Italian Wine Merchants

Impressive! After many years in the California wine business I feel tough to impress, but, Italian Wine Merchants hit the cover off the ball. My wife and I went to an event there ..some of the best cuisine I've ever experienced, but, another story all together. The selection of wines offers a wide variety of wines from all over Italy, (we left with a bottle of the greatest Teroldego ever), the staff contrary to what I've read is friendly and knowledgeable. The best part, they allowed me to browse, then answered questions when I had them. Furthermore and most importantly to me, all of their wine is stored in a temperature controlled cellar below the store. Only one bottle of each wine they offer is displayed in the store. When you order, the sales person calls down an old fashioned dumbwaiter to the cellar; cellar temperature bottles return. Vital to the health of the wines and most importantly a near guarantee you are going to leave with wine in perfect tact. We've had so many bad experiences when buying wines retail ...cork taint, madeirization, or just plain cooked that it's tough to get your hopes up before the bottles are opened. Italian Wine Merchants is definitely worth the price of admission and a very reputable retailer. more

Cons: Can't get the wine more

So when I walk into a retail store, I generally do not expect to have to pass any sort of test in order to be deemed worthy enough to purchase things. I may not be a sommelier, but I know more than Joe Shmoe, and I don't appreciate being spoken to like an idiot and then given wines to suit my apparent lack of intellect. more