Category: Behind the Counter

The Trouble with Touch Screens

Originally published on December 26, 2008.

The POS (Point of Sale) system at Frankly Wines is basically a fancy Windows-powered computer with a touch screen. The touch screen is great once you get used to it, but it has it’s downside…I find myself tapping on my laptop screen, the screen of my desktop at home, sometimes even the TV. Tapping those devises does nothing…except make me look like an idiot when I get all huffy because “they’re not working.”

Could be worse. I could have a store full of tribbles…now that would be trouble!

Gift Idea #2: Old World/New World Combo Packs

Originally published on December 17, 2008.

Yes I wrote about this idea in my newsletter, but I really love the idea. It’s educational, without being pretentious or too cutesy. It illustrates a point that wine geeks (like me) often go on about.

Old World wines (ie. Europe, more specifically France and Italy) are elegant, earthy, less-fruit driven than New World wines. Old World wines evolve in a positive way over time. They’re more complex. Wine neophytes and unsophisticated palates probably won’t appreciate them. New World wines are more approachable when young. They tend to be softer, richer, “lush”, loaded with big fruit and velvety vanilla tannins.

Or so say the stereotypes.

So I like the idea of Old World/New World combo packs because they let the customer see for themselves how these stereotypes play out. They can see which side they fall on. Or maybe they’ll realize they like both, but can understand why one sort of wine might have more appeal in a different setting than the other. And I really think that trying two “themed” wines side by side is the best way to learn.

These combo packs are also great from a retailer perspective because they can be tailored to almost any price point or taste.

  • You like crisp whites? Let’s try NZ Sauv Blanc vs. Bordeaux Blanc.
  • Big spicy reds? Pair a Northern Rhone Syrah with one from the Barossa in Australia.
  • A Bordeaux freak? Right Bank Bordeaux vs. South Africa Stellenbosch (Chateau Beau Vallon vs. De Toren Z is sounding really good right now).
  • Feeling flush? Barolo vs. a California Nebbiolo (perhaps Clendenen Nebbiolo from the Au Bon Climat master). Feeling really flush? Add on Vina Alicia’s Nebbiolo from Argentina.

Oh wait, I already wrote about that one in the newsletter. Well, somethings are worth repeating.

Governor Paterson’s budget proposal could expand New York wine sales

Originally published on December 16, 2008.

So just saw this Newsday article in the daily wine news logs. This is really pretty big news.

For those of you not intimately familiar with the NY beer, wine, and liquor licensing laws, here’s a quick overview: in NY, you can buy beer in a grocery store, but not wine or liquor. You can only buy wine and liquor in a special wine/liquor store. And some of those stores, like mine, are only licensed to sell wine. Oh, and in theory, one corporation/individual can only hold 1 license in the entire state of New York.

But now NY needs to raise a bit of cash to balance the budget, and one of Governor Patterson’s proposals to do so is to allow stores currently licensed to sell beer to also sell wine. For practical purposes, this means grocery stores, and in NY City, the ubiquitous corner bodega.

Now something like this is generally seen as bad for the independent retailers…because if someone can buy their wine at a grocery store, why would they want to buy it from me? This is why retailers generally bitch and moan in any state when a proposal like this surfaces. And even though I know my store benefits from the current laws, it’s hard for me to rally behind what is essentially an anti-competitive system. While I certainly don’t want the big Whole Foods around the block selling wine, I’d like to think that my thoughtful selection and great customer service can hold their own if it comes to that.

What I don’t buy is that the expansion of wine sales will benefit local wineries. I’ve been in too many grocery stores to believe that it will do anything but benefit big, commercial brands. You think a big grocery chain is going to happily take delivery from some Finger Lakes winemaker who drops off you order in a pick-up truck sometime a week or two after you place it? Probably not so much.

So let’s not pretend this will benefit smaller local wineries. That’s probably just wishful thinking.

Yes, this will raise revenues for the state because more stores will be paying an additional wine licensing fee. And yes, it’s a good thing for the consumer because to not be able to buy wine where you buy food is sort of silly. And yes, it will make it more difficult for wine/liquor only retailers to make a buck – we’ll have to up our game, which is also a good thing for wine retailers.

