Nineteen years, countless bottles, plenty of good food and one very special mermaid later, Mass Ave Wine Shop is celebrating its 19th birthday! What started as a wine shop and café has grown into a neighborhood favorite, gathering place and destination for wine lovers on Mass Ave.
So, naturally, we’re celebrating the best way we know how: with good wine, good food, some seriously fun throwbacks and a little bubbly.
🧜♀️ From Mermaid to Mass Ave Mainstay
The story of Mass Ave Wine Shop begins with Jill Ditmier, whose career stretched beyond broadcast media and into her passion for food and wine. A judge and contestant in a variety of food and wine events, Ditmier eventually brought that enthusiasm to Mass Ave as the owner and buyer of the Mass Ave Wine Shoppe and Café.
And yes, we’ve got the throwback photos to prove it.
Take a trip down memory lane with some of our favorite photos from when the shop first opened, including a look at our original retro mermaid logo. Before the current look, there was a little more vintage flair—and that mermaid has earned her place in Mass Ave Wine Shop history.
Today, sommelier Lisa Cunningham is at the helm as owner and managing partner. She’s been part of the shop for 15 of its 19 years, bringing her passion for wine, food and hospitality to the neighborhood for nearly the entire journey.
Nineteen years is a lot of bottles. She’s opened most of them and is bubbling over with wine knowledge
🧀 Tasting Tuesdays Gets a Birthday Throwback
What’s a birthday without snacks?
For our weekly Tasting Tuesdays that take place at 5:30 p.m., we’re bringing back some favorite retro-inspired charcuterie and cheese tray combos including one out of the three birthday-inspired pairing items each week.
“The Good Life”
A classic combination of:
- Prosciutto
- Salami
- Smoked Gouda
- Brie
- Fig jam
Sweet, savory, salty and creamy—basically, the good life on a plate.
“A Goat, a Cow, and a Sheep Walk Into a Wine Bar…”
Yes, the name is a mouthful. So is the cheese tray.
This trio brings together:
- Drunken Goat
- Dana Blue
- Manchego
Three cheeses, three different personalities and one very good reason to order another glass.
🥂 Raise a Glass to 19 Years
What better way to celebrate a birthday than with bubbles?
We’re pouring Duchesse De Paris Brut Blanc De Blancs, a French sparkling wine that’s as easy on the wallet as it is to enjoy. At just $8.99 for a 750mL bottle, it’s a party-ready pick for a Tuesday, or any day that ends in “y.”
Made in high-altitude vineyards with clay-limestone soils, the grapes are harvested early to preserve the freshness and acidity needed for sparkling wine. The wine undergoes cool-temperature fermentation before a second fermentation in stainless steel vats, creating a fresh, lively style designed for easy drinking.
It’s crisp, celebratory and exactly the kind of bottle that belongs at a birthday party.
🎂 Cheers to 19 Years!
From Jill Ditmier’s original wine shop and café to today’s Mass Ave Wine Shop, one thing hasn’t changed: we love bringing people together over wine and food.
So pull out your old photos, share your memories, grab a cheese tray, and raise a glass with us. Whether you’ve been shopping with us since the beginning or you’re just discovering us, we’re grateful to have spent 19 years on Mass Ave, and we’re ready to keep the good times pouring.
Happy birthday to us! Cheers to 19 years! 🥂🧀🍷
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