About Us
hi, we're Mt. Washington Wine & Spirits!
A shop that focuses on small production wine, beer, and spirits, owned and operated by a husband-and-wife team passionate about helping you find your next favorite bottle (because there's always something new and fun to try!).
Jake
owner. operator. Wine Guy.
Growing up down the road, Jake’s family home was the place to gather—and his love of hosting shines in the shop. You’ll often find him pouring a round for neighbors gathered at the bar, recommending a wine pairing for a grocery shopper's dinner, or explaining any number of wine concepts to curious minds.
In addition to putting in the work to bring the shop to life, Jake is the Wine Guy. His uncanny ability to remember exactly what wine you like—combined with an encyclopedic amount of knowledge on geography, winemaking, and grapes—helps him build our ever-changing selection, where there's always something fun and new to try. (Because wine should be a fun, shareable adventure, shouldn't it?)
When not in the shop (rare, but he does occasionally take a day off), he can be found watching whichever sport is in season, traveling with Mallory, or cooking up a big meal for friends and family at his home in Mount Washington.
Mallory
owner. organizer. marketer. maker of lists.
Mallory did not plan to be in the world of wine (and that's saying something, because planning is kinda her thing). But she said yes when Jake asked if she wanted to open a wine shop. July 2023 found her leaving her full-time marketing job to be fully present in the shop (instead of working both jobs from the tiny crow's nest office upstairs). Nowadays, she's often behind the computer, doing many of the less-exciting-but-essential things that keep a business running, figuring out ways to bring Jake's big ideas to life, sending silly emails to her newsletter pals, and convincing Jake to participate in ridiculous photos for Instagram.
When not in the shop, she can be found being walked around Mount Washington by her and Jake's 55-pound Aussie-Lab mix, traveling down to North Carolina to see her favorite people, or planning her next trip.
Questions we've been asked a time or two...or three
How did we get here?
No, opening a wine shop together was not the plan when we met as juniors at the University of South Carolina. We decided to take a beverages class through the hospitality school for fun, though it was wholly unrelated to our sociology (Jake) and psychology/marketing (Mallory) majors. As fate would have it, Jake fell in love with the world of wine.
After college and a five-year stint at another local wine shop (which Jake affectionately refers to as the place where he got his advanced degree in wine), Jake got the opportunity to start his own shop in 2022. Thus, Mt. Washington Wine & Spirits was born.
Have you really tasted everything in the store?
How does that work? How do you decide what comes in?
Jake has tried 99% of what you see in the shop (not all in one day!)—and a lot of other things you won't find on our shelves. Somebody has to do it!
Jokes aside, the selection here is incredibly curated. Before the bottles hit our shelves, we learn about the people behind them: their stories, their regions, their why. We look for wines with passion and purpose. Wines that are more agricultural than industrial, and often fall into categories like organic, sustainable, biodynamic, natural, and limited intervention.
We bring in products that we're excited about. The things we'd want to share with our family and friends.
You're open on Sundays?!
Heck yeah we are! Every Sunday!
Yes, we're still located in Baltimore City. The same liquor license that allows us to be open on Sundays allows us to serve—be sure to check out what we're pouring at the bar this month!