Wine & beer lovers take note

Sandy and Alex Menard, Owner’s of Sandy’s Wine Shack

Sandy and Alex Menard, a husband-and-wife duo originally from Canada, opened Sandy’s Shack in Ocala in October 2022. They established the wine shop after observing a lack of variety in local wine options, which often seemed repetitive across grocery and liquor stores. To diversify the offerings, they also included an extensive selection of beers.

Today, the 3,000-square-foot Sandy’s Shack features over 500 types of wines, and equally vast range of craft and imported beers, along with ports, meads, sakes, ice wines, cigars, and a variety of upscale and whimsical gifts. Uniquely, the store boasts products rarely found elsewhere in the county.

Located at Six Gun Plaza, Sandy’s Shack provides free delivery within a 35-mile radius and maintains an online shop at sandysshack.com/shopify.

Additionally, they operate a wine club starting at $30 per month.

Sandy’s Shack hosts complimentary tastings weekly: wine tastings on the first and third Thursdays, and beer tastings on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. More details can be found at sandysshack.com/events-tastings.

On Feb. 2, Sandy and Alex will host the inaugural Sandy’s Shack Wine Award, and they are inviting guests to join them in the ticketed event ($120). The event will showcase the best wines they have selected monthly over the past year. Attendees will enjoy 1.5 to 2-ounce servings of each wine, paired with charcuterie and cheese from Graze & Prosper for the white wines, and tapas from La Casella Catering for the red wines.

The 12 featured wines include:

Whites:

Painted Wolf – Chenin Blanc (January)

Durigutti – Blanc de Blancs (August) (Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Semillon blend)

Villa Maria – Sauvignon Blanc (September)

San Marzano – Edda (November) (Chardonnay, Fiano, Wild Muscatel blend)

Reds:

Durigutti – Cabernet Franc (December 2022)

Sherwood – Pinot Noir (February)

Graffetta – Nero D’Avola (March)

I Giusti & Zanza – Nemorino (April) (Sirah, Sangiovese, Merlot blend)

Podere Castorani – Montepulciano D’abruzzo (May)

Tait – Ball Buster (June) (Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet blend)

Etna – Ulysse – Nerello Mascalese (July)

San Marzano – Primitivo Di Manduria (October)

Participants will receive a voting card to help select the “Wine of the Year,” with one white and one red to be awarded. The event will also feature a Red Carpet-themed photo booth by Sensational Selfie of Ocala, prize drawings, including a Levy & McClellan Ampersand Napa Valley Red Blend 2016 vintage (valued at $350).

Learn more at: www.sandysshack.com

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