Storyteller and the Sage Book

Wine can feel intimidating — endless regions, countless grapes, and centuries of tradition packed into every bottle. The Storyteller and the Sage was written to make wine approachable, joyful, and human. Through fifty short, story-driven chapters, readers are introduced to wines they may never have tried before — each connected to moments of travel, friendship, love, or discovery. The goal isn’t to memorize details or master jargon, but to see how wine can weave into our lives and offer insight, comfort, and delight without pretense. This is a book for anyone curious about wine, whether you’re opening your very first bottle of Sancerre or rediscovering why Prosecco can make you smile.

Eric Yarbrough and Mike Pabon are the owners of La Même Chose Wine, a Williamsburg, Brooklyn shop known for its carefully curated international selection and warm, personal approach to helping people find the right bottle. Eric, a psychiatrist by training, brings a storyteller’s voice and a love of connecting wine to life’s experiences. Mike, a lifelong wine enthusiast with deep roots in hospitality, brings the expertise and grounded knowledge that guide customers through grapes, regions, and pairings. Together, they’ve built a neighborhood destination that balances sophistication with approachability — and in this book, they invite you to share that same experience from the page to your glass.