![]() What was encouraging was to learn that there were no wrong answers: if I loved fruit-forward Cabernet, that was fine. He acknowledged and appreciated them, while adhering to his own palate’s dictates. He knew palates differed, that he himself was a professed Burgundy freak, without taking anything from those who love Barolos and first-growth Bordeaux. He knew that wine’s a beverage, and everyone had different tastes. He never begrudged anyone their love for Paisano. He’d say that he wished he liked Carlo Rossi, because it would make his drinking habits much more affordable. THE PROVOST PALATE Paul is the consummate wine professional who’s tasted all the greatest wines. I kept learning and filling the shelves, and it was a lot of fun. Then, working alongside Paul Provost, Rick and I learned to love wines we couldn’t afford. Ruffino’s statewide manager introduced me to a couple of classic gold-label riservas – I remember the 1958 in particular. Meanwhile Mike Muratore bought the Attleboro store, and I went to open it.įIRST TASTES Domaine Gramenon (Côtes du Rhône) 199O-1991s I loved because I could pick out that green bell pepper. ![]() Rick, a wine salesman for MS Walker, and I worked together on the floor. Paul was our wine buyer and my first mentor. Law school looked attractive, but when I started working here, I got bit by the wine bug – and met Paul Provost and Rick Lacasse. I worked a year in New York for my fraternity, Zeta Beta Tau. My father retired last winter.īITTEN by the BUG I went to Cornell, took one basic wine course, and visited Glenora, Bully Hill, Konstantin Frank, and other wineries. Mike and dad ran this place together until 2OO2, when I bought Mike out. He joined Yankee Spirits as CEO under my predecessor, Mike Muratore, who’d met him when he too owned a package store in Springfield. My dad quit Stop & Shop to open a package store with a limited wine selection in Waterbury, Connecticut, then two more in Massachusetts with his brother and another partner. My grandfather ran a small general provisions store in Springfield. He stopped in Pittsfield, stayed on and married. Mike shares his history, directions, and assertive views on service, marketing and branding with many a nod to his loyal team.īERKSHIRE ROOTS I’m third generation Italian my great-grandfather arrived from Naples and took the train west from Boston. The others are a former Almacs with a large basement warehouse with built-in racks for documents, in South Attleboro, and a former Sears furniture store in Swansea. Mike toured me through his flagship Sturbridge store, oldest of its three 25,OOO square foot rented properties. ![]() The young owner of Yankee Spirits, the Bay State’s largest chain, was recently named beverage dynamics’ Retailer of the Year. Mike Cimini is a forward-looking beverage mogul of easy modesty and resolute conviction. • Sturbridge, South Attleboro and Swansea, MA MIKE CIMINI • 39 • CEO Yankee Spirits Inc.
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