So even though it makes my specific wine store business more challenging, it’s a good thing for the wine industry in general so I’m essentially for it……WITH TWO BIG QUESTIONS!!

  1. As a licensed wine store, will I now be allowed to sell beer? Only fair.
  2. If big grocery corporations can now sell wine in multiple licensed locations, shouldn’t I, or rather my corporation, be allowed to sell wine in multiple locations? Only fair.

This questions may already have been answered in the proposed legislation, which honestly, I haven’t read. But I think I may need to contact my local representative, whoever that is. I’m all for competition…level playing fields and so on…as long as I’m not stuck in the outfield.

Gift Idea #1: Cheap & Cheerful – 12 bottles for $120

Originally published on December 15, 2008.

Can she do it? Can she put a cheap and cheerful case together for $120 that includes a variety of reds, whites, and even a few bubbles? Why yes, she can!

The case consists of 7 different $10 bottles – essentially every $10 bottle I have in the store. I put a lot of thought into my $10 selection, and I’m pretty pleased with it. They’re all different, so if you buy one of each, you get a nice, varied sampler. I’m so proud of them that I refuse to segregate them out onto a $10 table – they can sit proudly next to the more expensive stuff.

So this case, 12 different bottles for $120 (pre-tax…there’s only so much I can do!!) All 12 bottle mixed cases get a 10% discount, which gets this particular sampler down to $123 and change. If you print this out and bring it to the store, we’ll take off the extra dollars so you’ll get your 12 for $120.

So here’s what you get*:

*these are not the “official” names of these wines. They’re my own special stream-of-typing names, but anyone who works at the store will know what they are..

Whites:

  1. Picpoul – minerally, citrusy, zingy, but with a bit of creaminess
  2. Domaine Pellehaut – blend of Chardonnay and Sauv Blanc. Kind of like Pinot Grigio but with a touch more body
  3. Punta Pays Viogner – sexy, silky on the palate. Peaches, orange blossoms and dare I say, just a teeny tiny touch of sweetness
  4. Nell Chardonnay – gotta have a Chardonnay. This one has a hint of toasty/creaminess
  5. Domaine Pichout Vouvray – off-dry, lush, dried apricots

Reds:

  1. Colonia Bonarda – full-bodied, but not oaky or hard edged
  2. Santa Carolina Cab – classic Chilean cab sauv is the definition of value.
  3. Red Dust Shiraz – another classic – big, Aussie, spicy Shiraz. My version of Yellow Tail, but if I do say so, a better version
  4. Arboreto Montepulciano – fresh, fruity, just like a Montepulciano should be
  5. Yellow + Blue Malbec – organic, natural yeasts, enviro-chic tetra pak package. And it’s a full liter! So you’re actually getting an extra 250ml in this case!

Bubbles:

  1. Fagher Le Colture Prosecco – estate-grown fruit, full-bodied with the freshness that you want in a Prosecco
  2. Robert John Cava – cavas are classic value bubbles and this is a nice example.

There you go…a case for $120. Every bottle is different and a classic example of it’s grape and region. Not too shabby for an average bottle cost of $10!!

Gift Ideas….Tomorrow is Another Day

Originally published on December 10, 2008.

Just sent out the Frankly Wines newsletter. And I mentioned that I would be posting daily gift ideas right here on this blog. And I can see that a few people have already clicked through…and what will they find? THANKSGIVING DAY WINE IDEAS!!!

Oh well, tomorrow the fabulous daily ideas will begin. In the meantime, read the newsletter!

Thanksgiving Wines: Options for Those Who Need to Drink A Lot of Wine

Originally published on November 27, 2008.

I enjoy Thanksgiving at my house. My husband cooks, the kids spend about 2 minutes at the table (expected because they’re 4 and 2) before heading off to comandeer the computer (scary because they’re 4 and 2) and the grown-ups eat lots of yummy food. But I imagine some people don’t have it so easy…they have crazy relatives and choose their wine selections based on quantity. Luckily, they can have some quality too.

