubblies from around the world.
Come to shop, or to pick up a sandwich or a beautifully arranged charcuterie platter. “We make Basque cheesecake on Fridays,’’ says Rubin.
When the weather warms, there are tastings and sometimes live music on the outdoor patio.
If only every neighborhood had a shop like this. If you’re heading up to the North Shore, it’s worth the stop. 152 Main St., Wenham, 978-468-1315,
vinaufromage.com
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ANN TRIEGER KURLAND
Ann Trieger Kurland can be reached at anntrieger@gmail.com.
