I'll go ahead and just lay it out there for you- I've become a wine snob. My back bedroom is a Hoarders episode getting started- only it's nothing but bottles of wine. I've been to Napa/Sonoma twice this year. I'm already scheduled to go out twice again next year. I ran the Napa to Sonoma half marathon in July this year. My friends ask I bring the wine to the party out of fear their selection wouldn't pass muster.
So why me, a native son born and raised in the Deep South? It is, in large part, due to Winestore. You see, before Winestore I bought the occasional bottle of wine at the grocery store or wine superstore. I read the little shelf tags and looked for something that scored high on someone's else point chart. That worked okay, but I never found a wine that I liked and stuck with for the simple reason that I only bought a single bottle at the time and when I went back to the store, I rarely remembered what I drank or thought to look whether it was still in stock. Basically, I was buying bottles on a hit-or-miss theory- maybe I liked it, maybe it sucked, it didn't matter since I likely wasn't coming back to it.
With its nifty tasting machines, WInestore changed all that. For just the cost of a 2 ounce tasting pour I could try a wine before I bought it. I could also compare that wine along with up to 11 others (12 reds total on that machine). This is where the transformation really began- I started to figure out what I liked and why I liked it. I could taste lots and began to understand what it was about a particular wine that appealed to me. No points tags on the bottles or shelves, no one to tell me why this wine was superior- it was just me and the vino.
I was figuring out my palette, at my speed, without having anyone dictate it to me. That kinda fits their tag line- "You're the expert." Makes sense to me- it's your money, you may as well spend it on something you'd enjoy drinking.
Not only that, but I was able to "try before I buy." No more skunky-tasting bottles of wine that I took a chance on and lost. I knew walking out of the store that I bought something that I liked and that I would enjoy again. For the very first time, I was buying more than single bottles of wine. I quickly moved on to the half case and, when the moment (and the wine!) was right, I bought a whole case. My wife rolled her eyes the first time we walked out with the whole case, but she soon learned too. If only we knew then what a monster had been created!
Now it's true- good wines come in limited quantities and each state only gets so much of an allotment to a distributor. So, when you find what you like- buy it- as smaller quantities tend to go away quicker. You can't get away from that, but the guys at the store have always been cool enough to tell me how much they got and whether they can get more. That way, I again can gage my level of interest and choose my own quantity.
The wines stocked at Winestore are not the largest selection you will find anywhere. They don't stock everything and, while they try to appeal to most palettes, they also have their favorites. That's okay, though, as this is going to be a fact of any small shop that depends on quality and not quantity. I like the fact these guys taste before they buy, so they take some pride in what you'll find here. You will, however, find a total range of light to full-bodied reds and light and crisp to big and oaky whites. The store is very logically and cleanly laid out in that progression and the staff can always make a recommendation for those who need some help.
The best part of this store, though, is their e-mail list. A weekly e-mail always describes the theme or special tasting offering of the weekend. These guys put some real thought into this- blind tastings, find the $100 bottle, multiple wines from just one region, etc. This changes weekly, so whether you prefer pinot or cab, sparkling or still, Spain or California, there will be a week or two that will appeal to you. Stop in, load up your wine card for the tasting machine, and go to town- find something new or reaffirm why you like something different.
There's also usually a free tasting on Thursday nights. Sometimes a distributor pours thru a portfolio, sometimes a winemaker is in town and pours thru his new vintages, and then sometimes they just put some random stuff out for fun.
I've gotten to know the owner and his staff over the last couple years and they are quality people who are serious about wine, but always stay focused on making it approachable for any level of wine drinker. Whether you need that one special occasion bottle, or are looking to stock a collection of cult cabs, these guys can speak your language. They also get some crazy closeout deals on wines from their distributors, so if you are starting a collection you don't want to miss looking into what they have found. I can't recommend them highly enough! read more
