Dear Valued Customers, 

It is our simple, but crucially important set of goals to provide you with three things at all times:

1. Extraordinary quality and pedigreed wines, from every corner of the vinous world...
2. Exceptional and personalized customer service, as it is the human connection that matters most in the end...
3. Extremely competitive prices, so that you regard us as your ONE, automatic "go-to" for all things wine...

Chapel Hill Wine Company, and Hillsborough Wine Company, have worked very hard over the past 22 years

to fine tune this simple trio of our core foundation commitments. Like as with many things in life, it is easy to say 

all of this, but another thing to deliver it. It is the execution of these fundamentals that we strive constantly 

to be the best at we are capable of, for your benefit, and with our appreciation for your patronage!

Our Team's depth of experience and knowledge spans several decades cumulatively, where we have worked pretty much 

every angle of the wine business, and this enables us to get access at a level that we humbly believe truly separates us

from the "many others" out there. And we never stop, hoping to only bring you more as our business evolves with you. 

Thank you so much for your trust, your loyalty, and for your business!

Sincerely,

Brian Sypher (Owner), and our entire Team 

After graduating from college in the frigid environs of upstate New York and getting my B.A. in Philosophy, I worked as a fine dining Manager in Manhattan for a noteworthy restaurant chasing a Michelin Star. Going to incredible wine tastings as part of my education, however, completely entranced me, and wine is all I've pursued professionally for over 30 years since. I started working fine wine retail at a fabulous, small store in San Francisco, worked for recognized importer and distributor, Skurnik Wines & Spirits in New York and California, in upper management over the course of 17 years, and spent 7 years as General Manager of Soter Vineyards and North Valley Vineyards in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Having travelled to wine regions abroad along the way in France, Italy, Germany and Austria, has left its indelible mark on my pallet forever, but I love all wines from all regions, so long as they are captivating! When I'm not geeking out about wine, you'll find me cooking, reading, hiking, and spending time with my wife, Melissa, who is co-owner of the stores with me. Crisp, dry, perfumed white wines and savory Roses from around the world are a particular passion for me, as well as lighter bodied reds loaded with personality and regional typicity. 

Growing up in the UK I was very lucky to spend most summer holidays in the south of France, where I was literally surrounded by vineyards and wine at the table from a young age. So it seemed natural to get a job in a wine shop in my first year at college, 17 years later after working in nearly every aspect of the wine business I guess you could say I’m hooked! I spent nearly 10 years working for some of Chapel Hill Wine Company’s biggest suppliers, importing and distributing wine. Then in 2014 Todd finally convinced me to come and manage the store. Wine combines many things I am passionate about, geography, history, art and science, and has allowed me to travel to many beautiful countries in the world. These days I’m always looking for what’s new, unique, and rare in the wine biz. I learn something new every day and that’s what makes this job so exciting. I’m a sucker for all things Portuguese, Spanish, and everything the wild southwestern corner of France has to offer. Oh and all things bubbly, especially Champagne - I just can’t get enough of it!

I come from a big family in Delaware, but when my parents moved my three siblings and I to North Carolina, we all quickly called it home. I studied Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology at Appalachian State University, and I am incredibly grateful for the adventures I had in the beautiful mountains. While breweries dominated in the west, and I took full advantage, I always enjoyed a glass of white wine, although I knew nothing about wine back then! After college, I moved back to my hometown, and I fell into my position at CHWC by word-of-mouth and an interest in learning about this niche in the beverage and agriculture industries. It is unbelievable how much I’ve learned and tasted while working with this amazing team, and I can now say a love for Burgundian and other French wine has taken hold. My instinct will probably always be to reach for an Albarino or crisp Italian white wine, though!

I’ve spent most of the last decade in the beverage industry,  but I’ve been at the helm of Hillsborough Wine company since 2020. I’m a writer, a prolific home chef, and somewhat obsessive historian, and I’ve somehow found the one job that lets me put basically all of my myriad interests to use. Though I love wines from all around the world, I have a special fondness for those of the Loire Valley, as well as wines from Northen Spain and Austria. I live here in Hillsborough with my wife and our coterie of pets, and when I’m not at the shop you can find me at me painting miniatures at my desk, in a squat rack at the Sportsplex, or in the backyard with my dogs and a glass of wine.

Born and raised in sunny Florida, my partner and I moved to the triangle in 2021 settling in the Cary/Apex area and we love it! I’ve always had an affinity for wine and hospitality - working at wine-centered restaurants and a cheese and shop with a great wine program where I helped teach classes about both and how to pair them. I then worked for 3 years in wine retail, dabbled in the distributing world until I was hired here. With my two main passions for wine and people, here at Chapel Hill Wine Company, I can combine both. Outside of work, I’m either cooking or curled up with a book and my cat in my lap (a glass of wine is probably there in both situations). My palate changes seasonally, but as of now, I’m really into Northern Italian peppery reds and high acid whites. 

“Born and raised right here in Chapel Hill, Joseph began at CHWC as a part-time employee in 2021 after a long period of work in restaurants and kitchens. He came on full-time starting in 2024 and since then has developed a true love of light-bodied fruit-forward reds such as Spanish Mencia and Italian Nebbiolo, as well as crisp, dry whites like Austrian Gruner Veltliner. When not selling wine, he likes to watch Science Fiction movies and run games of Dungeons and Dragons for his friends.”