Beachside Wines Hosts Busy Tasting Calendar

Many may dream of owning a cool business like a wine shop, but most do nothing about it. Tim and Nancy Campbell, though, acted on their dream.

The Campbells, owners of Beachside Wines in Satellite Beach, started as wine enthusiasts in the 1990s. Their passion, fanned by visits to wineries, led them to leave tech jobs in Delaware and immerse themselves in the wine culture of California's Napa Valley.

The couple worked for wineries and continued to amass wine industry knowledge, becoming brokers, importers and distributors before opening Beachside Wines in 2021. 

After Napa, the Campbells returned to the Northeast, but had Florida on their hearts. They moved to Jacksonville, spending weekends traveling the state looking for a permanent nest.

“I was a wine broker and agent at that time and ended up introducing and representing wines in Brevard County,” Tim Campbell said.

“After just a few trips and hosting wine tastings at Green Turtle and Petty's, I realized this was a great location, not too commercialized, relatively low impact from the snowbird migration and the people we met were just darn nice.” 

The Campbells moved to Brevard in 2016, and their jewel box of a shop is just as they envisioned.  

“It’s very small and intimate,” Tim Campbell said. 

But Beachside Wines is big in scope, both in its unique portfolio and robust tasting events calendar.

“All of the wines here are primarily not sold anywhere else in Brevard,” Campbell said.

Though unique, the majority of wines sell for less than $20. Should a customer crave a particular vintage, Campbell will be happy to find it for them.

Since the wine shop is a retirement project, it has comfortable hours from 1 to 6 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. However, when the need for wine strikes,Campbell said he works with customers outside those hours, too.

The store’s Facebook page lists upcoming free tastings, which usually feature four or more wines. Reserve tastings of bottles in the $40 to $50 range go for $10.

Campbell also loves to share his vast knowledge through “Tableside at Beachside” — monthly catered dinners that feature four to five courses paired with wine for the dozen lucky patrons the store can accommodate. 

The Campbells will be busy in 2022.  Events require advance registration and payment. They include:

• Tableside @ Beachside, Jan. 17, 6 p.m.
• Tableside @ Beachside, Feb. 21, 6 p.m.
• Tableside @ Beachside, March 21, 6 p.m.
• Quarterly Winemaker dinners

Reception to the Campbells’ new labor of wine love has been warm.

“Tim and Nancy are a welcome addition, pouring some fantastic wines at great prices and throwing in a little education, as well,” said Joe Green, a regular customer.