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DOWN THE AISLE 56 Degree Wine Bernardsville In a pristine brick building several miles south of Morristown stands 56 Degree Wine, where proprietor Chris Cree sports a fleece jacket embla- zoned with his store’s logo. The jacket is necessary, you see, because it is actually 56 degrees inside his store every day of the year, reflecting Cree’s commitment to superb, small-lot wine hand-crafted by artisans using sustainable, organic and biody- namic agricultural practices. Domaine Maillard is typical of Cree’s favorite pro- ducers. “This vintner is the kind of guy we love. We go over and taste; he comes here once in a while,” he says. The store also offers a discriminating selection of single barrel scotch, fine cognacs and a selection of unique madeiras and ports, including some great old tawnys. Chris Cree of 56 Degree Wine. Despite the glamour and the perks of his busi- ness, Cree keeps his eye on the ball. “There’s a lot of romanticism around it, and there’s great product,” he says, “but the wine trade is very competitive. At the end of the day, it’s retail.” Angelbeck’s Upper Montclair Life in New Jersey is all about family and tradition, and Angelbeck’s is a family affair that has sold wines and spirits since at least 1933, reportedly even during the days of Prohibition. Back then, the story goes, it was officially a grocery store that buried various banned beverages under the produce and meats delivered daily to its many customers. The original Angelbeck family ran this Upper Montclair institution for over 60 years, and since 2006 the place has been owned and operated by Wall Street refugee and middle school teacher Peter von Hoffmann, his wife Anne and their adult children. Inventory decisions for both wine and spirits tend to be customer-driven, accord- ing to Peter. “For example, we heard a lot of requests for single malts, and now we have a whole wall of them; they’ve sold unbelievably well.” The scene at Angelbeck’s lets the von Hoffmanns extend the family affair theme. “It’s like Cheers in here,” Peter says. “People often come in because they not only want to get a bottle, but to say hello. It’s all about the relationships you build.” 108 / the tasting panel / may 2010 Pete, Anne and Peter von Hoffmann of Angelbeck’s. Find out more about New Jersey’s customers and trends in our expanded profiles of these retailers at www. tastingpanelmag.com.