What’s New: Welcome to Harlem Wine Gallery

Harlem’s Hamilton Heights welcomes the Harlem Wine Gallery. The stretch of Manhattan between W. 137th and W. 155th Streets is a classic New York City neighborhood with gorgeous brownstones, presidential landmark homes and ground-breaking cultural institutions. The revitalization of the neighborhood has brought million dollar condos, upscale restaurants and now, finally, a boutique wine shop/art gallery called the Harlem Wine Gallery.

Harlem Wine Gallery is the brain-child of self described serial entrepreneur Ken Forte.  The vision for Harlem Wine Gallery was borne out of Ken’s long held disappointment with the quality of retail stores in urban communities.  “Retail business owners often underestimate the buying power that exists in our community. They also underestimate our ability to discern poor quality from high quality.  Accordingly, there is a tremendous opportunity for retailers that provide superior goods and services at a competitive price”. Rather than just talk about the problem Ken decided to take action. Each wine is carefully vetted before it hits the shelves.  Ken insists that the effort his team makes to choose each wine provides customers with “consistently tasty wine choices at an affordable price”. Attention to detail is made even more apparent by the creative layout of the wines.  The racks are arranged by region, taste and cuisine. They also have free tastings and events several times a week.  “We use wine tasting events as a tool to bring together the community.  The art exhibits are the perfect cultural platform to pair with wine.  The combination of the two fosters a healthy intellectual atmosphere; the type of environment that our communities need more of”.

The Art currently on display in the gallery is by New York based Guatemalan artist Juan Carlos Pinto, who for the past 10 years has been using discarded Metrocards to create vibrant mosaic portraits of cultural icons and local heroes.  “His artwork comments on issues of social justice and environmental conservation with a visual aesthetic that emanates the expressive lushness of the ancient Mayan folklore traditions of his homeland.”

Harlem Wine Gallery
752A St. Nicholas Avenue at 148th Street
New York, NY 10031
(212) 281-9463
Hours of Operation: Daily from 1 – 10pm

For more information or interviews with owner Ken Forte, please contact Wilson Marshall Inc. at: wilsonmarshallnyc@gmail.com or (646) 721-4375