Heights Chateu Fine Wines & Spirits located on 123 Atlantic Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11201 has been in business for 35 years. I interviewed Rebecca and she was more than glad to answer some of the questions I had. Before I part taken my interview- the exterior design of the store looked ancient and looked as if it has been around for awhile- It has a very traditional style as a first impression and I automatically felt like I had already gain the trust and confidence of leaving this store with good wine.
Rebecca developed her wine knowledge as a sommelier. She sold wine for living and therefore knew an immense amount of information about wine. With so much information about wine, where and how do I look for a particular wine? I asked her about how is wine organized in the store. Of course, Red wine and white wines are organized separately by subregions especially for Europe. Wine is also organized by the New World and Old World. New world wine is organized by grape variety, and that old world wine is organized or divided by region/appellations.
I went on and asked about what is different about their wine store compared to other wine stores. Most importantly, she emphasized the importance of cellar space. Heights Chateu has a big cellar and small cellar for wine storage that most wine stores may not have to an advantage. Most of the expensive wines are stored in these cellars and it is very rare that customers enter the premises of these cellars. Rebecca pulls out a wine directory book and showed me the different types of wines stored in these cellars. Most of them cost more than my bank account and that the most expensive wine they currently have in stock is the Burgundy red wine from Romanee County- cost $2000. Customers often times buy this wine around Christmas time. What exactly do you eat a long with this wine? She joked and went on about eating pizza, but after all it really depends on what they customer is in the mood for. More often times people just sip on it and just cherish the expensive wine taste.
Overall- the experience interviewing Rebecca was a memorable because I have never interviewed anyone about wine and at least have some knowledge of what I am asking about because I have studied wine this semester.
Shelf Talker-Â Retail for $20 and is a Nebbiolo Grape Variety from the Langhe Region from Italy.
Red Wine from Rioja Region of Spain. Grape variety is Marizuelo retail for $40.
Sparkling wine from Spain a Pinot Noir grape variety grown in Juve & Camps Estate. Retail for $17.
I had no idea that Wine is also made in Michigan. When asked about a wine that I might not know, she sped up her walking and lead me to this wine. Made by a Blaufrankisch Grape Variety from Eden Hill Vines.
When visiting Sea Grape Wine & Spirits Shop located at 512 Hudson St, New York, I came across two employees that were working there at the moment. Mark who has been working at Sea Grape for an year and a half. And Joti who has been working at Sea Grape for 3 years. Unfortunately the manager had just walked out upon arriving. But Mark and Joti were able to provide me with an abundance of information they have learned from their Manager. My very first question was, Whatâs new? Mark immediately guided me towards Portuguese Wines. Portuguese wines are one of the most newest wines they carry and are seasonal. They have wines great to drink during the summer and red wines that are great to drink in the winter due to their deep rich notes. Another new wine is Orange wine. He explained the rather complex vinification of Orange wine to me. Orange wines are oxidized which is the opposite of what we want to do during vilification. He said it is different, it is new and it is non traditional, something their customers are constantly looking for. Sea Grape are always rotating their stock with new wines to try. Thereâs not a single wine that has been there for too long. My second question was whatâs the competition like and is there any challenges Sea Grape faces? Joti immediately said that Sea Grape does not focus on competing with other local wine shops. He confidentially pointed at the ceiling with their logo, and said that Sea Grape has been here since â89 making them one of the oldest well known wine shop in the area. Not only is Sea Grape one of the oldest wine shop, they taste each and every wine that are being sold in their shop. Sea Grapes focus is to sell natural wine from small local vendors and vineyards. Mark then stated that his manager in fact faces challenges. One challenge he comes across often is wether selling a wine or not. The manager often has to put his preference and bias opinion aside which can be hard for him. Although he might love a wine from a vendor, he highly considers what his customers might like or think. My third question was, what is your bestseller? Their all year-round best seller is a rose, Vrac selling for 11.99$. Lastly do you study wine? If not how did you end up selling wine? Both Joti and Mark do not study wine. They know a lot about wine because they learn a everyday from their Manager. According to them his palate for tasting wine is godly. But after talking a bit about my major, both Joti and Mark absolutely love wine and are considering to study wine. Overall Sea Grape Wine Shop was a great experience and open to all my questions. They were able to educate me further about new trends and foreign wine.
