BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. (WLOX) – One business in downtown Bay St. Louis not only sells fine wines but also educates people about wine.
Alan Lagarde owns Lagarde’s Fine Wine and Spirits, located in the Depot District of Bay St. Louis.
Lagarde expressed his desire to introduce luxury fine wines to the Gulf Coast after spending time in major cities.
“When I moved to Dallas, the restaurant I worked at had an extensive wine cellar, and my position was to curate and keep up the inventory,” said Lagarde.
“I did that for less than two years, then got into retail at a high-end wine store called Marty’s.”
Lagarde eventually began working for wine import groups, representing multiple national wineries for roughly 20 years.
“Due to layoffs from COVID, I found myself in my early 60s and out of work, and I decided to go ahead and retire. In the meantime, I was working part-time at a small liquor store in Bay St. Louis, and they made me the manager after two months,” said Lagarde.
“It was only after I doubled their sales that I said ‘I can do this.’ So, in 2022, I decided to open up my own store. That’s when I signed my lease here in the Depot District.”
Lagarde said the location and building were a top-shelf pick. The 1930s historic space gave him a vintage high-end look.
“Growing up here in Bay St. Louis, my parents used to bring us to this very building, C & S Foods, but we all called it Carter’s grocery store,” said Lagarde.
“If you look at the inside of the store, take note of the post, and that same post is still in the store.”
After renovations, Lagarde expanded the space to house hundreds of products, filling the store shelves and keeping customers coming.
“People appreciate the fact that it’s not cluttered, although I have a lot of inventory on the floor. There is also artwork, music, lighting, and oriental rugs. People come in and go wow,” said Lagarde.
Each wine brand offers a distinct taste and texture. Thanks to Lagarde’s extensive industry experience and expertise, he consistently recommends the perfect choice.
“I love to put in people’s hands different wines from different parts of the world,” said Lagarde.
“If they want something fruity, we’ll take them to Germany for Riesling or Moscato. If they want something crisp and clean, an Albarino from Spain. South Africa makes some beautiful Sauvignon Blanc.”
Lagarde’s Fine Wine and Spirits is located at 128 Blaize Avenue in Bay St Louis.
In addition to having a retail license, Lagarde also has his federal wholesale license and serves nearly a dozen restaurants, hotels, and bars in Bay St. Louis, Diamondhead, Hancock County, and Long Beach.
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