It seems like saying "Buy Local" has become the in thing to do, but for small businesses in our area, there is nothing new about shopping locally. For the next 12 days, we're going to post an item each day showcasing some of the great businesses in Edgewater and Davidsonville.
Day Seven: Today we went shopping for a wine connoisseur. This is a person who selects the wine for each meal, co-mingling the flavors so that the wine harmonizes with the food. Or maybe this person has a taste for wine, but not the budget to consistently buy themselves really nice wine. Or maybe you're looking to buy a case of wine to give out as hostess gifts at all of holiday parties you'll be attending.
Whatever your reason for needing to buy wine this holiday season, we got the lowdown on the high-end wines available at Edgewater Liquors. We also found some bargains.
Grape growing is undergoing a change. As the globe heats up, the places that were on the periphery of making great wines are beginning to produce top quality wines, said Russell Stone, a wine expert at Edgewater Liquors.
He has his eye on some areas of France that are now coming into their own as wine producing regions. He's not talking Burgundy, Bordeaux or Champagne these days. He's talking a little further north, in the LeDuc-Frouin area.
He offers a 2009 Chateau De La Negly white for $45.
"This was once a backwater area, but now they are making fantastic wines that rival the old vines from the established areas," Stone said.
The importer that goes for these wines, Jeffrey Davies, is an importer/distributor to watch because Davies finds unusual wines from small artisan wineries and imports them, Stone said.
On this side of the pond, the Napa area of California has been a go-to for Cabernet Savignon, although they are often priced out of reach, Stone said.
"These wines are $80 to $100 and up to $200 and more for a bottle of wine—whatever the market will bear," Stone said.
Stone feels the price is ridiculous.
"At most, it can cost $10 to get a wine to market, but seeing a 200 percent or more markup is just greed and keeps good wines off the table," he said.
The magic is finding a wine that has the properties of those pricey wines but is more reasonably priced.
Stone says he has found that wine. It's a red, from Mount Eden Vineyards, in the Santa Cruz mountain area. For $35, the Domaine Eden Cabernet Sauvignon is a value, especially after being rated a 90 by Food and Wine magazine.
Mount Eden also has a slightly pricier Estate Cabernet at $65.99, but Stone suggests that the wine at half the price is one that will beat out a lot of other wines. Both are 2007 vintage.
Stone suggests decanting these Cabernets before drinking.
For a good value hostess gift, Stone suggests Prosecco, a white sparkling wine that, at $14.99 is a great deal.
Stone said that a lot has happened in France, between a steep estate tax, or death tax, and climate changes that hurt the old vine areas, including Champagne. Prosecco is a decent sparkling wine, especially when Champagne from the Champagne region has priced itself out of reach for most at $100, $200 or even up to $2,000.
So talk to your favorite wine store expert and give them a price range. They'll help you find something terrific to give, or even just to buy for yourself to serve with christmas flowers france dinner.
Happy shopping!
christmas flowers france blogs
Kristina Dragomir Hats
Artistic hats are executed on frames made by the renowned UK Royal House specialists, with the finest and most exotic materials purchased in London, where the designer actually learned her craft: this is a fantasy world where women have no limits. A meeting for a unique hat made by Kristina Dragomir and a chance to hear her styling advice is available by appointment only from 18.30-21.00, Monday to Friday.
Mihail Kogalniceanu 51, 2nd floor, access code 11.
Madame Briolette
A window full of heads wearing hats, berets and caps on Magheru Boulevard heralds a store with modest interior design, but this means little given the shelves of hats waiting to be tested. Besides fur hats made in Poland or Ukraine, the multitude of felt options and classical models in many colors are created in Romania. Hand-knitted hats and shawls from Hunedoara villages and plenty of colorful leather gloves are among the many other accessories. And all at very affordable prices.
Briolette du Cinema, Magheru 29, corner with Biserica Amzei; Briolette Boutique, Ion Campineanu 12.
Musette
A classic feminine look and comfort, designed by an Italian team, is what characterizes the Romanian-based footwear brand Musette. Bags, clutches and belts, defined by color and style, are also produced under the same name. Cristhelen B is Musette’s premium brand for woman, an exclusive line produced in limited editions. For men, the Giannini line of shoes and accessories are made to the same high standards of quality and affordable prices.
Calea Victoriei 114, Baneasa Shopping City, Bucuresti-Ploiesti 26, Bucuresti Mall, Calea Vitan 55-59, Unirea Shopping Center, Piata Unirii 1, Cotroceni Park, Bd. Vasile Milea 4. office@musettegroup.ro.
Nissa
A one hundred percent Romanian apparel brand for women with a modern-classical style in keeping with the latest international trends, but a very good price/quality ratio. There is a network of shops, most of them in malls, but also a flagship store close to Piata Romana (B-dul Dacia 39, Mon-Sat 9.00-20.00, Sun 10.00-18.00).
Unirea Shopping Center, AFI Palace Cotroceni, Cora Pantelimon, Centrul Comercial Feeria-Baneasa, Centrul Comercial Orhideea.
Pierrot
Interior and garden decorations, gift ideas and Christmas decorations all under one roof. This store stocks beautiful objects, carefully put together and inspired by various traditions. They bear the names of famous interior design companies from Italy and Germany such as Wald, Shan, Hoff Interieur and Drescher, found exclusively at Pierrot. The product range is wide, from items such as porcelain from the exclusive Villar collection, inspired by the Italian baroque, to affordable products, both contemporary and traditional. The store is a rich source of gift ideas from scented candles and Swarovski crystals, to traditional Christmas decorations.
Intr. Biserica Alba 1.
Sepala
The footwear brand Sepala, Mihaela Glavan’s high-end line, embraces minimalism. Shoes are simple, with well-defined cuts and cutouts. The must-have of the A/W collection are the over-the-knee boots and high platform shoes going for a sexy look in parallel with the low biker-inspired boots. Sepala Kids and RSM for men make the shopping experience one for the
family.
Benjamin Franklin 9, (Atheneum area). Mon-Fri 10.00-22.00, Sat 10.00-17.00.
The Place Concept Store
The first fashion concept store in Romania is a versatile space mixing luxury and avant-garde fashion collections with the hottest music labels, modern art exhibitions, high-tech gadgets and chic events. The on-trend labels found here include Azzedine Alaia, Oscar de la Renta, Rick Owns, Gareth Pugh, Jil Sanders, Alexander Wang and Sonia Rykiel.
Calea Dorobantilor 102-110. Mon-Fri 10.00-20.00, Sat 10.00-18.00.
Trend’s by Adina Buzatu
A touch of refinement and an interwar atmosphere grace the first boutique covering mainly men’s apparel. Shoes from Ortigni, Magnanni and Bensimon, Albert Thurston braces, Borsalino hats, an impressive collection of cufflinks and ties are all on offer. From the classic casual and elegant designs of Messagerie to the progressive Babette Wasserman, the pieces are versatile and easy to match. But if you are not sure, do not hesitate to ask the owner, who is always pleased to help style you.
Calea Victoriei 83-85 (Downtown boutique), Baneasa Shopping City, ground floor.
www.adinabuzatu.ro.
Venera Arapu
A mono-brand store with a distinctive signature on the interior design, fashion designer Venera Arapu brings a range of clothing from evening gowns to shirts and coats, all dedicated to strong and non-conformist women, yet endowed with refinement and elegance. A special surprise comes from the Vitrina pieces created and manufactured under the designer’s direct supervision by students of the Bucharest Fashion Design Faculty.
Banu Antonache 59.
No comments:
Post a Comment