The Federal Wine and Spirits bottle shop in Boston has to be one of the most interesting retailers that I’ve come across in years. Federal Wine and Spirits is located in historic downtown Boston, next to the Old State Building. The Old State Building is the oldest public building in Boston built in 1713. This fantastic red brick edifice was the seat of the first elected legislature in the New World! The likes of John Hancock, Thomas Craft, John Adams and others were at the epicenter of this political hub. And the Declaration of Independence was read from the balcony on July 18th, 1776…and is read from the same balcony each Fourth of July.
This is where you’ll find Federal Wine and Spirits, headed by a garrulous and enchanting man Leonard (Len) Rothenberg. As you enter the shop you might wonder what is really going on here. The space is small and tightly conformed to the corner shape of the building. A thoughtful collection of wines, spirits, ports and madeiras wrap around the walls in front of an old cash counter. But the real gem lies below. Walk down the slim and winding staircase and you’ll see what I mean. A bevy of boxes, old world and new world wines alike. This is where the weekly tastings are held and gems are revealed. The old adage, trust your retailer, could never be more a propos. The wine world has become slightly cynical and full of hype so today is truly the day when you should be able to rely on your expert bottle shop owner to decipher the morass of wine scores and press to bring you the best selection available in the market place today.
Check out their website and offerings. The writing is refreshingly clear, honest and dedicated to high quality regardless of price point.
http://www.federalwine.com/
