Craft Beer Pro to Open Gourmet Store in Del Ray/Potomac Yard

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- Department of Beer and Wine, a gourmet shop featuring craft beer and wine, will be opening soon in the Del Ray/Potomac Yard area at the Tony's Corner at Potomac Yard shopping center, owner Jeff Sapsford said Tuesday.

Sapsford knows his brews, after managing Sunset Beer Company in Los Angeles and working at Norm's Beer and Wine, a popular store with a cult following in Vienna. Sapsford, who lives in Alexandria with his family, is business partners with Stevie Treichel and Norm Yow in the new venture.

"We will have a large inventory of wine and beer, cider, meads, sodas, gourmet goods (ice creams, chocolates, salts, sugars) with a focus on craft and smaller production wines, but we will also sell some of the larger brands," Sapsford said. "We do not want to have any kind of elitist attitude, but will certainly support local and push craft/artisanal products. We will have 20 draft lines for growler fills and will also have a can seamer to fill 32-ounce cans. The beers will rotate, and we will be able to feature different breweries/wineries with tastings and events to promote new and special releases."

Sapsford's wife Melissa Sapsford will develop the store's gourmet goods program and help with community outreach programs. "It is important to us to work with local producers, but we will also highlight producers from around the world that share our values," Jeff Sapsford said. "Much like Norm's Beer and Wine in Vienna, we will work hard on becoming part of the local community."

The store, located at 2724 Jefferson Davis Highway, also has plans to serve as a CSA drop-off for produce from Virginia farms. Sapsford is aiming for a March opening. Look for their Web site to launch soon.

PHOTO: Department of Beer & Wine logo/courtesy of Department of Beer & Wine

Location of Department of Beer and Wine (Google maps):