I occasionally shop at smaller wine retailers such as delis and drug stores. Something I’ve noticed is that these smaller retailers don’t have the same turnover that larger wine stores and grocery store have. So, I’m often pleasantly surprised to find unique bottles of wine on their shelves.
These unique bottles can include older ones, a range of vintages of the same wine and foreign wines.
Finding an older bottle of wine on the shelf can be a real treat. But, it can also be a double-edged sword. Older bottles of full-bodied red wines that are stored properly will have had a bit more time to mellow and soften with age. But, on the other hand, if these bottles have been sitting a very warm environment or in direct sunlight they may have been damaged.
Another interesting thing you may find is a range of vintages of the same wine. It’s a real treat when you get to taste wines from different years (a vertical tasting) at a winery but it’s often difficult to do this at home. So, if you find multiple vintages on the shelf, pick them up and do your own vertical tasting. You may be surprised how the same wine changes from vintage to vintage.
And finally, I found when traveling, smaller wine sellers will have unique labels that you won’t find at your local wine-seller. Everything from local wines to foreign wines. Especially on the East coast of the U.S. where you’ll find a larger selection of unique European wines than you’ll find on the West coast.
So, seek out smaller wine retailers (yes, even drug stores) and don’t just grab your same old bottle. Look closely and you might just find a unique one. Cheers!
