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An Enlightened Trend

Wine Notes

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Wine NotesAn Enlightened Trend

Cedarburg's "Winetailer" is a refreshing exception to the norm.

by John Burns | Friday 5/7/2010

"If I'd known I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself", Eubie Blake, 1883-1983 (Editor's note: I presume he died healthy from moderate consumption of red wine).

In my view, there are three types of wine retailers, but a new breed is making waves in the marketplace. The three:

1. Wine Depots such as Costco, Pick & Save, Otto's, etc. Basically, they offer dandy displays and a degree of help, but customers have to do much of the work.

2. Hands-on Helpers such as Consumer Outlet in Hales Corners (which also regularly hosts tastings at area libraries, etc.), Downer Avenue Wine & Spirits, Waterford Wine Co. (which regularly hosts nifty tastings) and Bob Grasch at Grasch Foods, who holds tastings that benefit local charities. Sendik's also falls into this category.

3. I recently bumped into a more enlightened pair of "Winetailers" -- Vino100 in Grafton and Grapes and Tastes in Cedarburg, at W63 N140 Washington Ave. Both Vino 100 and Grapes and Tastes host frequent and often-targeted tastings, but the latter adds a little kick. G & T allows you to sample, gratis, a variety of reasonably priced wines. On the day of my visit, I previewed a wonderful Montepulciano.

Grapes and Tastes has a very attractive store, with nicely laid out wine selections and attractively priced quantity discounts amid an array of other goodies such as local cheese, gleaming wine gadgets and gorgeous goblets. Before moving to Cedarburg, Brad and wife, Joni, lived in Florida and operated a similar store. Cedarburg's charms magnetically drew the charming couple back to our area, and we all are the beneficiaries of that decision. Directly across the street from G & T is an Otto's wine, beer and liquor depot, and I found the comparison to be quite startling.

Brad and Joni's approach is most refreshing and enlightening. The greater Milwaukee marketplace can learn from this.

Cheers to them!