Tucked away in an unassuming building on Highway 10 in Jackson, Louisiana, The Hangar Bay is a hidden gem for wine and spirits aficionados—especially those searching out premium selections not typically found at grocery stores or big box retailers. It’s not just the curated selection of imported fine wines and exclusive spirits that you’ll find here which differentiates Hangar Bay – it’s the hospitality, the attention to detail and the expertise that set it apart. Here, selecting a fresh summer rosé or browsing for a bespoke bourbon is not just a shopping trip; it’s an education, too.
That’s because Tony Linton, owner of The Hangar Bay and adjacent Thompson Sporting Goods, which sells firearms and other hunting gear, is more than a store proprietor. He’s a wine and spirits aficionado with an uncanny knack for matching customers with distinctive products they’ll love. With just one or two questions about their food and beverage preferences, Linton’s ability to match customers’ tastes with new flavors from around the world makes Hangar Bay a rare find.
A foodie himself, Linton recommends pairing pasta or seafood with a 2022 Fichet Bourgogne Aligoté for a refined summer dining experience, since this French white from the Burgundy region is light, crisp, not too acidic, and in Linton’s words, “just a good, smooth easy drinker.” He credits the subtle flavor profile of a white pinot noir to the fact that it’s made with red wine grapes picked before they turn red. This results in a wine that finishes more richly than many white wines, with flavors of baked apple and pear, but still brisk and light in body. He pours a sample of a delicious and very affordable Spanish red, CEPA 21, noting that it retails at his shop for less than at a well-known, regional package store. That’s thanks to the relationships Linton has built with suppliers around the region, and to purchasing in bulk, which enables him to sell at unrivalled low prices, saving Hangar Bay shoppers the overhead they’d pay elsewhere.
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“I can listen to what people like and don’t like and can place them into a higher quality of wine for less cost,” Linton said.
While some upscale purveyors of fine wines and spirits can feel intimidating, part of The Hangar Bay’s draw is the fact that the atmosphere here is delightfully unpretentious. On a Saturday morning in early June, dressed in a short-sleeved Columbia fishing shirt, khaki shorts and a baseball cap, Linton welcomes customers by name, often cracking jokes and laughing as they walk in. Sometimes even before they’ve climbed the steps to his shop, he’s already pouring a sample to taste.
“We just want to treat everyone the way we want to be treated,” Linton said.
On Hangar Bay’s shelves, you’ll find French and Italian wines not available anywhere else within a 75-mile radius, except by wine subscription service. Across the way, Linton offers top-shelf rums, tequilas, bourbons and scotches, alongside cigars and seltzers (Hangar Bay boasts the only license to sell CBD-R drinks in the Felicianas).
Hangar Bay’s YouTube page is updated often, highlighting current stock. One video notes that a 2019 Chateau Fage Graves de Vayres, from Bordeaux, earned a rating of 90 points out of 100 from Wine Enthusiast magazine, which puts it in the category of “outstanding” wine of superior character and style. The price? Just $9.99, reflecting Linton’s mantra of offering the best quality for the lowest possible price.
Private tastings are available, offering customers the chance to savor a variety of wines accompanied by upscale Southern fare, with four to five sommeliers offering unexpected pairings at each table. At a recent tasting, Cava, a sparkling white wine from Spain, paired beautifully with crispy fried chicken, while scrumptious cream cheese fingers with fig preserves were served alongside a French white burgundy.
Whether you have a seasoned palette or you’re looking to expand your horizons, The Hangar Bay presents customers with exceptional variety, top-notch customer service and unmatched low prices in a down-to-earth environment, making it entirely worth the 30-minute drive north of Baton Rouge. As Linton notes in one YouTube video:
“Y’all come see us over at Hangar Bay. Come pick you up a bottle of Traveller, or come get you a good cigar, or come in and just enjoy yourself while you’re here.”
Make it a weekend: Book a gorgeous (and surprisingly affordable) suite at Jackson’s Old Centenary Inn, and savor your wine and spirits on the Inn’s picturesque balcony overlooking the town’s quaint shops and restaurants. Enjoy the Inn’s (complimentary!) traditional Southern breakfast, before embarking on a day spent perusing Jackson’s antiques district, which overflows with affordable vintage finds, within easy walking distance. Stroll tree-lined downtown streets dotted with historic homes and countless historical markers, and discover the birthplace of stately Centenary College and its charming grounds, before rounding out your day at the Iron Horse Café with classic Louisiana fare.
Thompson Creek Sporting Goods & The Hangar Bay
2031 Highway 10
Jackson, LA, 70748
