Satellite Bottle Shop: a cozy spot to explore natural wines
Satellite bottle Shop is a cozy and inviting new wine shop in Dedham worth visiting. You’ll encounter more than 100 different labels here, but when you peruse the shelves, you might not recognize any. the shop carries only natural wines — those crafted in small batches from organically cultivated grapes, with no additives or manipulation. Expert guidance is there to help, and some bottles are open for sampling. “Having the customer taste the wine creates a dialogue and a way to take someone’s wine temperature. it’s an ice breaker,” says owner Stan Hilbert, who is also the restaurateur behind forage in cambridge and the forthcoming few & far next door to the wine store. Hilbert (pictured) was raised in france and was long interested in wine, even before he opened his restaurant. He worked at the former l’Espalier as a sommelier and at the Jamaica plain restaurant ten tables. Years ago, he worked for a cambridge distributor who early on specialized in natural wines. “i got excited about natural wine even before it was really a thing,” says Hilbert. When you walk into the shop, you’ll likely encounter Joey padilla, a certified sommelier and wine educator, poised to steer you to new discoveries — from a crisp, floral croatian white wine from the ikon Winery to a robust red cesanese from tomei in central italy, whose wines are made from nearly extinct varieties. or small producers from barolo or burgundy, where the label might omit the term but is devoted to the practice of natural winemaking. “the spectrum of natural wines is so large,” says padilla. “Not all labels say it’s natural, but their practices are the same.” 578 High St., Dedham, 781-686-9874, satellitebottleshop.com. Open Wednesday through Sunday. Free wine tastings, every Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m.