You know how much we love our M10 community? More than we can ever express. Though we try! Which is why, every now and again, we like to share how amazing you are with the rest of the fam.
Today, say hey to David Weitzenhoffer, the inspirational human behind Community Wine and Spirits in Chelsea - a gorgeous wine and liquor store that also hosts all kinds of events, from wine-tasting classes to rock-climbing seminars, book clubs, and more. And if his luscious space looks familiar, that's because it was home to the MAISON 10 Chelsea outpost for a few months earlier this year, and we absolutely adore David for sharing it with us.
When he's not helping New Yorkers get excited about the wonderful world of wine, he can be found hanging with his Weimaraner, playing basketball, running, kite boarding, and "experiencing as much of the world as I can".
Over to you, David ...
What motivates me to do what I do
How wine's art, science, origin, bring people together
How I discovered M10
I paused for a hot minute outside of M10 and Tom was my good friend about 30 seconds later.
My favorite things from the store
We've gotten a lovely blanket, and we always have a few sticks of incense that Tom and Henri turned us on to.
If I wasn't living in NY ...
I'd be in Seattle, where I grew up, or Italy where I lived briefly.
A book that changed my life
Back to wine - Kermit Lynch's On the Wine Route formed not only the kind of wines I wanted to drink but also my how I wanted to explore and discover those wines.
Beyond that world, Nabokov's An Invitation to a Beheading. It somehow crystallized for me what I had been studying in University (Russian literature and history/language). It was a link to Gogol's The Nose and still modern Russian literature pushing new boundaries. I like that - ties of continuity that breach new territory.
What am I most proud of?
When you are this old it's hard to narrow it down to one thing. I'm quite proud of the life I've lived. It's been a lot of fun.
The qualities I admire most in people
Directness and the ability to laugh.
If there was an Olympics for everyday activities, I'd win gold for this ...
Napping; ask any of my close friends.
Quick masterclass to sound smarter about wine than you really are
The great unspoken benefit of global warming is that most every wine region in the world makes good wine now. Or for any red, say you prefer your reds a little on the cool side; or for any whites say you prefer them a bit warmer.
Some of my most treasured purchases
In terms of wine, a 1991 Jaboulet La Chappelle, 1985 Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill, 1989 Chateau d'Yquem. Otherwise, my wife's engagement ring
Words of advice for young David
There is so much time. And remember to ask people for help. You need people.
Community Wines & Spirits is open 3pm-9pm Monday, 12pm-9pm Tuesday-Friday, 11am-9pm Saturday, 11am-7pm Sunday.
communitywineandspirits.com
