D’Vines Wine Shop
Popped into D’Vines Wine Shop which just opened in the newly uppity Columbia Heights neighborhood. The shop is small but represents all of the major regions fairly well. There looked like an emphasis on Australians and there was a whole section devoted to Argentina and Chile. I asked for a recommendation on a Malbec and the employee passed over some bottles in the $20-$30 range and instead offered a bottle on the bottom shelf for $10.95. The wine, he said, was excellent for $10. I can’t wait to try it.
The shelf talkers were a nice cool drink of water in the violent wilderness that is wine bottle off-the-shelf marketing. All of the talkers were D’vines branded with their logo. Instead of showing a score that has no context and a review that doesn’t help much, the shelf talkers had four meters on them showing the wine’s body, acidity, sweetness, and intensity. At the bottom there is some food paring advice and a brief note. Here is an example snapped from the worthless camera on my cell phone.
Those of you that are into “fancy” beers, the whole back all is dedicated to craft beers stored in a cooler. You’ll find something you like there.
If you have an adequate wine store nearby, D’vines probably isn’t worth a special trip into the big, bad city. If you’re local, though, the shop is very nice for a neighborhood wine merchant.
D’Vines Wine Shop
3103 14th St NW
Washington, DC
202-234-0044
Open Daily 12-10
http://www.d-vines.com/
