About Berman's Fine Wines & Spirits in Lexington, MA 02420

Berman's Wine and Spirits, incorporated in 1909, is located 12 miles NW of Boston and 4 miles from Cambridge in historic Lexington. Joel Berman represents the third generation of merchants; his son, Gregg, who works with him is 4th generation.

Berman's Wine and Spirits began over a hundred years ago when Joel's grandfather drove a horse drawn wagon up and down Massachusetts Avenue, selling meat door to door. The wagon eventually became a storefront, a full grocery/dry goods business and, after prohibition, a licensed liquor store.

Joel relates, "The town fathers came to my grandfather and offered him the first available liquor license in town due to his kind consideration of, and generosity to, those who didn't have enough money to pay him during the depression."

In 1959, Berman's moved diagonally across the street to a larger location on Massachusetts Avenue. Shortly after starting at Berman's in 1962 Joel's passion for wine was born. By studying, tasting extensively and traveling to European vineyards, establishing contacts with both Italian and French grower/winemakers, he increased his wine knowledge and enhanced his reputation both at home and abroad. He studied French, then Italian, and speaks both languages fluently, which is a tremendous aid in ferreting out excellent albeit obscure wines. Joel bought out his uncle's interest in the business in 1972.

Berman's is especially noted for carrying highly regarded, limited production wines from around the world, in addition to most popular favorites. Joel and his passionate team carefully source and select wines based on 50 years of tasting experience. By directly importing many of our featured wines, excellent price to quality ratios are maintained. The always changing portfolio at Berman's definitely represents a passionate old-world feel, but continues to explore all regions where wine is produced.

Berman's weekly e-newsletter highlights many of the exceptional values and discoveries available at the shop with an analysis of trends, vintages and specific regions. In every issue, Joel identifies best buys from select growers with in-depth analysis and tasting notes. The focus is alternately on various wine making areas of the world. Joel's love of wine is obvious in his writings, which are not condescending or pedantic, but are educational and insightful.

Joel and a staff of experienced wine professionals pride themselves on assisting individual customer choices, for intimate dinner parties, larger affairs, or wines to cellar. Special order wines not stocked are gladly researched.

Our store hours currently are:
Monday-Saturday: 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
Sunday: 10:00am - 6:00 pm

Joel began working at Berman’s in 1962 under his father and uncle and shortly after starting in the business his passion for fine wine was born. Joel intensely studied and tasted wines from all over the world which brought him to some of the finest wineries across Europe on his quest for wine knowledge. After learning to speak French and Italian fluently, he built relationships with top French and Italian winemakers while traveling and now has a network all over Europe from which he sources many of our wines. In 1972, Joel bought out his uncle’s interest in the business and used his expertise and European network to build Berman’s into what it is today. Joel’s knowledge of and passion for wine are unmatched in America and his proclivity for procurement of great wines and great values from Europe is the cornerstone of Berman’s Wine and Spirits today.

After graduating from Cornell with a degree in Enology and Viticulture, including a semester abroad with the world-renowned University of Adelaide’s Wine Program, Alex worked a few odd jobs in the wine industry before becoming the Wine Director at Berman’s Wine and Spirits. He immediately meshed with Joel’s leadership and brings an exciting energy to Berman’s wine program. His degree and hands-on winery experience have helped him develop an in-depth knowledge of the entire winemaking process, learning how everything from farming techniques to fermentation temperature affects the quality of a finished wine. Using his knowledge of regions and varietals, Alex specializes in sourcing wines that are both delicious and unexpected from obscure winemakers all around the world. Alex is also a graduate of the WSET Advanced Certificate program. His favorite region is the Loire Valley, a region where high-acid wines reign supreme but that also has amazing diversity and plenty of hidden gems.

Formerly a janitor at MIT, Ryan Spencer has a gift for math and chemistry that can take him light-years beyond his blue-collar roots, but he has never realized his full potential. Born and raised in South Boston, he could never imagine leaving his childhood neighborhood, his construction job, or his lifelong best friend. To complicate matters, several strangers enter the equation: a brilliant math professor who discovers, even envies, Ryan's gifts, an empathetic shrink who identifies with Ryan’s humble roots and unbridled brilliance, and a beautiful, gifted, pre-med student who shows him, for the first time in his life, the possibility of love. Now Ryan works at Berman’s and drinks French wines.

adam works mostly nights and weekends. a part-time berman's manager and team member for fourteen and a half years, adam has now joined us full-time as of september 2018 and we couldn't be happier about it.  he graduated from connecticut college a very long time ago with a degree in history, and now lives in arlington.  his interests include national politics, british tv mystery series, baseball, some science fiction, and of course, history.

we are thrilled to have adam full time. he is a bundle of energy and a fount of knowledge. his work ethic, dependability, and honesty are critical to our success and he is deeply appreciated.

After graduating from a visual arts program in 2011, Maura has since traveled around the country focusing on the arts and her passion for craft beer. Now back in her home state, she has been on the Berman's team for almost two years as a beer enthusiast, assistant beer buyer, spirits buyer, and resident chalk board artist.

We are so excited that we were able to convince Maura to join the Berman's team and she continues to literally make our shop a vibrant and beautiful place every day. Maura’s intelligence, creativity, and sunny disposition make her an absolute pleasure to work with.