A new wine bar has opened its doors on Jamestown's East Ferry Wharf, and it comes from a family that already knows the neighborhood well. Next Door Wine Bar, a family-owned venture specializing in snacks and funky wines that lean toward smaller producers and natural selections, now operates at 7 East Ferry Wharf, right beside the Wilson family's longtime retail shop, Grapes & Gourmet.
According to WJAR, Studio 10's Christina Erne spoke with Amelia Wilson of Next Door Wine Bar about how the business started and what it hopes to bring to its downtown Jamestown location. The segment also gave viewers a glimpse of the food and wine offerings, and the shop keeps its community close through its Instagram profile, @nextdoorwinebar. As Discover Newport notes, the bar is at 7 East Ferry Wharf, steps from the wine and cheese shop.
A Family Business Expands Next Door
The Wilson family bought Grapes & Gourmet, and Amelia Wilson was expected to work at the store, according to Beverage Business Magazine. Under the Wilsons, the shop built a strong regional following for curated cheeses and small-producer wines.
That reputation solidified in 2015, when Grapes & Gourmet earned an Edible Rhody Local Hero Award for food and retail and was named Best Wine Shop in Newport County by Rhode Island Monthly, per the same account. Next Door Wine Bar is a sister wine bar to Grapes & Gourmet, with snacks and wines that lean toward smaller producers and natural selections.
How the License and Opening Came Together
Getting there required clearing Jamestown's municipal licensing process. Legal notices published by the Jamestown Town Council say IRMW, LLC, doing business as Next Door Wine Bar, had applied for a new Class B – Victualer license, with a public hearing scheduled for August 17, 2026, according to The Jamestown Press.
Next Door Wine Bar is listed with Thursday-through-Monday evening hours, Discover Newport reports. The bar offers snacks and natural wines.
Already a Gathering Spot on the Wharf
The bar has wasted little time becoming part of Jamestown's cultural calendar. In August, it co-hosted the Rhode Island leg of the Wild(y) East Tour, pairing a Georgian wine tasting cruise aboard the Coastal Queen on Narragansett Bay with a shoreline afterparty featuring Georgian bites and local oysters, according to a listing on Ticket Tailor.
A New Addition to East Ferry Wharf
The Jamestown Press reported a proposal for a wine bar at East Ferry Wharf; Next Door Wine Bar is now beside Grapes & Gourmet.
Grapes & Gourmet has catered to summer business and local customers in winter. The Wilson family has since expanded to Next Door Wine Bar.
