La Cave d'Emilien
Gustavia's newest wine cellar, where a sommelier picks every bottle
Why Go
Tucked into La Pointe on rue de la Presqu'île, this SEGECO-run cave is more than a bottle shop — it's a working tasting room where sommelier Cyril Reimonenq pulls corks on Champagne, Burgundy, and rare rums for anyone curious enough to walk in.
The Experience
Step off Gustavia's harbor lanes into a cool, calm space that feels closer to a private wine club than an island liquor store. Shelves are curated rather than stacked — you'll find great-house Champagnes next to grower-producer bottles, Burgundy and Bordeaux verticals, Rhône reds, Provence rosés built for the beach, and a serious rum and spirits wall that leans into the Caribbean without ignoring cognac, whisky, or mezcal. The vibe is unhurried; staff will actually talk to you, ask what you're eating tonight or which villa you're heading back to, and steer you accordingly. Book ahead and you can slip in for a discovery tasting or a full masterclass — small-group, sommelier-led, and pitched at whatever level you show up with.
What to Try
Ask for the week's 'coup de cœur' — Emilien's team rotates a handful of open bottles for on-the-spot tasting, usually a Champagne, a white, a red, and something unexpected. If you're provisioning a villa or a yacht, hand over your menu and let Cyril build the pairings; if you're a spirits person, request the aged agricole rum flight, which quietly rivals anything on the island.
Insider Tip
They close midday Wednesday and Saturday (10–1 only) and take a proper 1–3pm lunch break the rest of the week — plan your stop for late morning or after 3pm. Better still, email ahead to book a private tasting for your group; Cyril will curate around your budget and it turns a shopping errand into the most memorable hour of your trip.
The Practical Stuff
9 rue de la Presqu'île, La Pointe, Gustavia 97133. Phone +590 590 27 60 10. Open Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 10am–1pm & 3pm–7pm; Wed & Sat 10am–1pm; closed Sunday. Walking distance from the port and Gustavia's main shopping streets; easy pull-up parking on rue de la Presqu'île. Cards accepted. Tastings and masterclasses by reservation.
Pair It With
- Abyss Restaurant Guide — Grab a bottle from Emilien's shelves earlier in the day, then book Abyss for dinner — many Gustavia restaurants will happily accept a corkage arrangement, and the sommelier can point you to a wine that suits the menu.
- 6e SENS Massage Wellness Beauty Saint Barth Guide — Bookend a wine masterclass with a spa treatment nearby — a late-morning massage followed by an afternoon tasting is a quintessentially St Barth kind of slow day.
- Absolute Hot Yoga Guide — Start with a Gustavia yoga class, then reward yourself with a tasting flight around the corner — the walk between the two takes less than five minutes.
