Pick of the Vine: A Story Behind Every Bottle

Our customers often ask, “how do you select wines for your stores?” There is not one single answer to that question because there are thousands of wines, producers and styles from which to choose. However, in our quest to provide wine of exceptional value, quality and flavor, we also look to curate selections that truly tell a story.

A wine’s “story” can be told through many contexts, but the bottom line for us, and ultimately you, is “does the wine taste good, and what can we tell you about it?”

Our Pick of the Vine selections are deliciously thought-provoking wines that taste like a million bucks, but cost a lot less (as in under $15!). We prioritize discovering wines that may be “under-the-radar” but define the “best of the best.” While some grapes, regions or styles may seem unfamiliar, the commonality that all the wines share is that there is a person or place with a story behind every bottle.

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To curate wines for our Pick of the Vine set, our experts conduct extensive research, and even travel the globe, to find the real hidden gems. What they uncover might be not be the most familiar, but we’re confident they’re the best and are here to help you to navigate through wine grapes or regions that you may not recognize.

How do we do that? By matching the wine’s style and flavor profiles to what you enjoy drinking! For example, if you prefer a crisp white like Sauvignon Blanc, we can recommend wines that feature similar crisp notes with flavors unique to that specific grape. Trust us, it’s not as complicated as it sounds, and our Wine Consultants are eager to help you discover a wine that you’ll truly enjoy.

Scottish writer, Robert Louis Stevenson said that “wine is bottled poetry.” We could not agree more, but will add that wine tells a story too. It’s up to us to listen and share that story with you!

Here are some fun, unique wines that you’ll find in Pick of the Vine:

Celeste Verdejo ($14.99)
Gloriously aromatic and fresh, this Spanish white from the Rueda region on the banks of the Duero River shows ‘Sauvignon Blanc-like” crispness with beautiful notes of green apple and citrus. This one is a must with fresh seafood!

Macedon Pinot Noir ($12.99)
We recognize that many wine fans don’t wake up thinking, “gosh, this looks like a great day for a Pinot Noir from the Republic of North Macedonia!” This bright and charming red hails from an area known as the “cross-roads of the ancient world.” If you enjoy Pinot Noir or other light reds, we think you’ll find this selection as tasty as it is unique!

13th Street Winery Expression Cabernet Franc Rosé ($14.99)
Our relentless search for unique wine has taken us to the far reaches of, well, Lake Erie! Our friends in the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario, Canada make this intensely-flavored red berry dominant Rosé. With a mouthfeel and complexity that leans more towards “light red” than Rosé, this fun wine makes great friends with cheese and charcuterie boards!