I love "wine" everything. You name it, I love it. I like to write about the wine experience as I see it, from a distinctly sassy & SoCal female point of view. I've been to many wineries; I'm friends with many of the owners, winemakers and chefs. I'll share my favorites with you in coming articles, but today I look beyond the winery-based experience to a favorite indulgence of mine, the wine store. What makes a great wine store? Read on!
Off the beaten path, but not so far from Temecula Valley Wine Country in Southern California, there is a fabulous boutique wine shop in Murrieta, Ca., called Dudley's Wine & Gifts. I like it because it provides a unique, unstuffy, unpretentious experience. It's where you go after the wineries close for a more pampered, focused wine experience. Love, love, love the large selection of hand picked small lot wines, the Friday and Saturday night tastings, and the cool gadgets. But the real fun comes in interacting with the owner Eric Dudley. He lives by a tri-arc of personal codes "Wine is a gift," "To know wine is to know the world," and finally "To know wine is to know history." We swear, pick up any bottle of wine in the store and he knows the story behind the wine. Share a bit about who you are buying wine for and the reason, and he'll literally skip over to just the right wine with just the right story for you to tell as you present the wine. He once shared with us that if he didn’t own his wine store, he would be a history professor. Yup, I get that.
Every Friday and Saturday night around 5 :30 PM, Eric holds a themed wine tasting. It's a focused, well thought out evening of carefully chosen wines, conversation, and nibbles. In keeping with Eric's philosophy of unstuffy wine tasting, there is a small tasting charge of $12-$15 per person and no reservations needed. Just show up and be wowed. I loved the "A Trip Around the World" tasting. Starting with French wines, Eric carefully weaved a story of international tastes including Italy, Chili, Argentina and California. We all gathered around the tasting bar and were engaged and delighted as he not only spoke to us as a group, but also individually, judging our interest and knowledge of wine, conversing on our level. Can't say I've seen anyone do it better. Coming up is the romantic Valentines tasting, complete with chocolate fountain and romantic wines, and the fun and fearless St Patrick's Day tasting featuring all "green wines."
Picks
Eric "An Italian favorite of mine, Moscato Rose. It's a gorgeous sparkling wine, soft pink, beautiful, with just a hint of sweetness. For under $20, enjoy with elegant chocolate and French pastries."
Linda, "The luscious Barbera d" Alba by Filippo Gallino. Love this fruit forward mid-bodied wine for under $30. It's full enough to go with a meaty Lasagna, yet elegant enough to pair nicely with an Alfredo dish."
Shopping Must: The new Wisp Wine Aerator System is THE gadget to purchase. About $38 it is simply the best drip less hand held wine aerator system on the market. It instantly softens tannins and lets the fruit come forward, but it’s not for meant for every wine. How will you know the tips and tricks? Call Eric.
Off the beaten path, but not so far from Temecula Valley Wine Country in Southern California, there is a fabulous boutique wine shop in Murrieta, Ca., called Dudley's Wine & Gifts. I like it because it provides a unique, unstuffy, unpretentious experience. It's where you go after the wineries close for a more pampered, focused wine experience. Love, love, love the large selection of hand picked small lot wines, the Friday and Saturday night tastings, and the cool gadgets. But the real fun comes in interacting with the owner Eric Dudley. He lives by a tri-arc of personal codes "Wine is a gift," "To know wine is to know the world," and finally "To know wine is to know history." We swear, pick up any bottle of wine in the store and he knows the story behind the wine. Share a bit about who you are buying wine for and the reason, and he'll literally skip over to just the right wine with just the right story for you to tell as you present the wine. He once shared with us that if he didn’t own his wine store, he would be a history professor. Yup, I get that.
Every Friday and Saturday night around 5 :30 PM, Eric holds a themed wine tasting. It's a focused, well thought out evening of carefully chosen wines, conversation, and nibbles. In keeping with Eric's philosophy of unstuffy wine tasting, there is a small tasting charge of $12-$15 per person and no reservations needed. Just show up and be wowed. I loved the "A Trip Around the World" tasting. Starting with French wines, Eric carefully weaved a story of international tastes including Italy, Chili, Argentina and California. We all gathered around the tasting bar and were engaged and delighted as he not only spoke to us as a group, but also individually, judging our interest and knowledge of wine, conversing on our level. Can't say I've seen anyone do it better. Coming up is the romantic Valentines tasting, complete with chocolate fountain and romantic wines, and the fun and fearless St Patrick's Day tasting featuring all "green wines."
Picks
Eric "An Italian favorite of mine, Moscato Rose. It's a gorgeous sparkling wine, soft pink, beautiful, with just a hint of sweetness. For under $20, enjoy with elegant chocolate and French pastries."
Linda, "The luscious Barbera d" Alba by Filippo Gallino. Love this fruit forward mid-bodied wine for under $30. It's full enough to go with a meaty Lasagna, yet elegant enough to pair nicely with an Alfredo dish."
Shopping Must: The new Wisp Wine Aerator System is THE gadget to purchase. About $38 it is simply the best drip less hand held wine aerator system on the market. It instantly softens tannins and lets the fruit come forward, but it’s not for meant for every wine. How will you know the tips and tricks? Call Eric.
Must Do: Go to an upcoming tasting. Sign up for Eric's weekly newsletter.
Dudley's Wine and Gifts
40674 Murrieta Hot Springs Road, Murrieta, CA
951-461-2225 / http://www.dudleyswineandgifts.com/
Taste Toast & Shop!
Linda Kissam
Dudley's Wine and Gifts
40674 Murrieta Hot Springs Road, Murrieta, CA
951-461-2225 / http://www.dudleyswineandgifts.com/
Taste Toast & Shop!
Linda Kissam
http://www.The WineBuzzzz.com
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