Where to buy wine in Kentuckiana.

in honor of National Wine Day.

My love affair with winemaking & wines began when I was 5 years old stomping grapes in my plastic baby pool in the backyard for my Dad’s homemade summer wine.  In 2001, I began a serious study of wine and my hobby evolved into coursework with the Court of Master Sommeliers in 2012.   A sommelier is by definition a wine steward or one who is trained and knowledgeable about wines, normally working in fine restaurants and who specializes in all aspects of wine service as well as wine and food pairing.   

I enjoy sharing my love of food and wine & practice my sommelier skills mostly in home kitchens of family and friends.   In other words, I have become that go to person for wine advice among my friend group.   I have enjoyed some fine wines over the past 20 years, but I particularly like hunting each week for a under $10 bottle that pairs perfectly with weeknight dinners.

In honor of National Wine Day, I thought I would share my answer to a question I get often:  where do you buy wine locally?  Here are a few of my favorites in no specific order & why:

Old Town Liquors – This is my favorite when I am looking for something unique or obscure.   I remember a few years ago hunting for this less known varietal of Sicilian red wine & they had it.  They have a large selection of unique wines and the staff is very knowledgeable.

Westport Whiskey & Wine -   This is my favorite when I am looking for a gift for another wine enthusiast.   Their location in Westport Village is super convenient to the Coldwell Banker McMahan office a few doors down.  Smaller stores require the owners to be selective about what they stock on their shelves.  They do a terrific job curating their offerings to include great wines.  The owners are often present in the store & the staff is super helpful & knowledgeable. 

Trader Joe’s – This is my favorite spot to grab a case when we are having a large party.  They are well known for their Charles Shaw lines which is fondly known as Two Buck Chuck.   I usually skip Charles Shaw and grab a couple of bottles of their Trader Joe Reserve collection in whatever varietals they have in stock.  For parties, I can almost always find a good selection around $6 a bottle and put together a mixed case for under $75. 

Costco – This is my favorite spot for wines for weeknight dinners.  Their selections do change so sometimes the bottle you loved two weeks ago disappears from their shelves forever.  I tend to buy a value priced Malbec they stock regularly, their private label Chardonnay and a $15 bottle of Andrew Murray Syrah when I stop in. 

Finally, when I shop, I always buy two bottles of the same wine.  If you love it, you will want to drink it again.  If you don’t love it, give it away as a gift.  

Cheers!

Lesley DePaola  Director of Career Development lesley.depaola@coldwellbanker.com For more information about a career in real estate, click here.