February Around The Store with Blake

Meeting The “Steve Jobs Of Wine”

My dad and I were lucky enough to meet Paul Hobbs recently. I know him as a famous California winemaker and Forbes magazine gave him the “Steve Jobs of Wine” title for being a quality fanatic. He was the first winemaker at Opus One, a $500 bottle from Napa. What I did not know is that he is the second-most well-known wine consultant in the world and owner of seven wineries across the globe. The best part for me was tasting his $300 bottle of Dr. Crane Napa Cabernet (even at 10 a.m.) and learning how humble he is! His accomplishments sound fancy but he started off selling his family’s apples at a local farm stand way before he climbed the ranks in winemaking. He makes expensive wines under the Paul Hobbs label as well as some unbelievable Malbecs from Argentina. 

Do You Taste 50 Wines a Week?  JoAnn Does!

I saw my neighbor the other day and he was so excited to show me all the wines he bought at Stew’s Wines in Norwalk (now that’s a good neighbor) that were a “JoAnn’s Pick.” He said, “I don’t know who JoAnn is, but I love her picks!”  I excitedly told him about all her knowledge … Italian and French Wine Scholar, WSET graduate, etc. She’s my go-to for when even I have a question! We’re so proud to have credentialed Wine Specialists in each of the stores. They do the hard work of tasting thousands of bottles a year to pick out the best for you! We’re also working on getting some nice signs in the store with her picture on it, so next time, even if JoAnn isn’t there, customers will know who she is!

Neighbors to $1,000 wines, but you don’t have to pay that!

My husband’s two brothers, Cubes and Thibault, both work in the wine business in Bordeaux. They have incredible connections and are working hard to find wines that overdeliver in quality and price for you! There’s some Bordeaux, a Red Blend, and hopefully a Rosé on their way to our stores soon!

Speaking of bargains — the new 2018 vintage of Esprit de Pavie Bordeaux is arriving soon. The wine is a second label of Chateau Pavie and instead of costing over $1,000, it’s under $30.