Here are some options we have at the store:

Roger Perrin Cote du Rhone 3000ml BOX: 4 bottles in 1 box and a handy spout for easy pouring. The wine is good and it comes out to less than $10/bottle. In the case that you wind up not drinking an entire box in one day, the packaging is meant to preserve the wine for weeks. We opened a box here and kept taking sips every several days (this was important research, not simply in-store drinking). 4 weeks in, the wine was still as nice as the day we opened it. It probably would have lasted longer, but oddly, we didn’t have any more to try.

Balthasar Ress Riesling Halbroken 1 Liter Bottle: A big bottle of German happiness! Slightly sweet, totally uncomplicated, it pairs well with most foods and it’s nice on it’s own. So you can drink it before during and after the meal.

Yellow + Blue 1 liter Tetrapacks, Malbec and Torrontes: The malbec is a huge favorite and now there’s a white option with the Torrontes. Good value – and added bonus: tetrapacks won’t break if you need to throw them at your crazy relatives.

If any of these sound good (or necessary) hurry up and get to the store. We close at 2pm on the button!

It’s Finally Thanksgiving

Originally published on November 26, 2008.

Here at the store, wondering if people actually will buy wine on Thanksgiving. It’s a grand experiment for the first Thanksgiving Frankly Wines is open. And since it’s just me here, no reason not to give some limited hours a try. I know I always need to do last minute errands on Turkey Day! And if the day is a bust, at least I’ll have a few hours to work on web site stuff (just as soon as I finish this post.)

I do feel obliged to say what I’m planning to open for dinner later today. Can’t say I’ve come up with a definitive list, but I’ll choose from the following:

  • Scholium Project “The Prince in his Caves”
  • Lopez de Heredia Rosado 1997
  • Klien Constantia “Vin de Constance” – gorgeous dessert wine from South Africa, what Napoleon requested on his death bed
  • Some Bordeaux for my father-in-law. Maybe La Lagune 1998 or one of the bottles we just picked up at auction
  • Terres Dorees Beajolais Nouveau because I have about 6 bottles left in the store and want to drink some more before I run out
  • A Cerdon-Bugey because it’s just so yummy
  • Grosset Polish Hill 2006 because I’m sick of looking at the bottle which I’m supposed to take home…and it would just be a good match for the meal
  • Felton Road Calvert Pinot Nort because Yanai’s making a lamb to go with the turkey

I need to pick 3 – so maybe I’ll just flip a coin. But you can see, not all wine geeks have their Thanksgiving wine planned out to the nth degree.

Thanksgiving Wines: Teira Zinfandel (for the traditionalist)

Originally published on November 19, 2008.

Cranking on getting the Frankly Wines e-commerce site up and running (I’m falling behind on the homework my developer keeps giving me). So instead of writing a long, typical post on Thanksgiving Day wines, I’m going to do daily suggestions.

But first things first…if you’ve read even 1 of the annual columns that talk about Turkey Day wines, you know the meal is a wine pairing nightmare. Turkey is bland, there are gobs of highly varied, very different side dishes, too many different palates to please, to go American or not to go American blah blah blah….So the most important rule is…just drink whatever you want. If you’re looking for a reason to pull out the fancy stuff, pull it out. If you’re looking for a reason to stick with the cheap and cheerful stuff, know that most people at the table will be too stuffed to pay attention to the wine anyway. There’s a reason to justify almost any choice you make. My suggestions are just suggestions and wildly influenced by what I like to drink (and full disclosure, what I like to sell.)

Thanksgiving Wine for the Traditionalist: Teira Zinfandel

A lot of people like to drink American wine on this American holiday and Zinfandel is generally considered one of the most American of grapes. (Actually, the wine geneticists think Zinfandel may actually be from Croatia, but we won’t tell.) Zinfandel can be a very big, very full-bodied, very powerful wine – the type of wine that can beat a turkey over the head and turn it to mush.

