Come home to a whole new wine world with… Come discover and find your wines… Over 750 different wines, 150 Kosher wines, 300 spirits and a great selection of cold beer. 1429 Reisterstown Rd, Pikesville, MD–21208. 410-415-5550 M-T : 10:00am-8:30pm F : 10:00am-9:00pm S : 9:00am-9:00pm Grape Expectations: § Name that Red § Summer Party

Summer Party Start the party. The ladies are arriving. Several of the fashionable ones are already here. Chardonnay’s at the center of that group. Ms. Popularity – that’s Chard. Like dry, buttery charm? Then she’s your gal – refined and stylish. Too oaky? Well, that’s what some people say. Look. Standing there is Pinot Grigio. She’s the pleasant type. Likable, from Italy. Not too sweet, though you can see she’s got major appeal. Same for her twin with the French accent, Pinot Gris. Who doesn’t love those Pinots? See Riesling? She’s here, too. You won’t find her at every gathering, though people are glad to see her. She’s so darn congenial. And, a great dinner companion. She’s one cool grape. Over there, near the Pinot twins, is White Zinfandel – she comes to a lot of these soirees. Just because. That’s why. She doesn’t have Chard’s elegance. She’s not as friendly as the Pinots. And, her personality is nothing like that of the red with the same last name. Still, White Zin gets around. She came with friends of yours who weren’t sure whether to bring her or a few liters of Sprite. So who’s still not here? Seems like the ones who with names too difficult to spell – Gewurztraminer, for instance. Go ahead, call her Gewurz. Doesn’t sound sexy, but don’t let that fool you. She’s an Alsace girl at heart – a bit fruity and flowery, though certainly no shrinking violet. You’d think she was a Spice Girl. And what about Sauvignon Blanc? She’s so refreshing: dry, crisp disposition. Not a trace of oak. Some say she’s downright herbaceous. A shame you don’t run into her much. Maybe, if you were in New Zealand, you’d see more of her. She also goes incognito at times. Ever hear of Fume Blanc? Shhh. It’s kind of a secret. Speaking of alter-egos, have you seen Vouvray? You’d be more apt to recognize her as Chenin Blanc. Her personality runs from sweet to dry. One of the original Valley girls – like Sauvignon Blanc. You know, the Loire Valley. Gerald H. Levin June 2009 Back to HomePage