Testimonial

"It is truly a pleasure to shop at the Merry Wine Market. From the moment anyone enters the shop, they are greeted as a long-lost friend—usually with something or someone in common with the owners!

The selection is thoughtfully chosen, with lovely selections at every price point. There is no wine snobbery here! Novices as well as aficionados are treated with care and respect. I especially appreciate the staff’s culinary knowledge: I simply describe what I’m cooking and “voila,” there is the perfect wine selection in my price range.

I don’t shop anywhere else—no need."

-Mary B.
Black Mountain, NC

About Us

What makes The Merry Wine Market different from most wine shops is that the owners, Scott and Katherine Counce, see it as their responsibility to know about the wines, therefore intimidation and frustration are to be left on the sidewalk. Novices and collectors alike are at home here. One of their mottos is "We'd rather make a friend than a sale"…and they mean it!

In the spring of 2000 Scott Counce dragged his new bride, the former Katherine Gilreath, to Black Mountain kicking and screaming. It didn't take long for her to realize, as Scott had in the late 1980’s that this was the most amazing place in the world to live. In February of 2004, The Merry Wine Market opened as the first full-service wine store in this little historic mountain village. The growth of the business in such a short time is testament to the need of such a shop for a town that was itself growing, in population, culture, and interest. The atmosphere of this family run and owned shop is the same that you will find throughout Black Mountain…friendly, unassuming, and laid back.

Katherine, from Tampa, FL and Highlands, NC, held a degree in history from Converse College when she decided to further her education by moving to Hyde Park, NY to attend the prestigious Culinary Institute of America, studying wines from such luminaries as Kevin Zraly and Michael Weiss. From there she moved to Manhattan and externed in the kitchen of Charlie Palmer’s restaurant, Aureole. Accepted at Alain Passard’s Arpège in Paris, she instead chose to work with Georges Blanc in Vonnas, France. From there she went to Zurich, Switzerland and was a Chef at Oggenfuss Comestibles. She also lived a brief time in Toledo, Spain and traveled throughout that country sampling its world-class wines.

Scott, originally from Corinth, MS, had worked in television and advertising after studying journalism at Ole Miss when he felt he needed a change of pace. After moving to Black Mountain full-time in 1990, he went back to school for an education degree, which led to several positions in the Buncombe County School System. Working with traditional students, multi-handicapped, autistic verbal and non-verbal, and hearing impaired students and their families added both patience and understanding to a personality already steeped in communication and service skills.

It was a chance meeting at their summer camps reunion as adults in the late 90's that they realized they had never forgotten each other from earlier summers! After marrying in 2000 and joining forces in investments and real estate, they realized how easily they worked with each other. Scott, eager to visit and talk with everyone he meets, always dreamed of owning a "mom and pop shop" and Black Mountain proved to be perfect for that! Katherine, an expert in culinary arts, held a passion for pairing the right food with the perfect wine. Thus was born The Merry Wine Market.

So, be sure to drop by for a visit and say hello…you might even be treated to the entire family, daughter Lila, born in February of 2005, and son Rip, born in February of 2007. Scott claims that most customers have become extended family themselves, making their goal a reality…The Merry Wine Market is truly family owned, family run, and family driven. Please contact us to learn more about us.