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Raising the Bar: An Interview with Peter Balboni of Pioppi’s Package Store From Stroll Magazine

As a lifetime resident of Plymouth and owner of Pioppi’s Package Store, people often ask Peter Balboni, why the name? Peter’s grandfather, Tony Pioppi, started the business 91 years ago.
Tony received the first liquor license in Plymouth after prohibition and
was very active in the beverage industry, both locally and nationwide.Pioppi’s
is the essence of a family business. Tony and Muffy started downtown in
a small shop with a telephone number of 28! They handed it down to
Peter’s parents, Dennis and Brenda, who moved the store to Benny’s Plaza
in 1972. It is now run by Peter and his wife and showcases a huge
selection of fine wine, bourbon, spirits, brew, and much more.

Tell us a little about yourself:

I grew up on Sandwich Road in Chiltonville, back in the day when you
could ride your bicycle down the middle of the road and not see another
car for a mile. We love the neighborhood and still live on the family
property.I enjoy beekeeping, boating, fishing
gardening and spending time with my wife, Kim, our two children Max and
Isabella, and our golden lab, Hunter. While we
love all the local restaurants, we also love staying home, cooking and
entertaining. We also enjoy spending time at Browns Bank (that’s the
large sand bar just off Long Beach, locals know as a little slice of
heaven which is only accessible at low tide: According to brownsbankplymouth.com, “it’s a magical island that’s there and then it’s not, every 12 hours”).

Pioppi's Singing Orchestra

What inspired you to join the family business?

I went to school for business, but did not intend to work at the package
store. After several years of working in an unrelated industry, I was
asked to fill in for a sick employee, which soon turned into a part-time
job. I worked for many years learning the
business—and the industry. I soon realized that the new industry, all
the new products, and dealing with the salespeople and customers was
fun. It wasn’t long before I started working full time. In
2008, I decided I could help grow the business by adding on to the
existing store. This remodel brought Pioppi’s into a new era and has
provided for my family as it did for my parents and grandparents.

What’s the secret to the 91 years of success? 

Over the years, Pioppi’s has grown and expanded its size and selection and keeps on thecutting edge of the liquor industry’s ever-changing trends. We
accomplish this with friendly, educated staff who are always willing to
help, a selection that surpasses all others with rare and hard-to-find
liquors, including a phenomenal whiskey and Bourbon selection, and a
massive wine selection which includes a fine wine corner comprising all
the top producers. Our beer and RTD (ready to drink) selection of 21
cold doors combined with a warm selection of microbrews will fill any
hophead’s glass. These standards as well as competitive pricing makes Pioppi’s the success it is, earning us Retailer of The Year!

‘Given your expertise in the industry, how can residents of Pinehills benefit from shopping at Pioppi’s? The liquor industry has its own challenges, like every business: increased
supplier costs, over-regulation, and cost of utility expenses and
inflation, to mention a few. However one benefit we have over most is we
own our own building and this allows us to absorb some of those
increases and stay very competitive with the big box stores.Reach
out to us if you’re hosting a small gathering or a large party. We can
handle it all—whether it’s special order, a hard-to-find item or
something bigger. We gladly adviseon quantities needed for
every event, from a small get-together or a wedding for 500! We have the
knowledge and experience to make events memorable, and bring them to he
next level. Pioppi’s raises the bar, literally.

After all this time, what are you most grateful for? 

I am most grateful to my grandparents for having the foresight to
purchase the first liquor license in Plymouth, my parents for teaching
me a hard work ethic, and my family for always being there to help when
needed—they understand the demands of our family business. Most importantly, I am thankful to be able to enjoy the benefits of hard work with my friends, family and the community.

How is Pioppi’s involved with the community?

 Like my grandparents and parents before me, we are very involved locally. I
am a member of the Pilgrim Society and the Chamber of Commerce and was
very active on committees with the Plymouth 400. We support many
organizations in the community, most significantly for causes concerning
veterans. We also put on an annual car show,
“The Packie Run,” for local post-1822, and have helped raise 35k over
the past four years! We have sponsored the Plymouth Public Library’s
largest annual fundraiser, Taste of the Town, now in its 19th year and
are hosting the next one coming up on November 6th. We also support
BID-Plymouth (known to locals as Jordan), which we are so fortunate to
have in our community.

For bragging purposes, what do you love about being part of Stroll Pinehills?I love receiving Stroll magazine because of its informative articles, glossy pictures, and hometown feel, which brings people together. We agree!

Finally, what do you find most fulfilling about your work—sounds like a good
amount of fun gets mixed into it at the end of the day…

When customers and friends come back and say that they received the best
service or loved the product we recommended, that is most satisfying.

*****SIDEBAR*****

What set’s Pioppi’s Apart? 

