Being able to tell if you’re in a good wine shop can have a lot of advantages. First, if the selection is good, then the staff is probably pretty good and they’ll be able to answer any questions you have. Second, many smaller shops (once we’ve determined they pass my tests for good) have meticulously curated selections. In these small boutique shops you can be almost guaranteed that any wine you pick is there because someone who knows a lot about wine (enough to want to open a shop) thinks it is good. Third, knowing that you’re in a good shop gives you a bit of power. I’ve said it before and I know I’ll say it again, shopping for wine is the most intimidating retail experience that people put themselves into. Most folks are more comfortable buying a car than walking into a wine shop. Hopefully, this information will give you a little control and, if you feel as though you’re being sized up every time you walk into a wine shop, this is your big chance to give your local snobby wine guy a taste of his own medicine.
Now for my guidelines. I must say that these are not hard and fast rules. These guidelines are undeniably controversial and will probably get me in trouble with any number of wine folks. When I walk into a wine shop these are the things that I look for and it works for me. Disclaimer aside, these are the things a good wine shop will have:
1. In the Italian red wine section I look for “Barolo”. Barolo is a region in northern Italy that grows the Nebbiolo grape and produces some of Italy’s most prized wines. A good shop will have a few and they’ll cost more than $40. A small shop (for my purposes defined as a shop about the size of a two car garage, these shops are also called boutique shops) should have at least one or two, more than that is bonus.
2. In the white wine section I look for “Condrieu”. Condrieu is a region in the northern Rhone Valley of France that grows the Viognier grape which becomes, in my humble opinion, the best white wine pretty much ever. This wine is hard to come by and is definitely difficult to sell because it runs between $40-$60 a bottle. A medium or large sized shop should have one or two, a small shop can be forgiven for not carrying one. Super bonus points for any employee that can point it out to you on the shelf and tell you that the grape it’s made from is Viognier.
3. In the champagne section you should look for things you don’t recognize. Champagne is the most marketed sector of the wine world and thus if a shop is carrying a bunch of Champagnes that you’ve never seen advertised, then it’s a good thing. My logic is that if the shop only buys what sells (those heavily advertised “brands”) then they aren’t really thinking about their selection nor are they trying all of the wines they choose to sell. A good selection will be balanced between the popular “brands” and the lesser known, smaller production Champagnes.
4. The rosés. I’m talking about the dry (opposite of sweet in wine talk) pink or copper colored wines that are often from France, but can be from any number of countries. I’m not talking about anything that is pink and syrupy sweet, costs less that $7 for a 750ml (normal sized) bottle, or says white zinfandel on the label. A good shop has at least 5 and up to 20 rosés. Only the smallest of shops can get away with less than five and at least one of those better be from France (“Provence” or “Tavel” are the particular regions I’d look for). A limited rosé selection can be forgiven in the dead of winter, but otherwise it’s a deal-breaker for me.
5. The salespeople can also be an indicator of the caliber of a wine shop. They are salespeople and their job, ultimately, is to sell wine… any wine. I know that this is bit snobby, but it bothers me when I go into a shop and ask for something (like an Australian Shiraz, or a good inexpensive Champagne) and I am immediately pointed in the direction of whatever is on special or on sale. This indicates to me that the staff isn’t really being educated and tasting the wines, instead they are being told what to sell. If your sales person only points you in the direction of what there are large stacks of, whatever has a high score or points from someone they’ve never met, or what is on sale, then they are more interested in getting you out the door with anything than with the best thing for you and your tastes.
Not every good shop is going to pass all of these little “tests”, and as I said there’s no way I can make hard and fast rules. But, this is the stuff that I look for when I’m shopping and my favorite places meet all 5 metrics. Realistically, a shop passing 3 or 4 out of the five measures I’ve given is commendable; any less than that just won’t work. If you find or already have a 5 out of 5 shop, then feel good about trusting in their taste, asking them questions, and buying what they recommend.
