Top 100 Retailers

BY SARAH PROTZMAN HOWLETT

In 2005 , a liquor license became available in Montclair , NJ , so she bought it . “ The perfect location ,” she says , presented itself shortly thereafter .

Sevrens opened in the fall of that year , and within six months outgrew the location . She doubled its size by taking over the space next door when it became vacant ; then , five years ago , she was approached about an opportunity in Morristown .

To this day , she says , teaching is one of the best parts of being proprietor at Amanti , which has locations in Montclair and Morristown , NJ .

“ We have a private classroom to provide wine education ,” she says . “ I love to teach — there ’ s nothing more fun to me .” Sevrens offers Saturday afternoon classes every couple of weeks , usually around a theme . Sometimes she brings in guest winemakers or importers . She also provides professional wine education for anyone on her team who wants it .

Customers have “ countless ” tasting opportunities , Sevrens says . Every Saturday , they open three or four bottles for people to try . “ Some days , we focus on value wines , and other days on cult collectibles ,” she adds . “ Nothing is off limits .”

Amanti focuses on boutique , artisanal wines . Sevrens encourages her customers to try anything they like . “ While we have nothing against the big producers ,” she says , “ we find that artisanal , hand-made wines taste better , cost less and are interesting to discuss .” Sevrens estimates she tastes thousands of bottles a year to choose the inventory for the store . And , adding another location is always on her radar if it makes sense .

“ The governor is talking about changing how licenses are granted ,” she says . “ There ’ s been no movement in this area for a long time .”

Amanti has been awarded Best of Essex by Suburban Essex magazine for the past eight years , and was named in Wine Enthusiast ' s " 50 Best Retailers " list . Its Burgundy section also won a gold medal from SevenFifty . Her 10-strong staff of long-serving employees also knows — and loves — wine .

She has four part-time employees and seven managers , and says her store ’ s biggest accomplishment in the past 12 months was being listed as the best wine store in New Jersey in an article on the website Eat This , Not That .

One of the many reasons Sevrens likes hand-made wines for her store are the stories behind them , which she also readily shares

with her staff so they can pass those tales onto curious customers .

Reflecting on Covid , Sevrens says the store took the good with the bad . The Montclair location was more established when Covid happened , she explains , and due to her team ’ s feedback , she closed it to walk-ins even before the governor shut things down due to safety . “ It was terrifying ,” she recalls . “ Wine delivery trucks were being commandeered to transport bodies , but from a business perspective it was like Christmas . It was unbelievable .” Sevrens ordered a lot more than usual and turned the store into a warehouse . “ We were well prepared ,” she says .

Now that normalcy has mostly returned , Sevrens is also enjoying offering travel experiences through her business . In May on the day of this interview , she had just returned from two weeks in the historical region of Burgundy , France , leading a tour with 19 of her top Burgundy customers .

“ I took them to see some really small very special producers in Burgundy that do not have tasting rooms ,” she says . “ We visited two producers every day and kept mornings free for bike riding , shopping etc .” She is leading a similar trip to the Piedmont region of Italy in the fall .

“ I love this business ,” Sevrens says . “ There ’ s nothing better than when a customer comes in and I can help them with a pairing , and they take the time later to let me know it was perfect .”

www . beveragedynamics . com June 2023 • Beverage Dynamics 15