American dream becomes a reality

ArticlesComings & GoingsNews

Online US wine specialist Pacific Wines is opening a bricks-and-mortar retail site in north London.

The shop will open on Islington High Street on August 29 with a range of wines from California and Oregon.

Pacific Wines was started as an online business by former maths teacher Rachel Gilbert, and her father Graham Gilbert, nine months ago.

Rachel fell for the US states when the pair went on a road trip after she graduated 10 years ago.

Plans for a wine shop were hatched as long ago as 2019 before the pandemic got in the way.

The site will stock 150 wines and has an events space to the rear with a capacity of 30.

“We are the first UK retailer to focus exclusively on North American wines,” says Rachel. “Lockdown gave us the opportunity to set up Pacific Wines online and start to develop our range of wines, and living locally, I had my heart set on opening a store in Islington.

“When this store became available, I knew the time was right.”

Related Articles