Southport Magazine

Wine Bar & Wine Garden really hits the spot!
Story by Kass Fincher
What began as a part-time hobby turned into a full-time venture for Heather and Brent Thompson of Doc Meridian Winery in Southport. Brent began making wine and beer ten years ago, and Heather says they would invite friends over to try them. His Malbec was her favorite.

Originally from Arkansas, the Thompsons moved to Southport just last year and opened the wine shop in August. Heather describes their decision to move here. “We had been vacationing here for years with our kids at Oak Island and Caswell Beach,” she says. “We would take the kids to Fort Fisher and the aquarium, and of course we had to go to Britt’s Donuts. Four years ago my husband did some work over in Wilmington, so we lived at Carolina Beach in a condo for a few months. We just love the area, so when the children grew up we decided to make the move. We love Southport.”
She goes on to describe their approach at the wine shop. “We wanted to have wines that you couldn’t find at local grocery stores,” she relates. “I’m really pleased with our wine selection. We have probably 55 different wines to choose from, ranging from $8.99 to $159.99, with most in the $10-$20 range. We only work with one distributor – Paragon Wine Group out of Raleigh – and we really like their portfolio.”
Working with just one distributor enables them to build an assortment of complementary and sometimes unusual selections. “We have the best canned wine you’ll ever find; it’s called Archer Roose. We’re the only winery from here to Raleigh that carries it – our distributor recommended them. The owners Marian Leitner and David Waldman make fabulous wine. Their rose’ is from France, their Cabernet and others are from Chile. They’re expanding their lines, coming out with a Chardonnay and Prosecco soon.”
The Archer Roose website describes the owners’ approach to winemaking. “We’ve always had an appreciation for boundary pushers, feather rufflers and unconventional explorers,” says owner Marian Leitner. “So Archer Roose is a manifestation of that. We named it after Edith Wharton’s Newland Archer and Teddy Roosevelt. It’s a contrast of sophistication (the Archer) and exploration (the Roose) that makes our wine perfect for fine dining or adventuring.”
Heather goes on to describe the functionality of the boxed and canned wine. “We wanted to offer a house wine that’s a little different, so our boxed wine from Archer Roose is our house wine,” she says. “A couple who sails in the Bahamas each winter on a big sailboat stopped by and bought six boxes of wine for his boat. You don’t want glass on a boat; the cans are perfect, and they’re almost an 8-ounce pour. They’re great for the beach too, since they don’t like glass there either – we take a couple of cans out and watch the sun go down. And I’m getting in some beautiful purses that you can carry them in to take to the beach.”
Other popular wines include the South African Noble Hill estate red blend of four grapes – Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. A uniquely named “Leda the Truffle Hunter” wine is in honor of the winemaker’s dog who hunts truffles. A very affordable “Bloom” – 90% Chenin Blanc and 10% Viognier – is also a popular choice.
The Thompsons also love to support wineries that have a story to tell. For every bottle they sell of their Westerly Wines Sauvignon Blanc, the winery provides funding for fresh water in poor areas of the world. From Austria a winery that produces a Gruner Veltliner contributes funding to a medical unit in a little town near Tanzania called Itete, where almost everyone has AIDS. Heather notes, “If I could have every wine that I offer have a story that helps somebody, that would be wonderful! You can enjoy the wine but also help charities.”
The Thompsons have also teamed up with Lisa and Eric Stettner from the Cheese Shoppe just down the street. For their partnered events, the Cheese Shoppe provides the cheeses to pair with the wines for tastings; then the two businesses provide profits to a charity. Their first event benefited the closet that Brunswick Schools has for homeless children. For their next charity, a little town in Cambodia where the children have no money for books was the beneficiary. The last event went toward funding an organization – Street Reach – that houses homeless veterans and helps them assimilate back into society.
Wine tastings are held every other Tuesday, from 6 to 8 p.m. If you’re interested in a private wine tasting, Doc Meridian can do that as well. Heather describes her approach to customers: “I wanted to offer what is important to me when walking into a shop. Quality wine, good prices, relaxed atmosphere, and greeting everyone who walks in. Every person who walks in is just as important as the last person who left. You want to make sure that everyone knows that they matter. I ask them, what are you looking for today, what do you like? I try to take their answer and fit the wine to what they like.”
And Doc Meridian is in the process of putting an actual winery in Southport Village on Howe Street, in the pink building beside the general store. They will most likely obtain their grapes from California and Oregon vineyards. They are in the process of renovating the space, putting a bar and a retail store in the front and a winery in the back.
The Thompsons’ business today began with an actual dream 26 years ago – the name Doc Meridian came to Brent one night while sleeping. That dream is now a reality and Southport residents will enjoy sharing in it.