The Lost Stash
Real talk: if you have a hidden wine collection, you might want to check if it’s currently sitting in a basement in Rockland County. Roughly 20,000 bottles of rare, high-end wine—worth millions of dollars—are currently collecting dust at an office park called Blue Hill Plaza. This massive stash was left behind after the legendary NYC wine retailer Sherry-Lehmann went belly-up in March 2023.
Why is it still there?
It’s giving major 'forgotten assets' energy. The landlord, a Hong Kong-based group called Glorious Sun, took over the inventory after the company’s storage arm, Wine Caves, defaulted on rent. They’ve managed to return about 10,135 bottles, but they are struggling to track down the rest. According to legal counsel Edmund O’Brien, who represents the landlord, the remaining owners are either ghosting, relocated, or just straight-up don't realize their wine is sitting in an office tower basement.
The FBI involvement
It’s not just a landlord-tenant drama; the plot thickens with federal eyes on the scene. The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspectors previously raided the facility following allegations that Sherry-Lehmann was selling off customer-owned wine to other collectors. While Sherry-Lehmann’s owners, Shyda Gilmer and Kris Green, denied the claims, the investigation is still reportedly active. O’Brien confirmed the FBI reached out as recently as this summer, confirming the case is very much alive.
Why it matters
If you were a Sherry-Lehmann or Wine Caves customer, this is a massive W if you act fast. The landlord is literally putting out ads in all caps trying to give the wine back so they can clear the space. If you think you might have a claim, contact Blue Hill Plaza immediately. Otherwise, these high-value bottles are going to stay in limbo while the legal fallout from the shop’s collapse continues to drag on.
