Founded in Berkeley in 1972, Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant is one of California’s most respected importers and retailers of French and Italian wines, long championing small, independent growers. Its first new retail shop at Marin Country Mart brings its tradition of personal wine discovery to the North Bay, joining the 168,000 SF center re-envisioned by BCV as a destination for exceptional food, independent shops, and gathering.

Working with Martha Mulholland Interior Design, BCV created an intimate 900 SF shop inspired by the village wine stores of provincial France and Italy. Reclaimed limestone floors and counters sourced from the southern Rhone ground the space in the terroir of Kermit Lynch’s grower partners, while Italian tile and warm wood accents reinforce the connection to the European winemaking tradition. Outside, a reclaimed old-growth redwood arbor marks the entry, tying the shop to the natural landscape of Marin and the rustic material vocabulary of the Mart. The design emphasizes browsing and discovery, with the compact footprint organized to encourage an unhurried, high-touch experience that mirrors the ethos of the original Berkeley storefront.