Wine Stores

By Lori Randall

One of the most frequently asked questions I get when sharing a bottle of wine with friends is, Where did you get that?

I almost always reply, My wine store (if I didn’t purchase it at a winery).

Then they typically ask, Do you think you can get me a few bottles?

That question always surprises me because it’s not that I have secret access to great wines (although I would like to think that). It’s that I have a great wine store that lets me appear as if I do. Anyone can find the wine through almost any wine store.

I live in Seattle and my wine store is Esquin Wine Merchants. I email them regularly with my wine requests. (Try doing that at Costco or a grocery store and see what happens!) Sometimes I’ll even cut and paste one of Paul Gregutt’s wine reviews from the Seattle Times into an email and ask them to order me one of each and then have a tasting and compare notes.

It seems that a lot of people shop for their wine at a grocery store and I wondered why so I spoke with Esquin’s owner, Chuck LeFevre, and asked him a few questions about what a store offers compared to other wine retailers.

Why should someone shop at a wine store?
Simple. Price, selection and service.

What amenities do most wine stores offer? Tastings, newsletters, delivery, return policy (corked or unused wines), selection. Costco or a grocer may offer 100-150 wines where a wine store will have thousands and most important … staff ! It doesn’t do you any good if they have all the wine in the world and no one to help you.

Is wine more expensive in a wine store? Absolutely not. Often, it is less expensive.

What are the differences between a wine store and a wine department in a grocery store? Wine shops cherry pick the best wines. I like to say we taste the bad wine so you don’t have to.

Is it better to buy wine from the winery or from a wine store? Wineries won’t undercut the retailers price because the wineries primary source of sales. If the wine is distributed you can buy it for the same price or less at a wine store. But, wineries have items for sale that are not available in the market such as old vintages and specialty wines. For example, I received a newsletter from Betz Winery that offered a Betz Sangiovese that’s not available through a retailer so I bought some!

How to can you get the most from your wine store?
Make sure the attitude of the store suits your personality and needs, and that you “click” with the staff. If you are a serious collector you might choose a different store than if you just want to have fun learning about wines.

Introduce yourself. Let them know your price range and typical likes and dislikes. If you have special interests in a category, for example Italian wines, find out who knows the most about that area.

Sign up for the mailing list to get the best deals and attend the complimentary tastings.
The more wines you taste the more you know what you like and don’t like. Esquin has over 100 tastings a year –it’s a real important part of what a wine store offers their customer.

Eastside Wine Stores

Fine Wines & Cigars 16535 NE 76th Street Suite D105, Redmond 425-869-0869
George's Wine Shoppe 521 156th Avenue SE Bellevue 425-644-7723
The Grape Choice 7 Lakeshore Plaza Kirkland 425-827-7551
Vino100 Bellevue 700 Bellevue Way NE #110 Bellevue 425-453-7881La Cantina Wine Merchants 826 102nd NE, Ste 700 Bellevue 425-455-4363
Pete's Wines Eastside 134 105th NE Bellevue 425-454-1100
Seattle Wine Company 1950 - 130th Ave NE Suite 1 Bellevue 425-869-0609

It is worth mentioning that there are a handful of grocery stores that have full service wine departments and offer many of the amenities of a wine shop including a wine steward. To find out which locations offer that service check with your local store.

Wow of the month
The 19th annual Auction of Washington Wines shined the spotlight on philanthropy last weekend, raising $1.9 million for uncompensated care at Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center and the Washington Wine Education Foundation. Themed "Chateau Cabaret," the weekend celebration of Washington wines featured Picnic with the Winemakers, winemaker dinners and a spectacular black tie Gala Auction on the grounds of Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville, Wash.