Wine Country’s Unique Wine Shops
Author:Christina JulianWine country boondoggles are all about traipsing from one tasting room to the next but when you’re tired of all the traipsing it’s time to stop off at some of our favorite wine shops where the décor is as sleek as the wines are smooth.
Acme Fine Wines’ Wall of Fame
Acme Fine Wines’ wall of fame is nothing short of a vinophile’s work of art stacked with cult wines galore. Owner Karen Williams commissioned Michael Roche to create this minimalist, gallery-like look to let the wine label designs shine through the space. Michael Polenske added touches like the end table cubes.
Acme Fine Wines’ sipping area.
Pair that with deco-style couches and chairs that allow ample space for settling in to savor and sip the wines. Eclectic pieces like the classic cruiser and old school soda pop machine cement Williams’ vision of balancing new and old with contemporary and antique pieces. Specialized wine clubs like the “Kahuna” give you first dibs on sought after sips, as do periodic vintner-hosted tastings offering select lots at discounted prices.
St. Helena’s 750 Wines
St. Helena’s 750 Wines is not your average anything. As one part wine country concierge, another part retail wine shop the place plays host to small lot tastings of off-the-grid wines set within an industrial chic space laced with fine art and wine. In this loft-like setting, owners Monica and David Stevens host private tastings that cater to clients’ varietal and price point preferences. Whether you’re sipping coveted classics or discovering the next “it” wine, buying vino never looked so sleek.
Artwork at St. Helena’s 750 Wines.
Make sure to sneak a peek at Layla Fanucci’s fanciful cityscape paintings that drape the walls, along with scrappy metal works and other artsy bits that dot the space.
Napa’s Oxbow Wine Merchant has a large selection of both wines and cheese.
If you’re looking to power shop for not only wine but food head to Napa’s Oxbow Wine Merchant. Relocated to the main hall in the Oxbow Public Market you’ll get not only a mouthful but an eyeful. Hanging cows, goats and sheep dangle, as wine and cheese surrounds, all available for purchase—the ultimate roost to try before you buy. Tuesday’s locals night pours up special deals on cheese boards at the bar as well as $4.00 pints and select glasses of wine. When you tire of wine and cheese, step through the virtual door to Hog Island Oyster Company for steal-a-deal prices on brews and oysters on the half shell.
