Think wine shop, and you likely picture yourself perusing the bins for a bottle, then forking over cash or plastic and walking out the front door. At Select Wines, debuting in mid- to late January at 4906 Laclede Ave., just west of Euclid in the CWE, it’ll be wine sales plus a whole lot more.
Renee Skubish, partner and GM, plans to sell quality wines at a great value to enthusiasts and collectors alike, but she’ll also call on her seven years of experience working in the wine industry in New York City to offer cellar analysis services and off-site sommelier services.
The intention behind cellar services is to help wine-lovers “have a balanced cellar” based on personal needs and palate. “That doesn’t mean only having wines that are expensive,” explained Skubish, who sold blue chip collectible wines in NYC, but “wines that are everyday types, lay-down types and wines for entertaining.” Let Select Wines peek at your cellar, talk to them about your collecting aspirations and they can determine “where holes are” and make suggestions for your wine portfolio. The best part? It’s free. “I don’t see it as a way to make money, but a way to work with someone who is an enthusiast and collector, someone who wants to dive deep [into the world of wine],” explained Skubish, adding, “I would hope they could find bottles here at the shop to add to their cellar.”
Chances are high that wine aficionados will find something among the 289 different labels in the 1,500-square-foot space. Select Wines will carry wines from around the globe, priced anywhere from $9.50 to $350 and up, with a focus on varietals from Napa Valley, northern and southern Italy, the Bordeaux and Burgundy regions of France, and the Mosel and Nahe regions of Germany.
Select Wines will also offer off-site sommelier services. “For example, if you’re having a private party and preparing a certain menu, you can work with Select Wines to create a wine list. We provide a printed customized menu … and a synopsis of the wine and description of the pairing,” explained Skubish. They can even be on-hand to present and pour the wines. We’ll take that personalized treatment any day.
This article appears in Dec 1-31, 2010.