Doug and Susan Zucker bring 30 years of experience in food and wine to their newly opened retail shop and wine bar, Bridgewater Wines, at Ocean Gate Plaza in Leland. 

The Zuckers relocated to Brunswick County from New York, where Doug worked for 30 years with Stew Leonard’s gourmet markets and Susan was a culinary professor.

During his time as director of operations for wine and spirits with Stew Leonard’s, Doug built relationships with wine producers around the world, always seeking the best wines at the best prices. 

“We have a lot of wines in our collection which you won’t find in the grocery store that over deliver for their price point,” Doug Zucker said.

“And we’ve formed relationships with many relatively undiscovered producers that provide hidden gems we can bring to our customers,” Susan Zucker said. 

Bridgewater Wines is not only a retail shop but a wine bar with 20 wines by the glass, six beers on tap, and a small-plates menu including cheese and charcuterie boards served with dried fruits, nuts, olives and bread from Tomcat Bakery in Brooklyn. 

“We’ve searched high and low to bring our guests the very best there is,” Susan Zucker said. 

In addition to free tastings every Thursday through Sunday, the Zuckers plan to host regular tasting events. Already on the books for early December, an Italian tasting set for Saturday Dec. 8 at 1 p.m., and the wines of Fess Parker on Monday Dec. 10 from 4-6 p.m.

Free gift-wrapping is available throughout the holidays and the Zuckers have created a Top 10 list of holiday wines, which they will be pouring at gatherings throughout the season.

Bridgewater Wines is located at 1132 New Pointe Blvd. in Leland and is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

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