At 151 Park Avenue sits a small wine bar called Apogee. From the street, it glows warmly with dim lighting and the buzz of human connection.
Inside, two cozy tables sit in the bay windows flanking the entrance. A long, marble-topped bar centers the space highlighting wines from across the world. Additional seating dots the space, giving many opportunities for intimate conversation by flickering candlelight.
Apogee Wine Bar, which celebrated 10 years of business in October, has become a staple of Rochester’s local food and wine community — and owner Simone Boone is trying to take it all in. The certified sommelier and Rochester native didn’t grow up in a wine-drinking family.
“My father doesn’t drink at all and my mother gets a headache after one glass of Moscato,” said Boone. Through her career in hospitality, she grew to love the experience of food and wine pairing within the industry. A steak dinner paired with a peppery Syrah full of layered flavors was Boone’s initial aha moment.
“Every bite got better with the wine, and every sip got better with the food,” she said. “I remember tuning out the conversation at the table, wondering if everyone else was experiencing this, too.”
Boone began to take note of the active role wine can play in a meal if allowed. She sought out opportunities to experience this further locally and abroad with her partner in both love and business, Patrick Dutton. An impactful visit to Viña Cobos Winery on their 2011 Argentinian honeymoon solidified Boone’s career shift towards wine.
With no local schools offering wine certification courses, Boone took to the library, reading in her downtime. Soon, she started a tasting group filled with other Court of Master Sommelier hopefuls. She prepared delicious, healthy lunches to pair with wines that inspired spirited conversation and further bolstered learning. At its height, the group was composed of 12 people who piled into the 800-square-foot apartment Boone shared with Dutton.
“I love welcoming people into my home,” she said. “I love hosting and having a house full of people, and creating a space where people can come and be together over wine. That was the start of it all.”
By 2013, Boone was the first Black female to earn her Certified Sommelier Certification in Rochester. She turned her focus to creating a wine-forward, community-driven experience, something she felt was missing from the city’s Park Avenue neighborhood.
“Yes, we’re a small market,” she said, “but that doesn’t mean we need to wait to try great wines or to have a cool place exist outside of New York City.”
Apogee opened the next fall.
The space was designed by Boone, and the bar was hand-built by Dutton. A decade later, it continues to feel warm with love and connection as strangers filling the bar seats leave as friends.
“Those are my favorite moments,” said Boone. “It just fills my cup.”
The menu pushes beyond the standard offerings often found on wine lists, featuring new and exciting glasses at accessible price points. A specials board details new offerings – perhaps a Turkish Rosé or a Moroccan Red.
“I’m so happy that I can provide a space for everyone,” said Boone. “Whether you want to ball out or you can only afford one glass of wine, you are welcome.”
Her next focus is strategizing the Apogee brand further, including private events, wine travel and possibly a mobile bar. Boone, who is also a fitness instructor at Midtown Athletic Club, is also exploring a way to fuse wine with self-care. She doesn’t tire easily, and she’s always dreaming.
Boone noted it can be difficult not to let imposter syndrome get in the way of her many accomplishments.
“I’m proud of myself — full stop,” she said, adding that more than anything, she’s just thankful. “I’m so grateful to my support system: to Patrick, to the community. I’m deeply, deeply grateful.” apogeewinebar.com
Maiah Johnson Dunn is a contributor to CITY.
This article appears in Nov 1-30, 2024.