Being able to tell if you’re in a good wine shop can have a lot of advantages. First, if the selection is good, then the staff is probably pretty good and they’ll be able to answer any questions you have. Second, many smaller shops (once we’ve determined they pass my tests for good) have meticulously curated selections. In these small boutique shops you can be almost guaranteed that any wine you pick is there because someone who knows a lot about wine (enough to want to open a shop) thinks it is good. Third, knowing that you’re in a good shop gives you a bit of power. I’ve said it before and I know I’ll say it again, shopping for wine is the most intimidating retail experience that people put themselves into. Most folks are more comfortable buying a car than walking into a wine shop. Hopefully, this information will give you a little control and, if you feel as though you’re being sized up every time you walk into a wine shop, this is your big chance to give your local snobby wine guy a taste of his own medicine.
Now for my guidelines. I must say that these are not hard and fast rules. These guidelines are undeniably controversial and will probably get me in trouble with any number of wine folks. When I walk into a wine shop these are the things that I look for and it works for me. Disclaimer aside, these are the things a good wine shop will have:
1. In the Italian red wine section I look for “Barolo”. Barolo is a region in northern Italy that grows the Nebbiolo grape and produces some of Italy’s most prized wines. A good shop will have a few and they’ll cost more than $40. A small shop (for my purposes defined as a shop about the size of a two car garage, these shops are also called boutique shops) should have at least one or two, more than that is bonus.
2. In the white wine section I look for “Condrieu”. Condrieu is a region in the northern Rhone Valley of France that grows the Viognier grape which becomes, in my humble opinion, the best white wine pretty much ever. This wine is hard to come by and is definitely difficult to sell because it runs between $40-$60 a bottle. A medium or large sized shop should have one or two, a small shop can be forgiven for not carrying one. Super bonus points for any employee that can point it out to you on the shelf and tell you that the grape it’s made from is Viognier.
3. In the champagne section you should look for things you don’t recognize. Champagne is the most marketed sector of the wine world and thus if a shop is carrying a bunch of Champagnes that you’ve never seen advertised, then it’s a good thing. My logic is that if the shop only buys what sells (those heavily advertised “brands”) then they aren’t really thinking about their selection nor are they trying all of the wines they choose to sell. A good selection will be balanced between the popular “brands” and the lesser known, smaller production Champagnes.
4. The rosés. I’m talking about the dry (opposite of sweet in wine talk) pink or copper colored wines that are often from France, but can be from any number of countries. I’m not talking about anything that is pink and syrupy sweet, costs less that $7 for a 750ml (normal sized) bottle, or says white zinfandel on the label. A good shop has at least 5 and up to 20 rosés. Only the smallest of shops can get away with less than five and at least one of those better be from France (“Provence” or “Tavel” are the particular regions I’d look for). A limited rosé selection can be forgiven in the dead of winter, but otherwise it’s a deal-breaker for me.
5. The salespeople can also be an indicator of the caliber of a wine shop. They are salespeople and their job, ultimately, is to sell wine… any wine. I know that this is bit snobby, but it bothers me when I go into a shop and ask for something (like an Australian Shiraz, or a good inexpensive Champagne) and I am immediately pointed in the direction of whatever is on special or on sale. This indicates to me that the staff isn’t really being educated and tasting the wines, instead they are being told what to sell. If your sales person only points you in the direction of what there are large stacks of, whatever has a high score or points from someone they’ve never met, or what is on sale, then they are more interested in getting you out the door with anything than with the best thing for you and your tastes.
Not every good shop is going to pass all of these little “tests”, and as I said there’s no way I can make hard and fast rules. But, this is the stuff that I look for when I’m shopping and my favorite places meet all 5 metrics. Realistically, a shop passing 3 or 4 out of the five measures I’ve given is commendable; any less than that just won’t work. If you find or already have a 5 out of 5 shop, then feel good about trusting in their taste, asking them questions, and buying what they recommend.
Tags: nancy, wine advice, wine shop