Peppino’s Liquors and Wines the toast of town
COURIER L B IFE, DEC. 7–13, 2018 7
If the name Peppino’s
sounds familiar, it is because
Brooklynites have
been enjoying the Italian
food at Peppino’s restaurants
in Park Slope and
Bay Ridge for decades.
Serving fabulous Italian
food often means pairing
it with the right wine,
so the owners learned a
lot about wines and spirits
over the years. So much so,
that the next logical evolution
seemed to be to get
into that business. So they
did. Peppino’s Liquors and
Wines opened a little over
two years ago, on Sept. 14.
It’s a date that co-owner
Joe Mancino remembers
vividly because it happens
to be the birthdays of his
son and his nephew.
The importance of family
is always stressed at this
family-owned and operated
business, where customers
are treated like they are
part of the clan. Mancino
owns the liquor store with
his brother, Vinny, and
sisters, Carmela and Roseanne,
who take pride in being
part of the community
for generations. They have
known many of their customers
for years, and recognize
that this business is
all about people.
“We are not interested
in just making a sale,” he
says. “We care about you,
and we thank you for your
business.”
Mancino still lives in
Brooklyn, the community
in which he was born and
raised, and where his family
planted roots. It was his
uncle who first opened the
Peppino’s in Park Slope, in
1968. His father took over
“around 1971,” he says. It
was 2002 when the family
decided to expand into Bay
Ridge — and Peppino’s Liquors
and Wines opened
just across the street from
that restaurant nearly 15
years later.
“We are old-school
Brooklyn,” Mancino says.
“We know that prices and
people matter.”
At Peppino’s Liquor and
Wines, customers can select
from more than 3,500
items in a variety of price
ranges. This means there
is something for everyone,
no matter what the budget.
Wine tastings are held on
Fridays and Saturdays, allowing
patrons to sample
before purchasing. The
shop will happily create
customized gift baskets so
that lots of good cheer can
be spread for the upcoming
holidays.
Wine has been a part
of festive occasions since
as early as 7000 BC, when
rice, honey, and fruit
were fermented. This was
long before the Romans,
clad in their togas, were
consuming wine for its
“health benefits.” Some
research suggests that
wine was so acidic then,
the Romans would add a
piece of bread to absorb it.
Fortunately, we’ve come a
long way.
Every culture has shown
its appreciation for wine.
In ancient Greece, the host
of a party would drink the
first cup of wine, to prove
to guests that it was it was
safe to enjoy what was being
served. Then, guests
would toast to everyone’s
“good health.”
Today, traditions like
toasting to good fortune
continue, so make sure
the house is well-stocked
to raise a glass to you and
yours this holiday season.
Happy holidays from Peppino’s!
Peppino’s Liquors and
Wines 7723 Third Ave. between
77th and 78th streets
in Bay Ridge, (347) 517–4706,
www.Peppinos.wine. Open
Mondays through Thursdays,
11 am–9:30 pm; Fridays
and Saturdays, 11
am–10:30 pm; and Sundays,
noon–8:30 pm.
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
/www.Peppinos.wine