Appellation Wine & Spirits> Press


	Great New Place for Wines by David Gibbons November, 2007 Combining the analytical precision and business acumen of the accountant he once was with the passion and commitment of the enthusiastic wine merchant he’s become, Scott Pactor has established a paradigmatic wine shop for the 21st century. Appellation Wine & Spirits, which features eco-friendly wines — about 70 percent of its stock falls under natural, organic, or biodynamic criteria — is small, sleek, user-friendly, and service-oriented. More

	Wine Under $20 Loire to Order: Offbeat Choice By Howard G. Goldberg July 22, 2007 Appellation, 156 10th Avenue (20th Street), specializes in organic wines that “reflect a sense of place,” said Scott Pactor, an owner. Unconventionally, he recommends a Loire red with fresh oysters, a dish the French customarily consume with muscadet, a piercing Loire white. More

	The Pour When the Wine Is Green by Eric Asimov April 25, 2007 You've taken your hybrid car out to run some errands. You've stocked up on organic produce and nontoxic cleaning supplies at the supermarket. You've stopped at the Home Depot to take advantage of its new Eco Options plan, picking up energy-efficient light bulbs, paint that is low in pollutants and wood harvested according to the principles of sustainable forestry. You've dropped off the recycling. One more stop to make, the wine shop. More

	Valentine's Vintages: Organic, Biodynamic and LIVE wines by P.W. McRandle Drinking wine is a sensuous experience, and paired with the right food, a fine red or white will light up with the subtle flavors of the earth that birthed its grapes while enhancing the tastes of your dishes. But like the well-prepared meals it accompanies, fine wine is about more than eating—it's to be savored during dinnertime conversation with our loved ones on Valentine's Day or any other. More

	Organic Grapes Come of Age by Pascale le Draoulec March, 2007 What was once dismissed as "hippie wine" is finally getting some respect. Organic wine was long derided because it couldn't age and tasted like grainy grape juice, but the fact that a store like Appellation Wine & Spirits, New York City's first prominently organice wine shop, can thrive suggests a serious turn of the tide. More

	Virtuous Vino by Lisa McLaughlin February 22, 2007 You've mastered the which-are-the-good-and-bad vintages, learned the difference between a Cabernet and a Merlot and can finally pronounce Gewürztraminer. But now the casual wine drinker has a new label to grapple with: biodynamic. More

	IN New York Biodynamic Bacchus by Peter L. Ferrara March, 2007 At Appellation Wines in Manhattan, the first organic-biodynamic wine store in NYC, the wines, from all over the world---with an emphasis on France, Austria, and Italy---are every bit as good, and sometimes better, than what one would find in any high quality, neighborhood wine shop. More

	Wine Under $20 Another Path to Fine Pours by Howard G. Goldberg February 4, 2007 Appellation, a boutique at 156 10th Avenue (20th Street), showcases biodynamic wines — those made by a system of extreme organic agriculture linked to the planets’ positions. More

	Best Store for Natural Wine by Peter Liem Fall 2006 Owner Scott Pactor calles Appellation Wine & Spirits "an unconventional wine store," in its focus on wines produced by natural methods of viticulture and vinification rather than "conventional" farming. Within his bright, inviting Chelsea store, two-thirds of the 250 selections in the store are organic, biodynamic or sustainably grown. More

	Editor's Letter August 2006 When was the exact moment it happened? I can't tell you. It was a gradual thing. But over time I've developed a hyper-awareness about everything I eat and drink. It's no longer as simple as asking: Will this taste good? A whole bunch of other questions rush to mind before the first bite: Is it organic? Local? Mass-produced? Bad for the planet? Bad for my health? Read More

	Eco-Friendly Martinis, Wines Move Into Mainstream by Elin McCoy July 27, 2006 New York's first organic and biodynamic wine shop, Appellation, is almost a year old. Owner Scott Pactor tasted some 600 bottlings to come up with the 225 he carries. One of the best buys is a bright, refreshing biodynamic white, 2005 Hofer Gruner Veltliner (1 liter for $9.99). Read More

	Bon Appetit Podcast Episode 6: Summer Wines June 20, 2006 A weekly entry into the world of Bon Appétit Magazine, where our editors chat with top experts on topics ranging from cooking and entertaining to wine and restaurants. Featured in episode six: Scott Pactor, or Appellation Wine & Spirits. Listen Now

	New York's New Restaurant Row June, 2006 Tenth Avenue is just a quick stroll away from the urban theme park that Manhattan's Meatpacking District has become. For a food-lover's hassel-free alternative, check out some of these classic joints and hot spots on this fascinating stretch. Read More

	Manhattan By Design by William Stewart April, 2006 In Vino Veritas: I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Appellation Wine and Spirits. It's an incredible wine shop, a boutique really, that offers a tightly edited selection of organic wines. And they're exceedingly helpful in assisting with your selection.

