Anchor & Hope

Anchor & Hope is a Rhode Island based modern négociant style winery founded by California native and traveling winemaker James Davids and Massachusetts born-and-raised Marissa Stashenko.

In 2018, after their son Liam was born, James and Marissa left the biggest wine region in the US (California) in search of a different, more fulfilling lifestyle. With them, they brought their passion and knowledge of wine, and their desire to start a new kind of wine business.

They landed in Providence, RI – a place that reminded them a lot of the way San Francisco used to be. It was blooming with artists, soul, and diversity, but also had some grit. It was also and is still a midpoint between the West Coast and Europe –opening up more possibilities for collaboration with friends overseas.

Anchor & Hope was built in an old wire mill building in Rumford, RI, about 10 minutes from Providence. From there, they partnered with small family farms in California, Oregon, and Germany to make some really incredible wine. The wines ship to Rumford soon after harvest, and are aged and packaged locally into either 750ml bottles, 8.4oz cans, or 5.2 gallon kegs.

We love those kegs, especially for restaurant ‘by the glass’ programs, because they are so much better for the environment and the wine stays fresher longer. Also, because the cost of packaging is so much lower, we are able to get really amazing liquid into the hands of businesses and consumers at a much better price. We can also provide full draft options for customers via Enotap.

Anchor & Hope’s goal is to be transparent about the winemaking process and give insight into the story behind where their wines come from and the people who grew the fruit.

Inspired by the Rhode Island state flag, the name ‘Anchor & Hope’ speaks to the story of anchoring oneself in Hope, and to the hopes and dreams of the business.