Balaban's Hires Wine Manager!

A wine lover for 25 years, Tom Bush joins Balaban’s® as the new retail wine manager.

As Balaban’s® co-owners Steve McIntyre and Brian Underwood made the hiring announcement, Bush recalled that his interest in wine began 30 years ago dating his girlfriend Judy, now his wife, and continued through a corporate telecommunications career which afforded him the ability to buy fine wines.

At Balaban’s®, Bush will direct the retail business selling and marketing wines through the retail store, newsletter, blog and eventually through an interactive web site.

He plans to emphasize the personal touch to increase wine sales, meeting clients by appointment,  seven days a week.  As a new hire hesitant about predictions, Bush committed to increase retail wine sales by the end of the year but would not set a specific target.

In directing Balaban’s® wine program, Bush indicated that he wants to add more value wines to Balaban’s® selection of fine wine.

“We want to appeal to the average customer as they develop their wine tastes and learn more about the wine market. And, we want to cater to the wine connoisseur with our older vintage Library Wines.” 

A long term Balaban’s® devotee, Bush discovered Café Balaban® after a corporate move from Chicago in 1994. 

“I got to know Steve McIntyre at Café Balaban®, and I eventually got into the wine business, my first love.  In personal wine buying I patronized the small shops with good knowledge and attention to personal service, like Balaban’s®.”

Despite his plan to add more value wines, Bush said he appreciates the advantages of having high quality older wines solely owned by McIntyre under perfect cellaring conditions.

He recently reveled in opening a 1990 bottle of Chateau d’Yquem for a surprise birthday party  for his wife in Balaban’s® private event space.  The two now live at Lake St. Louis.

“Balaban’s® amazing wine selection includes grand cru and premier cru Burgundies, first growth Bordeaux and older vintages of California domains best exemplified by Chateau Montelena, Phelps Insignia and Harlan,” he said.

“These bottles fill the racks and line the walls of Balaban’s® intimate wine room, available for special dinners of eight as part of Balaban’s® new event space.”