	New York is a great place to find affordable vino April 23, 2006 New York's wine shops are as diverse as the people who shop them. Here are our picks of new and interesting shops - check them out as you're hunting for bargains. Read More

	Organic & Biodynamic Wines April 10, 2006 From Scott Pactor's Appellation Wine Store in New York City to Mike Benziger's family winery in California, THTV explores what makes organic wines good, how to run a succesful wine store and the meaning of being biodynamic. We also met with Jonathan Russo, publisher of Organic Wine Journal who shares his informed opinion on the subject. Watch Video

	Hot Tips: NYC High Life April, 2006 For more-adult drinks, try Appellation Wine & Spirits. Parents can sip organic wines, while kids swill Gewürztraminer—grape juice. Read More

	Booze clues Fizzy logic by James Oliver Cury December 20, 2005 If you're buying a bottle of champagne this week, there's a good chance you'll be bringing it to someone else's house. You may or may not like champagne and you may or may not plan to drink the bubbly you're bringing. But you will almost certainly have to endure that five-second time warp when the host—and possibly other guests—look to see what you've brought. André? You must be joking. Freixenet? You must be unemployed. Veuve Clicquot? Much better. Moët Chandon? Excellent choice. Dom Perignon? Hello! Read More

	The Grapes Of Wrap: Presenting Wine As A Gift by Mary Ewing-Mulligan December 9, 2005 Unlike these full-coverage wine shops, specialist stores feature very deep selections of a fairly narrow range of wines, and they also have superb service. One of the original specialty stores is Burgundy Wine Company (143 W. 26th St.), which offers expertise and enthusiasm for Burgundy wines, West Coast Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, and Rhne wines. Read More

	Off New York Namikiteru.com October, 2005 "Make your body and heart healthy by natural conscious wine!!” There are so many wine stores in NYC, but here is the unique one! Most of the bottles which they are selling are made with organically grown grapes. So many bottles are waiting for you in the large space which is full of natural light. The owner himself tasted more than a thousand kinds of organic wine, and carefully selected 250 kinds for his store. All the bottles have their own description, like “Where it’s made” “Who were taking care of it” and“To what extent it’s organic” (means if it’s completely organic, or they used chemicals only to get rid of bugs in process of raising grapes…etc.) That’s really informative and you can pick good bottles even though you are not an organic wine expert. Well, if you still say, “I know nothing about organic wine…” just go to the store! From Tuesday to Friday, they have wine tasting from 5:30 pm, and on weekends, you can taste wine for free after 4:00pm! But you should go there on the early side, because sometimes they run out of the wine for the tasting in 2 hours! Organic wines are perfect for the style “LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability). Find your favorite organic bottle!!" Read More - Translated by Kazuna Takayanagi

	Vintage Crop by Andrea Strong October 23, 2005 Wine bars are so last year. This year, the buzz is all about the wine shop. Over the past few months, a slate of cool wine boutiques has opened around town, promoting organics, small producers, off-beat countries and even high-tech wine education. The most anticipated arrival on the wine store scene is Appellation (156 10th Ave.; [212] 741-9474), a bright, windowed shop that features organic and biodynamic wines, with a focus on education. Read More

	'Organic' Bubbles Up in Wine But the label has yet to stick with vintners by Jerry Shriver October 21, 2005 "A lot of distributors still aren't sure if the wines they represent are made from organic grapes. I've had to ask," says Scott Pactor, co-owner of Appellation, where about 70% of the 250 labels he carries are eco-friendly. "But now they're beginning to provide the information as a sales tool."

	New to NYC by Kara, Newport, RI October 6, 2005 Now we’d like to introduce Appellation Wines & Spirits, the first wine shop in New York City that focuses on selling organic/biodynamic/natural wines. Owner Scott Pactor (formerly the assistant wine director at Balthazar) opened his store in Chelsea last month with the belief that “winemaking is an expression of the winemaker and their land and passion.” Read More

	Appellation Sensation October 3, 2005 Last Wednesday, I stopped by, Appellation Wine and Spirits, one of the newbies WAY over on the West side. Even though I can buy wine at a discount from my own store, how I would love to transport this tiny selection of wines to my neighborhood for browsing and buying on a whim!

	New York state of wine, part iv September 23, 2005 Doors opened September 6th at Appellation New York, a new shop specializing in organic and even biodynamic wines. Scott Pactor, a former accountant, became a wine geek and decided to follow his passion with his profession

	Got the World on a Vine September 23, 2005 Used to be, the word “organic” described fourth-grade compost heaps and West Village couples who didn’t dye their hair. Then you caught yourself wearing Eduns and spending $4 on a sustainable tomato. So what’s next, green trendster? Appellation Wines & Spirits, the first wine shop in NYC to specialize in organic and biodynamic wines. Read More

	A Wine Shop With a Spare Look, Aiming to Spare the Planet by Florence Fabricant September 14, 2005 Scott Pactor, a former accountant, took a wine course and became an aficionado. Then he turned professional, working at restaurants like Balthazar. Now he has his own shop, Appellation Wine and Spirits, at 156 10th Avenue (19th Street) in Chelsea. Read More

	Feature Au Naturel Appellation Wine & Spirits 156 Tenth Ave, nr. 20th St.; 212-741-9474 by ROBIN RAISFELD & ROB PATRONITE September 19, 2005 The biggest thing to hit the wine world since Sideways might be the burgeoning category of so-called “natural” wines—those made from organically or biodynamically grown grapes, typically produced by small domains with very little technical intervention. It might sound like hooey, but the movement is gathering steam: Last week, Scott Pactor opened Appellation, the first shop in New York to market itself as a natural-wine source. Read More

	Eau Natural by Amy Zavatto September 8, 2005 Let the heathens drink herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizer. Chelsea wine shop owner Scott Pactor has dedicated two-thirds of his 2,000-bottle stock at Appellation Wine & Spirits to biodynamic and organic vino. Read More

	Chockablock Full of Eateries 10th Ave. in Chelsea a food haven by JOE DZIEMIANOWICZ July 1, 2005 Ditto Scott Pactor, whose new wine shop Appellation will boast artisanal, organic and biodynamic vintages. "I like that there's still some edginess," says the ex-auditor who traded a calculator for Cabernet. He plans to uncork the store by Aug. 1. Read More