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u DEALCOHOLIZED WINES ARE PART OF PACKAGE AT DÉPART
‘Dealcoholized’ wines are part of package at Départ
BY JOHN TOWNES
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In addition to specialty wine and beer, Départ, a new shop in downtown Great Barrington is featuring an emerging category of non-alcoholic versions of those beverages.
Départ opened at 28 Railroad St. in July in an 800-square-foot storefront.
“It’s very wine focused, with smallproduction wines from around the world,” said owner David Bruno. “We also carry a smaller selection of craft beers and ciders. In addition we have a large selection of nonalcoholic alternatives.”
Bruno explained that “dealcoholized” wine, beer and spirits is a segment of the market that has been gaining visibility in the past couple of years for a combination of reasons. It has been stimulated by the COVID pandemic, due to changes in people’s lifestyles.
“It’s an emerging trend that has become more popular during the pandemic,” Bruno said. “Many people want to enjoy the rituals and taste of fi ne wine and beer and cocktails. But they want to avoid alcohol to remain sober, or for other health or personal reasons. So they are exploring other beverages that offer these experiences minus the alcohol content.”
While Départ (413-645-3663) is initially focused on wine and beer, Bruno noted that this market also includes non-alcoholic version of spirits such as whiskey and gin, cocktails and other beverages. He said he expects to expand into that to some extent.
Départ is working with brands and suppliers of these products, such as Leitz, a non-alcoholic wine, and Figlia, a zero-proof aperitivo. He is also partnering with Boisson, a small group of non-alcoholic liquor stores in New York City.
These beverages are prepared in ways that are similar to their alcoholic counterparts. However, they go through additional steps that remove the alcohol content.
For example, dealcoholized wine follows the same fermentation process as standard wine. But it is also put through additional processes at the end to remove the alcohol. This may include using vacuums and heat to distill off the alcohol. Another method is the use of high-pressure gravity spinners and fi lters to separate the wine from the alcohol.
Départ has a staff of about fi ve people, including two managers. They all are trained experts on wine and beverages, Bruno noted.
He added that members of Départ’s staff are also available to host tastings at people’s homes and other locations. In addition to the store’s retail role, Bruno said it is also designed as a site for events. The space has a long table and chairs in the center which allow for the hosting of wine tastings, dinner parties and other activities. It is available for booking for private tastings and parties. “People can book the space, and we’ll close the store during that time,” he said. It also is being used for public events, such as tastings, classes about wine and related topics, and other activities. These also include events that are not just focused on beverages. For example, in early October, Départ hosted the fi rst public premier of Blue Vice, a fi lm by Berkshire“Many people want to enjoy based dance company BODYSONNET. the rituals and taste of fi ne Bruno noted that wine and beer and cocktails. activities are posted on But they want to avoid alcohol the store’s Instagram page, www.instagram. to remain sober, or for other com/Depart_wine. health or personal reasons.” The Great Barrington store is part of a larger venture that Bruno is launching. He is also currently preparing to open a Départ outlet in the Moynihan Train Hall in New York City, a retail section that is under development as part of a major expansion of that city’s Penn Station transit hub. Bruno moved from New York to the Berkshires in 2020. His wife works for Iredale Cosmetics in Great Barrington. Bruno began his career in fashion retailing with Bergdorf Goodman. He then started a menswear line, Todd Snyder. After selling that company, he moved into the food and beverage industry. “That had always been an interest of mine,” he said. He worked with Verve Wine. He also helped to launch the One White Street restaurant in Tribeca in New York. After moving here, he also consulted on the opening of the Twofl ower cafe at 34 Railroad St. earlier this year. Prior to moving to the Berkshires, Bruno ± 2,000 SF also had working with a team in New York to develop the concept for Départ. Their original plan had been to open in the Moynihan Train Hall. “However, there are a lot of complexities Retail Space in that site, so it has taken a while to put that together,” he said. “In the meantime, I found a space in Great Barrington, and we decided to open here fi rst.” He said their goal is to open the New York store next year. AVAILABLE In the longer term, Bruno plans to open other Départ stores. “The concept is to open stores in several locations,” he said. “We’re looking at various locations around the country.”u• Prime Location on Main St. BRAND NEW EXECUTIVE OFFICE SUITES CLASS A SUITES IN THE BERKSHIRES Including conference • Newly Renovated • Private Parking room, waiting room, and prewired with • In the heart of the Berkshires’ fiber optic internetpremier retail corridor
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David Bruno’s inventory at his new shop, Départ, in downtown Great Barrington, emphasizes small-production wines from around the world as well as several in the “dealcoholized” niche. (Photo courtesy of Départ)
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