Berry Bros. & Rudd, probably the biggest legacy name anywhere in wine and spirits retail, is coming to America. The firm’s maiden U.S. store opened its doors on Nov. 4 at 888 17th Street NW in downtown Washington, D.C.
The 327-year-old company is primarily based at its original London store in St. James. While BBR brings centuries of expertise and relationships to the wine retail business, it has also been a great innovator, as one of the first online stores in the industry and among the first to expand into Asia. BBR now has offices in Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo.
Wine Sales with a Personal Touch
Jamie Ritchie, an Englishman who oversaw Sotheby’s wine auctions in the U.S. and Asia for three decades, is BBR’s managing director of international and auctions and will oversee the Washington branch. He will also manage BBR auctions on both continents. Chris Adams, former CEO of Sherry-Lehmann, consulted on the project.
In a recent meeting with Wine Spectator, Ritchie said the U.S. expansion has been in the works for some time. He said the project was tailored toward what American premium wine consumers are looking for. “Here most of the business will be private individuals, and so relationship-driven,” said Ritchie. “And we need to be hospitable, warm. We keep returning to the word fun. Wine is generally part of people’s fun time, so shopping for it should be too. They want to hear stories about the wine, where it comes from. And it’s time to build the business for the next generation of wine collectors.” Ritchie says the team looked for staff who are knowledgeable, but also personable.
[article-img-container][src=2025-11/ns_berry-bros-dc-team-111125_1600.jpg] [credit= (Courtesy of Berry Bros. & Rudd) ] [alt= The team at the new Washington, D.C., Berry Bros. & Rudd][end: article-img-container]
The store itself will have 1,300 selections, ranging in price from about $20 to $100,000 for a jeroboam of Château Lafite Rothschild 1961. They will stock about 380 selections older than 2010 and about 30 older than 1990. They will also have the company’s “Own Selection” wines and spirits, which are made in collaboration with fine producers and given a BBR label. Wine lovers have long known them to be great values and excellent models of typicity.
Richie adds that they are importing BBR’s Private Client Service, “a full service model with consultations, guidance for building a cellar, curated tastings and events and warehouse storage in the District.” BBR will be shipping directly within D.C., as well as to Florida and New Hampshire. But, Ritchie added, “for clients wanting to receive wines in other locations, they can take delivery in D.C. and arrange their own shipping or have the wines transferred to our favored storage partner, St. James Cellars, and make arrangements for either shipping to their preferred address or longer term storage.”
Will this be the sole BBR U.S. location? Smiling, Ritchie said, “We hope to expand in the U.S.”
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