12/19/2025
The Year in Review
2025 brought many changes to Faubourg Wines. Maddie earned a year of experience working in photojournalism full-time, while still helping at the shop on weekends. Natalie and Carly both picked up additional jobs at other local spots, but remained solidly part of our crew. Allison pared down her list of multiple wine biz employers, now splitting her time between Faubourg and Patron Saint, when she's not reading cookbooks and preparing amazing meals. After acting in some plays and doing improv shows (many of which I enjoyed), Topher picked up a new full-time job and said farewell to Faubourg. Sierrah stuck with us in spite of her demanding practice as a Pilates Instructor, and was an absolute life-saver during all of the transition. And we brought on two lovely new crew members, Silver and Gaia. 👏👏
One theme this year seems to be people drinking less, in general. You may have heard about this; I can confirm that it's definitely true. And while that fact does present a challenge for me, I suppose it's a good thing. We ditched beer selling almost entirely, filling those shelves instead with interesting and tasty non-alcoholic cocktails, aperitifs, and wines. These items remain in high-demand, as more people want to enjoy the benefits of socializing and imbibing without the booze. Cheers to you!
The Summers remain insanely difficult. I worked harder than ever this Summer to meticulously manage inventory and cashflow. I made some personal sacrifices, and I had to pare down the inventory in a fairly dramatic way from June through September. But customers didn't seem bothered by having fewer selections in those months, and the bottom line is-- we survived.
We lost two treasured neighbors: Pokechan and Gerken's Bike Shop. The latter hits pretty hard, as the bike shop pre-dates Faubourg by several years, and Gerken's has been a wonderful friend and neighbor from day 1 of Faubourg. We'll miss the bike shop, but Jon has assured us he's not going anywhere. So, we'll still see him in the wine shop, and of course in the parades.
Pokechan evolved- with some of the same family members- into Moi, a new family-style Vietnamese restaurant. It is spectacular! I highly recommend you try it. They've already had some excellent reviews, including this piece for the Times-Picayune (https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/eat-drink/get-homestyle-vietnamese-food-at-moi-restaurant-in-nola/article_4aeffbd0-d1c8-4aac-9571-ce6a6e30493f.html) by Ian McNulty.
We're looking forward to a lot of local shopping this weekend, now that we're just days away from Christmas. I put in some extra orders this week to ensure that we have an amazing selection available to you. We also have some special allocations landing today, so give yourself plenty of time to browse when you come through. And of course, we're loaded up with sparklers for New Year's.
As we prepare to close the books on 2025, I offer my heart-felt thanks to all of the people who help make our community unique, inclusive and resilient. In a world that has become increasingly difficult to live in, in many ways, our shared connections are more important than ever.
I started this shop to create community through wine, and I continue to succeed in that goal every day, thanks to you. I love this community.
Thank you.
Gift Wine, Not Stuff!
In the final days before Christmas, many of us are in a scramble to pick up last-minute gifts for our friends, colleagues, loved ones, and important people who have made a difference in our lives such as teachers, care-givers, and neighbors.
Something to consider: most of us do not need or want more "stuff." By giving them food or wine instead, you're offering a pleasurable experience to enjoy anytime, and with whomever they choose.
Wine is a shared moment of joy, preserved in a bottle.
I think that makes it a pretty amazing gift.
Many people are afraid to give wine as a gift because they don't know what kind of wine a person might like, or because they don't even know whether or not someone enjoys drinking wine. If you feel this way, I'd argue that you're over-thinking it.
Even people who don't drink wine often will usually appreciate having something available to them for a special occasion, or a special meal. Since they don't buy wine regularly, many of these folks are intimidated by making decisions about what to select, and will appreciate having something hand-picked for them.
Even people who don't drink alcohol at all can appreciate having a nice bottle on-hand for entertaining purposes.
Often, when I've given someone a bottle of wine, I hear from them weeks or months later. They tell me about the meal they had, how the pairing worked, which friends were around. They share the stories that were told. We might swap recipes. It's wonderful. In this way, wine is a connective thread.
Spotlight: Local Amaro
Mamou Spirits Co. (https://www.mamouspirits.com) , a new amaro producer right here in New Orleans, arrived on the scene this month. We were able to stock their Traiteur Amaro just in time for the holidays, and wow- it's turned out to be one of the most popular gift items of the season! And for good reason: it's complex, it's interesting, it's delicious, it has broad appeal, and it's in a beautiful bottle. Amaro is hugely popular right now, and this one is made right here at home with native Louisiana botanicals that are traditionally believed to offer many health benefits.
Follow Mamou Spirits Co. on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/mamouspirits/)
We have another case arriving today.
We currently offer Traiteur Amaro at $45/bottle.
Holiday Hours
Faubourg Wines will be OPEN this Monday, December 22nd
(We are normally closed on Mondays.)
We will close early on Christmas Eve:
Bar Closes at 5pm
Shop Closes at 6pm
CLOSED on Christmas Day
OPEN (normal hours) on New Years Eve
CLOSED New Years Day
Why not swing through this weekend to enjoy a little sipping and shopping at Faubourg, and maybe a sweet li'l lunch at Moi! Doesn't that sound nice?
Happy Holidays
❤️ Take Care of Each Other ❤️
In Gratitude,
-- Cat
