When Mangalitsa opened in 2017, its small wine list offered some real gems. Upper Valley wine…read moredrinkers quickly learned that they could experience wines made from unfamiliar grape varieties and from regions largely absent from wine lists in other local restaurants. Now, Matt Lombard, Mangalitsa's owner, has opened Decant, located right next door to the restaurant, to showcase food-friendly wines from notable producers and small vineyards from around the world.
Unlike other places in Woodstock, Decant is strictly a wine shop: no beer, cider, or hard liquor in sight. Also, it isn't the place to go to find a huge selection of blow-your-socks-off California cab or Australian Shiraz. Instead, on its shelves, you'll find wines chosen because they exhibit a sense of place (terroir!), are produced by growers who care for their land, and vintners who produce wines based on traditional techniques.
The wines at Decant are carefully chosen by Lombard and Keven Ring. You quickly realize that this is a passion project for both, driven by their love of food and wine. Ring is an experienced sommelier, who worked at Simon Pearce and Twin Farms for years and is an engaged (!) oenophile. His experience in pairing wine and food is helpful if you need a couple of bottles for a special dinner or, if you're a wine geek, you'll find his encyclopedic knowledge of wine absorbing.
Once the store is fully up and running, they'll offer tastings and events, a wine club, and other wine-related experiences.
