Wine Shop Briefs...

Wine Pimps
1

With the obsession about my dealings with Zachy’s and the suggestion that I’m an especially flawed customer, here are my one-line reviews of wine shops that I have frequented the last year…

The Good Ones:
Wine Connection (Pound Ridge) - Max has a great place, great staff, great wines (I go for the BDX), fair prices. I have never had a single bad experience with this shop.
Harry’s (Fairfield, CT) - about the best place where I have been locally, though I look forward to going to the place in New Canaan where Steve just started. Nice selection. Good Staff. They treated me well when I was ITB, they treat me well when I am a customer.
Merritt Wines (Norwalk, CT) and Cellar XV (Ridgefield, CT) are two nice small places, specializing in value-priced wines. Nice owners that one likes to support.
Valley Spirits (Ansonia, CT) - odd location, but they often pop-up on Wine Searcher searches and have comparatively good (for Connecticut) prices on higher end odds and ends. I have never had a single bad experience with this shop. Interestingly, any time that Wine Searcher said that they had a wine, they had it in stock at the price advertised.
Varmax (Port Chester) - they also pop up on Wine Searcher a lot, with especially nice stuff that doesn’t make it to Connecticut. I called the first couple of times I went but now am confident that if it says they have it, they have it - priced as advertised. I have never had a single bad experience with this shop.
The Tasting Room (Carlton, OR) - great source for Oregon PN. Hard to say enough about this place. Good service and Jay knows his wine!
Wine Connection (San Diego) - I love going in this place when I am on business in San Diego and always send home a mixed case. I have never had a single bad experience with this shop.
WineSellar (San Diego) - I also hit this place when I’m in San Diego. Higher end than WCSD, but always find interesting things and can eat upstairs. I have never had a single bad experience with this shop.
Corti Brothers (Sacramento) - I’ve only been in the store once, but keep ordering from them. Service, service, service. And knowledge. Great place. I have never had a single bad experience with this shop.

The Other:
Zachy’s - great selection, but way overpriced, and poor customer service, in my experience. I used to stop in when driving through the area, but stopped about five years ago because the prices are crazy. Went last month and had a bad customer service experience.

Mostly I order direct - but if you think I have overlooked an obvious Fairfield County place, just ask. Also looking forward to swinging by Daniel Posner’s Grapes soon!

2

Zachy’s training guide?

Carrie has been beating customer service into my head. I would never shoot myself in the foot, because my foot is usually in my mouth.

3

I was afraid this was about Wine Shops selling Fruit of the Loom by the title. [tease.gif]

I’m glad to see you have had many positive experiences .

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I hope everyone has had as many good experiences as I have and as few bad ones.

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Couple of more shout-outs…

Grapes - White Plains. I finally made it into Daniel’s shop and it was like being a kid in a candy store. Great shop. Great selection. Lots of obscurities. Daniel clearly loves Burg - but, hey, nobody’s perfect! Well worth the visit for anyone who hasn’t been, who lives in Fairfield or Westchester Counties.

Rye Brook Wine & Spirit Shop. Small place with pretty good selection. But here’s the reason for my shout-out. I got a very nice deal on something I bought on-line (via Wine Searcher link). But when I went to the shop to pick it up, they offered and checked on-line prices against the other things I grabbed on the spot, giving me some additional savings. Now that is customer-friendly service.

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Very clearly one of the best in all of the Sacramento Valley, if not Northern California. And if you are ever in the mood for an hour long conversation on Riesling, just ask for Daryl and sit back and enjoy!