Buying wine is usually a guessing game. You might choose based on a pretty label, the unique shape of the bottle, or because something sounds vaguely fancy or familiar from a film… or was it an Instagram post? Oftentimes, you’re choosing blindly and hoping for the best—and you’re either pleasantly surprised or massively disappointed.
Sommlike, Main Street’s newest wine shop, takes the guesswork out of buying wine. Every bottle on the shelf has been tasted, vetted, and selected for a reason. Customers are even encouraged to taste-drive before committing—something the shop makes very easy to do with its sleek, sophisticated WineStation.
The WineStation is a four-spout machine that keeps each bottle at its ideal temperature while keeping oxygen out until the wine is poured. Whenever Sommlike is open, four wines are available for tasting, typically a mix of reds, whites, and rosé, served in proper stemware.
“People tend to buy what they already know, and that gets repetitive,” Paula Alonso, founder of Sommlike, tells us. “This way you’re able to discover new things, explore new things, and feel confident buying something you know you’ll like.”
That spirit of exploration is reflected in the name, too. “Sommlike” is a combination of “sommelier” and “like,” a nod to the shop’s approachable take on wine.
Paula’s own love of wine began, fittingly, with a tasting event. Originally from Argentina, Paula never had much appreciation for Malbec. That changed when she started attending Malbec World Day celebrations in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan.
“That’s where my love for wine really started,” Paula says. “Up until that point, I wasn’t really tasting any wine, so I started doing these events—and it was a one-way ticket. I never looked back.”
In 2012, Paula and her husband, Nicholas Ktorides, moved from New York City to Ridgefield with their three boys. She brought a little of that New York energy with her, launching a tasting event at Lounsbury House called “Sunset Wine Party” in 2018. The popular event drew crowds of 300 to 350 people until the pandemic brought in-person gatherings to a halt.
Paula pivoted to an online marketplace, selling a selection of wines under the “Sommlike” name. As events returned, so did Sunset Wine Party, and Paula began selling bottles after each event.
“The natural next step was to find a location to open a brick-and-mortar store,” Paula says.
Sommlike, which opened in mid-June, has become a destination for wine enthusiasts, the wine-curious, and even wine-adjacents. (They have spirits and craft beer, too, which have undergone an equally in-depth vetting process). But the focus remains on wine—and on helping customers discover bottles they may not otherwise encounter.
“We really try to carry wines that have stories behind them,” Paula says. “Wines that offer a sense of place, that are family-owned or come from smaller vineyards. And we prioritize conscious, intentional winemaking.”
Unlike a traditional wine shop with endless aisles of familiar labels, Sommlike offers a highly curated selection—and this is where they shine. Most bottles are priced under $35, with some outliers on either end. There’s no attempt to stock a little of everything; each bottle has earned its spot on the shelf.
Before the store opened, Paula hand-selected a team of sommeliers and wine experts to help make those decisions. Led by Wine Director John Noakes and Senior Wine Specialist Ben Crumlich, both wine-industry veterans, the team is constantly tasting, evaluating, and searching for wines that meet Sommlike’s standards. The test for whether a bottle makes it from the tasting table to the shelf is simple.
“If they wouldn’t take a wine home to drink themselves, then we won’t carry it in the store,” Paula says. “We walk the walk and talk the talk. Our staff is constantly tasting.”
That philosophy extends to what Sommlike chooses not to carry, too. Paula even has an Instagram series about famous wines that, in her opinion, have become better at marketing than winemaking.
“They’ve become brands more than wines,” she says. “We don’t carry any of the big names here. We really want to support smaller vineyards and wineries that make amazing wine.”
One of Sommlike’s most distinctive features is its Discovery Wall, curated by Ben and refreshed every three to four months in step with the seasons. It highlights wines, spirits, and craft beers that customers might not normally reach for, offering an easy way to try something outside their usual rotation.
The WineStation offers another opportunity to do the same.
“People get to taste the wines, experience them—and then they can buy what they really love,” Paula says.
Sommlike takes that same approach to its dedicated event space, where the shop hosts wine classes and seminars once or twice a month. The space features two large square industrial-style tables, comfortable seating, and video projection against a bright white wall. It’s sleek and unfussy, designed to keep the focus on the wine.
Because the tables seat just 16 guests, events fill quickly, often within 24 hours of being announced. Upcoming sessions include the World Wine Tour on October 14, where guests can taste eight wines from around the globe, supplied by Vintus Imports. The Dark Side of the Cellar on October 28 will offer a seasonally spooky evening featuring six wines, a sparkling welcome pour, and a few surprises. All Sommlike events include light bites.
If a class sells out before you can grab a seat, Sommlike also offers private events offsite, with a dedicated wine professional leading either a walk-around or sit-down tasting. They’re a natural fit for networking events, team-building outings, book clubs, or simply a night out with friends.
“Tasting is so important,” Paula says. “It’s a way to let people explore and discover new wines, and to learn something along the way.”
Sommlike has been part of the Ridgefield community in one form or another for nearly a decade. Since opening its brick-and-mortar location, the shop has become part of the Main Street scene, participating in SummerFest, the Art Walk, and, looking ahead, the Holiday Stroll and other small-business events.
“Right now I’m really focusing my time on building the store, building a wine community here in town,” Paula says. “I want people to have a good time and enjoy themselves with what we’re offering.”
Sommlike is located at 407 Main Street. The shop is open seven days a week, with the WineStation available for tastings whenever the store is open. Join Sommlike for the Sunset Wine Party at Lounsbury House on October 4, featuring more than 60 wines, a curated grazing board experience, a sparkling lounge and wine-by-the-glass bar, and DJ sessions as the sun sets over one of Ridgefield’s most treasured landmarks. All event proceeds will benefit Lounsbury House. Visit sommlike.com for tickets and information about upcoming events