But the Teira is a Zinfandel with a bit of elegance. No one would consider this a light wine, but it’s balanced enough that it won’t put the poor turkey to shame. All the flavor you want in a Zin, without all the weight. (Tastes great, less filling!)

Why I’m Not So Crazy About the Wine Spectator Top 100

Originally published on November 15, 2008

In no particular order:

  1. If you’re a retailer, it’s a lazy way to buy wine. We should be offering a more interesting point of view than “as many wines from someone else’s list that I can get my hands on before they sell through the distributor.”
  2. If you’re a consumer, it’s also kind of lazy. That said, I know the wine world is confusing, sometimes almost deliberately so. So I understand that any list anywhere is helpful. But here’s a little trick…if you want the Mollydooker 2007 which made this year’s Top 10, you might not want to immediately run away from prior vintages just because they wasn’t on this year’s list. If you’re prepared to like a producer this year, chances are very good you’ll like the producer any year. And the main difference may just be that you don’t have to pay the “Wine Spectator Top 100 Premium” that always seems to crop up around this time of the year. Better to use the list as a jumping off point than the end-all-be-all that a lot of people make it.
  3. Little undercover wines that I love sometimes crop up on the list. This sucks because then the big stores snatch all the wine and I can’t get it anymore. I hate that..I really hate that.
  4. A big ranking can be the kiss of death for new, up-and-coming wines. Here’s why…Not only can I not get the wine, but most smaller stores can’t. This is because the big stores beat the distributors over the head to get as much of the wine as they can. In some states, the distributors slap big case deals on these wines, like a 25% discount on 10 cases. Little shops can’t (and many don’t want) to tie up the cash needed to buy 10 cases of an $80 wine, even if it does mean a 25% discount. So these wines end up at big stores with big discounts. Now this isn’t a bad thing for the consumer – everyone likes good wine for less money. But then the next vintage comes around…without the big rating, so the big stores don’t want to touch the wine now. And the little stores are now reluctant to buy the wine as well – because this year the wine is probably more expensive (thank you ratings!) and consumers expect it to cost what it cost last year…in the big stores with the big discount. And people that buy off of the Top 100 list aren’t even interested anymore. So what was once a nice up-and-coming wine is now struggling with all this baggage.

I could probably come up with more, but I don’t want to spend any more time thinking about this list than I already have.

Next up, an obligatory Thanksgiving wine list. Yes, they’re sort of annoying, but I’m a retailer… I have to do this!

Validation of My Good Taste

Originally published on November 10, 2008 .

Little wine stores like to sell wine that you can’t find anywhere else. It makes us feel special. And we hope it makes you feel special. And to be honest, small shops can’t really sell the big brands you see everywhere because they tend to offer really big case discounts which we can’t participate in. Small stores can’t really afford to buy 25 cases of anything, even the cheap stuff. (And money aside, 25 cases would pretty much take over my entire basement.) As a result, big stores can sell big wine brands for less money that I can even buy them.

Luckily, there’s a lot of wine in the world and plenty of small wineries and wines to discover.

But somehow, I still seem to wind up with the same wines as the neighboring wine shops. 

We don’t overlap very much, but I always find it amusing seeing where we do. Like this wonderful, yet relativley obscure Oloroso Dry Sherry by Emilio Hidalgo which I tried at a tasting and immediatly ordered because it was so delicious. Or the red Txakolina (yes, red) that I wanted but they managed to snag the new vinage first (and any neighborhood really only needs one red Txakolina.) Or Slingshot, an atypially restrained Cabernet from Napa Valley. And perhaps most amusingly, the Yellow + Blue Malbec in the eco-chic (cringing at that phrase even as I type it) tetrapak.

I could get all crazy about this overlap, but I actaully find it as a validation of my good taste. I know I understand how to buy wine, but as a new business owner, it’s easy to second guess your choices. So when a well-respected, well-established shop decides to stock some of the same wines I do, it makes me feel like I know what I’m doing. Especially if I have it first, like with the Yellow + Blue malbec and the Slingshot cabernet.

So a little overlap is kind of nice…but just a little…