UWS Wine Geek: An Insider’s Guide to Navigating Your Local Wine Shop

By Matthew Brody

Standing in the aisles of your local Upper West Side wine shop can be daunting. Hundreds, if not thousands, of labels stare back as you try to select a bottle. The breadth of choices is greater and more overwhelming than ever.

Thankfully, there are a few handy tips and tricks to help you with your choice, whether you’re buying for yourself or looking for a gift. These tried and true methods can help you identify an excellent bottle even among producers, regions, or varietals you may be completely unfamiliar with.

First and foremost, no tip will be as helpful as building a rapport with the staff at your preferred UWS shop. Share with them your likes and dislikes and be direct about your budget. In well-run shops, the team will collectively have tasted most, if not all, of the wines they sell. Most importantly, return to the shop and share your feedback. Not only will they be thrilled to hear about wines you enjoy, but they can then direct you towards new bottles to fit your preferences.

A quick note about budget – wine has unfortunately not been spared from inflation and the cost of quality wine continues to rise. That said, $15-30 tends to be a “sweet spot” at the moment. Within this range you’ll be able to find well-made wines representative of almost every major wine region.

Shop the Imported Shelves

California remains the highest-volume and most-lauded wine region in the United States. For many, it can be tempting to head right for the domestic section and select a familiar bottle of west coast wine. Yet due to a number of factors — including the cost of land — comparably priced “old-world” wines from Europe will often provide better value. Getting to know the wines of France, Italy, and Spain can be tricky at first, but in the long run will pay off both on your palate and your wallet.

Take for example the wines of Muscadet in the Loire Valley. This region sits just inland from the Atlantic Ocean, to the west of its more famous sibling Sancerre. Muscadet — not to be confused with Moscato, a very different sweet Italian wine — produces whites that are bone-dry, crisp, and refreshing. It also happens to be one of the best values in all of wine, with great bottles available under $20 and even the top wines barely cresting the $30 mark.

Locate Entry-Level Wines from Top Producers

The flagship wines from top producers in places like Barolo, Burgundy, and Rioja can fetch big prices and critical acclaim. However, most of these producers also make “entry-level” wines available at more everyday prices. These wines are often produced from younger vines and spend less time aging in expensive barrels. For producers, they offer immediate cash flow since they can be sold more quickly. For consumers, they can be a surefire way to find value on the shelf.

The next time you read about a top winery or stumble on a high-priced bottle that catches your eye, check the shelves for a more reasonably-priced offering from the same winery. If you enjoy Barolos and Barbarescos you’ll find the same producers make Langhe Nebbiolos, Barberas, and Dolcettos. High-priced Burgundy producers often make excellent Bourgogne Rouge and Blanc and the historic wineries of Rioja offer Crianza bottlings along with their flagship Reservas and Gran Reservas.

Check the Back Label

 In the U.S., every imported wine will have the name of the importer listed on the back label. As mentioned in previous columns, taking note of the importers as you enjoy a bottle is a useful shortcut to finding more wines you’ll love. Many have something of a “house style” across the lineup of wines they represent and you may find yourself gravitating towards certain importers.

Similarly, importer websites can be a treasure trove of information. You’ll find their websites organized with lists of wines they import, producer profiles, and technical details. These websites are most often used by wine professionals, but there’s no reason the wine-drinking public can’t benefit as well.

Below you’ll find a few recommended bottles that can be located here on the UWS. They include examples of excellent value old-world wines, entry-level bottles from top producers, and selections from quality importers.

The Wine Geek Recommends:

Domaine de La Pépière Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie La Pépie ($17-20)

CUNE Rioja Crianza ($14-18)

Oddero Barbera d’Alba Superiore ($19-23)

Produttori del Barbaresco Langhe Nebbiolo ($24-28)

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