Why Small Businesses Matter in Ridgefield: Bernard's and Sarah's Wine Bar

Why Small Businesses Matter

Shop small, do big things for your community

Why Small Businesses Matter puts a spotlight on the local merchants who donate their time, talent, goods, and services for the betterment of our community. The shop local movement spreads virally as local businesses who are “tagged” have the opportunity to share their story!

You're IT Bernard's and Sarah's Wine Bar!

Three questions with Sarah Bouissou, owner of Bernard's and Sarah's Wine Bar.

Why did you start your business?

From the time that Bernard and I met (in the kitchen at Le Cirque) we talked about the restaurant that we were going to have one day – we had been looking for a while, but what we wanted was fairly specific, I used to say, “In a perfect world, we would find a restaurant with a house on the property in a lovely town so that we could be a part of the community” -  well, we found our perfect world! 

Best selling product/service?

That’s hard to say, Bernard is such a wonderful chef, there are too many to mention, but some that we are really known for: his house-smoked salmon, cured charcuterie and pates and of course his sauces! We also have a catering business, so that keeps us nice and busy as well.

How many local businesses do you use to support your business (products and services) and can you name them?

We use quite a few local businesses to support ours. We do many wine tasting dinners with 109 Cheese and Wine, Ancona’s & Cellar XV. We also feature different artists at Sarah’s Wine Bar, so we work closely with The Ridgefield Guild of Artists. We are also are sponsors of the Ridgefield Bicycle Club and the Running Club, hosting post ride/runs as a part of their Thirsty Thursday.=We also have wine dinners with our friends at Southwest Cafe.

We try to support as many local nonprofits as possible. For several years, we have worked with HamletHub & Kristen Jensen to support Ann’s Place with the annual Drink Pink for a cause, where together we have raised quite a bit of money and it’s a fun event! Just last weekend both Bernard and I participated in Battle of the Chefs to benefit Founders Hall and I'm proud to say, though on different teams, we BOTH won (Bernard and Art Michaelsen for Main Course) and Jehan de Noue and I won the Appetizer Round!  We have always felt that the best way to succeed (and most rewarding) is to really become part of your community, if you are there for them, they will be there for you!

Bernard's and Sarah's Wine Bar are located at 20 West Lane in Ridgefield. Visit them online here.

Sarah tags Todd and Monica Brown, owners of 109 Cheese and Wine.

HamletHub thanks Fairfield County Bank for making our Why Small Businesses Matter series possible!