In short, recognition and awards, lots of them! Pioppi’s is used to being
at the top in the liquor retail industry. In just this year alone….The
Massachusetts Package Stores Association Board of Directors recognized
Peter and Pioppi’s with the Massachusetts Retailer of the Year award at a
special ceremony on April 25th 2024 Pioppi’s
and Balboni’s name will be added to the MASSPACK Frank Anzalotti
Trophy, considered the highest honor in the retail liquor industry. Only
one store in Massachusetts receives this honor each year. This trophy
is awarded to a person and store that excels in advocacy, commitment to
responsible sales and service practices, community engagement, and
customer service.Balboni
also received a salutation from the Massachusetts House of
Representatives, presented by Rep. Mathew Muratore, recognizing Balboni
and Pioppi’s for being named Business of the Year 2024. Pioppi’s
accolades include Massachusetts Beverage Journal Retailer of the Year
2009, Beverage Dynamics Top 100 Nationwide Liquor Retailers 2023 and
2024, not to mention countless “best of” recognitions. As
Business of the Year, Balboni’s went to the American Beverage Licensees
convention this past summer in San Antonio, Texas and Pioppi’s
represented Massachusetts for the grand honor of the National ABL
Retailer of the Year 2024 award.TESTIMONIAL:“Outstanding
customer service!! On two separate occasions, dealing with two
different employees, I was treated to excellent customer service. [They]
didn’t just point me in the direction of what I was looking for, but
came out from behind the counter, walked meover…and
explained the different varieties which they carried. Their willingness
to help caught me somewhat off guard and is the main reason that I will
return to this store and recommend it to others. Thank you for your
help!”– Drew Miller, now a regular!


Holiday Cocktails

Sugar Cookie Martini

Ingredients:

For the martini:

  • 1/2 c. whole milk
  • 1/4 c. Baileys
  • 2 oz. vanilla vodka
  • 2 oz. amaretto
  • Ice

For the rim:

  • 1/2 c. vanilla frosting
  • 1/4 c. sprinkles, plus 1 tsp., divided
  • Pre-made sugar cookie dough

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll sugar cookie dough out to ¼” thick. Using a cookie cutter, cut out desired shapes then place cookies on prepared baking sheet. Bake until just set and lightly golden around the edges, 12 minutes. Let cool.
  2. Using an offset spatula, spread a thin layer of frosting onto rim of two martini glasses. Pour ¼ cup sprinkles onto a small plate then dip rims in sprinkles to coat. Use an offset to frost cookies with frosting then decorate with remaining 2 tablespoons sprinkles.
  3. In a cocktail shaker, combine milk, Baileys, vodka, and amaretto. Add ice and shake until cold. Pour into glasses and garnish rim with a cookie.
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COCKTAILS FOR ONE…OR TWO…

Easy Holiday Cocktail

Ingredients

  • 1 part Sprite
  • 1 part Cranberry Juice
  • 1 part Orange Juice
  • 1 part Vodka
  • Ice
  • Sliced orange and/or fresh or sugared cranberries for garnish

Instructions

  1. Add ice to a cocktail glass.
  2. Pour equal parts Sprite, cranberry juice, orange juice, and vodka (optional) over ice.
  3. Add slice of orange for garnish and serve.

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COCKTAILS FOR A GROUP…

Christmas Punch

Ingredients

  • 1 large bag of ice
  • 5 cups 100% cranberry juice* — 40 ounces, NOT cranberry juice cocktail
  • 2 bottles very dry sparkling wine — (750 ml bottles) , such as champagne, cava, or Prosecco
  • 2 cups apple cider
  • 1 1/2 cups diet ginger ale — (12 ounces) (from 1 can or poured from a liter bottle)
  • 1 1/2 cups dark rum or brandy — (12 ounces)
  • 2 oranges — thinly sliced into rounds
  • 1 cup fresh cranberries

Instructions

  1. Make sure all of the ingredients are well chilled. Fill a large punch bowl with ice. Top with the cranberry juice, sparkling wine, apple cider, ginger ale, and rum. Stir gently to combine. Top with the orange slices and fresh cranberries. Enjoy!

Blackberry Ombre Sparkler

Ingredients

·  1 cup fresh blackberries

·  1 cup sugar

·  1 cup water

·  4 sprigs fresh rosemary

·  1 bottle champagne

Instructions

  • In a small saucepan, combine blackberries, sugar, and water. Bring to a boil on high heat, and then reduce to a simmer and let cook for approximately 15-17 minutes. The blackberries will become soft and bright in color and a pinkish purple syrup will form. Making sure it cooks down enough is essential to keeping the ombre effect. Take off of the heat and drain the blackberries, keeping the syrup in a separate bowl. Set both aside and allow to cool.
  • Once blackberries and simple syrup are cooled, spoon about 4 tablespoons of syrup into the bottom of each champagne flute (this recipe makes 4 drinks)
  • Top with champagne.
  • Garnish with fresh blackberries or the cooked blackberries, and a sprig of rosemary.
  • Cheers!

