The Wine Shop, Healdsburg

When I travel, I like to have a deli & wine night in the hotel room. (I always get a suite with a dining area & refrigerator.) While on vacation in Arizona, hubby and I were directed to a gourmet store with a fabulous wine shop. We were delighted to find out that the older gentlemen who worked there was a Sommelier. He was relaxed and happy to talk about the nuances of stateside Pinot Noir and French Burgundy. Enjoying his company and finding wine that we would bring to Thanksgiving the next day was a great memory added to our trip.

You’ve found a good wine shop when you are enthusiastically welcomed & offered genuine assistance. You’ll be able to tell if the staff cares about what you want and how to please you.  A good wine shop experience feels like you’ve made a new friend.

Wine shops offer three services generally:

1. assist you when you walk in;
2. sponsors special tastings, parties and meet the wine maker events;
3. finds wine specifically for you & contacts you.

You’ll get the most out of a wine shop if you ask lots of questions and attend their events. Get on their email list.  Let them find wines for you.

Last of all, they can find bargains.  My last purchase at a wine shop was 6 bottles of Marietta Old Vine Lot 50 ($12 ea). A wine that is well-made, food friendly and inexpensive. That’s the kind of wine shop I like!

Favorite Wine shops: The Wine Shop*, Healdsburg, Rick’s Wine Cellar in Corte Madera (Marin) & Valley Wine Shack, Sonoma.

* They have an online wine shop where you can get the same service and bargains I get!

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Tags: Wineries & Wine Bars