Your New Favorite Wine Destination Just Opened in Pepper Place
Whether you're a sommelier-in-training or just want to expand your palate, Balance Wine in Pepper Place can help you find a pour that might just become your new favorite. Image: Erin Wilson
There is a new shop on the block in Pepper Place, and weβre already obsessed! Tucked near favorites like Odette Collective, Billy Reid, Stone Hollow Farmstead, and Red Cat Coffee, Balance Wine feels less like a retailer and more like a cozy living room that begs you to sit and sip awhile. Since opening its doors six months ago, this wine club and concierge service is putting a fresh, accessible spin on subscription boxes β exclusively (for now) for Birmingham locals. If youβre looking for a curated wine exploration in a welcoming setting, youβve found your new spot.
Owner Jono Mason brings 20 years of experience in wholesale wine sales and sourcing, but heβs not interested in just supplying wines. His goal is to create a service focused on exploring and enjoying wine in a way that makes people feel comfortable. Rather than use his expertise to be a βwine snob,β Jono says he prefers an unfussy approach as he curates boxes for his monthly members.
He intentionally keeps the boxes small (three to six bottles), so members have space to relax and savor their samples rather than rushing to finish before the next box arrives. The name of the company is a testament to that slower approach, and communicates Jonoβs desire for his clients to interact with him and the wines he selects each month.
βMy hope is that by subscribing to our club and receiving a few fun bottles each month, we can bring a little more balance to peopleβs lives,β says Jono. βI want to encourage people to pause for a moment, set aside the stresses of everyday life, and share a great bottle of wine with a loved one, partner, family, or friends. If we can help create those moments of connection, then weβve brought a little balance to what often feels like a chaotic world.βΒ
With annual memberships starting at $75 for three bottles, Jono offers an approachable start to wine tasting and exploration. Every month, he carefully chooses varieties that introduce clients to wines they might not have tried before, and includes detailed wine biographies and tasting notes to enhance the experience.
Beyond subscriptions, Balance Wine offers a personalized concierge service to help both individual and corporate clients build wine lists for parties or events β and no group is too small. Jono is passionate about helping people discover the ideal bottle that fits the occasion and budget, and introducing them to something new and wonderfully unexpected.
Birmingham is home to several wonderful local wine shops, but Balance Wine brings a refreshing, easygoing vibe to the community. Itβs a welcoming attitude that reflects Jonoβs New Zealand roots and his two decades living in the South.
The concept is simple and approachable: an affordable way to explore new wines alongside an expert who genuinely wants you to enjoy the process of sipping, learning, and discovering something new to love about wine.
You can learn more about Balance Wine on their website or visit their Instagram and Facebook pages.
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Erin Slay Wilson
Erin Slay Wilson is the Market Leader for StyleBlueprint Birmingham. She lives in the Crestwood neighborhood with her family and their golden retriever, Butter. When Erin isn't writing and building relationships within the community, she loves to read, go on walks around the city, garden, and scope out treasures at local antique malls.