Domaine Bousquet Wines

Organic = delicious

Malbec

Made with organic grapes.
Domaine Bousquet’s premium varietal series comprises a blend of estate and purchased fruit from the Uco Valley. The grapes benefit from major diurnal temperature swings, achieving exuberant ripeness while retaining the juiciness that invites a second glass. The wines are vinified with a French sensibility. The wines are un-oaked – an on-trend sensibility of little or no oak to let the fruit shine through and make the wines extremely food-friendly.

It is a wine of dark violet color. In the nose, it presents intense aromas of blackberry with notes of red and blackcurrant and plum. The mouth highlights notes of ripe plums with soft and elegant tannins.

Virgen Red Blend

Virgen Organic Red Blend is not only made from organic fruit but has no sulfites added, thereby qualifying for fully organic USDA certification. A blend of 35% Malbec, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc, it is vinified from 100% estate-grown fruit grown at a cool 4,000 feet in the foothills of the Andes. This purest expression of the local terroir, a mix sandy/gravel soils credited for Domaine Bousquet’s signature “Naturally Elegant Wines,” benefits from brilliant sunlight and 50⸰F degree temperature swings between day and night, leading to super-flavorful, fresh-tasting grapes.

Deep Violet Color. In the nose, pure and intense blackberry and red berry fruit. On the palate is a refreshing interplay of vibrant fruit, leavened with a touch of herb, spice, and violets.

Reserve Pinot Noir

A step up from the premium varietal line, these blends of Domaine Bousquet estate-grown grapes from plots with low yields offer more of everything – more body, more tannin in the reds, and more flavor. The 4,000-foot elevation ensures that, with the right handling, the grapes for these wines lend an Old World elegance so prized by wine lovers

100% Pinot Noir. Burgundy Style, aged for 10 months in French oak.
Delicate Ruby red color. Red fruit aromas as strawberry and cherry with vanilla notes. On the palate, it´s elegant and balanced with medium body and acidity.

Reserve Malbec

A step up from the premium varietal line, these blends of Domaine Bousquet estate-grown grapes from plots with low yields offer more of everything – more body, more tannin in the reds, and more flavor. The 4,000-foot elevation ensures that, with the right handling, the grapes for these wines lend an Old World elegance so prized by wine lovers.

85% Malbec 5% Merlot 5% Syrah 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged for 10 months in French Oak. Deep Violet color. On the nose, ground-mushrooms and red berries aromas. Notes of violet prune and spices. Medium body with soft and silky tannins and a flavorful finish.

Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

A step up from the premium varietal line, these blends of Domaine Bousquet estate-grown grapes from plots with low yields offer more of everything – more body, more tannin in the reds, and more flavor. The 4,000-foot elevation ensures that, with the right handling, the grapes for these wines lend an Old World elegance so prized by wine lovers.

85% Cabernet Sauvignon 15% Malbec, aged for 10 months in French Oak. Violet Color with ruby tones. The nose shows Strawberries and flowers aromas with spicy and mineral notes. On the mouth is refined, stylish red, showing scented oak, fine, savory tannins and bright acidity.

Gaia Red Blend

Named for the Earth Mother goddess in Greek mythology, Gaia Red and White Blends are a multi-varietal cornucopia of estate-grown grapes. This Old World tradition of blending varieties is updated to highlight modern, non-classic New World pairings. The primary grape comprises around 50% of the mix.

Each vintage, the bounty from the estate is blended a bit differently to reflect what Mother Nature has offered. A new taste adventure every year — be it a wild berry Malbec, spicy Syrah, and polished Cabernet Sauvignon trio, or a white trio of delicate Chardonnay, white peach Pinot Gris and refreshing Sauvignon Blanc.

50% Malbec 45% Syrah 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged for 10 months in French oak. Dark violet color. Blackcurrants and dark plums on the nose with spicy and dried herbs notes Medium to full body with bright acidity, juicy body, and a tannin backbone.

Something New and Fresh!

Try one of these fun cocktails and as always stop by Pioppi’s to grab all of the spirits needed to create these fresh concoctions.

Elderflower Mojito

Ingredients

  • 4 blackberries
  • 4 mint sprigs
  • 3 lime wedges
  • 1.5 ounces Dunc’s Mill Elderflower Rum
  • 1 lime wedge (for garnish)
  • 1 mint sprig (for garnish)
  • Club soda or sparkling water

Directions
Muddle blackberries, mint sprigs and lime wedges in a highball glass. Add rum. Fill with ice. Top with club soda.
Garnish with lime wedge and mint sprig.

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Mama’s Lemonade

Ingredients

  • 2 parts Mama Walkers Blueberry Pancakes
  • 4 parts Lemonade

Build in a collins glass.

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Green Apple Tartz

Ingredients

  • 1 part Three Olives TARTZ™ Vodka
  • 2 parts apple juice

Mix all ingredients together with ice & serve in a rocks glass. Garnish with a green apple slice.