Sea Grape Wines and Spirits
512 Hudson St, New York 10014
Shelf Talker
“This Malbec is in need of a Good Home”
Red Wine from SpainÂ
Gran Cerdo:Â Organic Red Wine from Rioja,Spain
Grape Variety: 100% Tempranillo
Sparkling WineÂ
Schilcher Frizzante:Â Sparkling Rose from Steiermark, Austria
Grape Variety: Wildbacher
Red Wine from foreign region
Casa de Mouraz Dao:Â Organic red wine from Portugal
Grape Varieties: Touriga-Nacional, Tinta-Roriz, Alfrocheiro, Jaen, Ăgua-Santa, Tinta-Pinheira and Baga
In March 2014 I was in the Oregon wine country, touring tasting and learning. Lea
rning a lot. I drove north from Salem towards Dundee, and at first I felt that the wine country was quite similar to Long Island but boy was I wrong. Yes, there were flat places and a maritime climate. Yes, there were sod farms and farm stands with local produce but that is about where it ends. What I thought were apple trees were filbert trees, where on Long Island there would be flat land at every 
turn in the Willamette Valley a turn off the road can lead up a steep hill.
The maritime climate was showing at its peak with grey skies, a deep dense fog and a constant mist and light rain. It was cool and the damp March air was heavy, blanketing the vines as they rested for the winter. I was able to just see the faint outlines of the hills that surround the valley and the pine trees that tower over head with their commanding presence. Their beauty helped make this region unique.
On Dundee hill various vineyard management philosophies were evident. At White Rose Winery: http://whiteroseestate.com/ the vines were trained very close to the ground to accommodate for the fog that often covers their vineyards. With some vines pruned and others still showing their canes the growth that takes place was evident. The pruned vines sat just inches from the ground but the canes shot up over six feet from the ground. I had seen this type of pruning before but only in books.
Just a few hundred yards away was Domaine Drouhin: 
http://www.domainedrouhin.com/en/ and Archery Summit: http://www.archerysummit.com/, their properties are adjacent to each other but their planting styles are worlds apart. At Domaine Drouhin their vines are planted very close together, spaced about three feet apart and four feet wide. This dense planting results in more vines per acre than many of the surrounding vineyards but they tend to drop a significant amount of fruit leading to similar yields per acre.
Archery is on the south side of the hill and uses wider planting and a north-south planting pattern.
This is Pinot Noir country and the wines express their sites beautifully. Though, through all this Pinot Noir I was surprised to see chardonnay on the tasting menu at Domaine Drouhin. They use a Dijon clone and have had great success in this cool maritime climate. Earlier wine makers tried to use other clones with less success, Drohin, however, shows beautifully with a balance between a crisp French style and new world expressions.
My visit to Domaine Serene http://www.domaineserene.com/ was inspired by Prof. Roger Dagorn, MS. âA must seeâ he said and he was right. I found elegance here, not only in the
wine but in the winery too. The lawn and winery are immaculate and all encompassing with a wrought iron mastodon on the lawn created by a local artist representing a time long gone. The wines I tried were the Evenstad Reserve, 2009 and 2012 Pinot Noir they had red fruits on the nose and pallet yet was beautifully spicy as well. The heat of the 2009 vintage was evident and will ensure the wine lasts for many years to come.
My last visit was to The Four Graces http://thefourgraces.com/, a wine we use in the wine class to show the style of Oregon Pinot Gris. Unlike the previous wineries the tasting room for Four Graces is on the valley floor at the edge of the town of Dundee. The tasting experience here was warm and friendly, relaxed yet intense with site specific details. Here I did not stay with only Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc from their various vineyards but of course tried their Pinot Noirs as well. Of outstanding mention was the Black Family Estate wines http://thefourgraces.com/vineyards/black-family-estate-vineyard.html. Though they are labeled as Willamette Valley they are predominately Dundee. This was among the most full body of the Pinots I tasted on this day and well worth my final stop.
As in many wine producing areas locally sourced food is of great importance. If you ever do get a chance to visit the Willamette Valley be sure to have lunch at Red Hills Market http://www.redhillsmarket.com/. Â They offer local food at great prices. The roasted ham sandwich with honey butter and melted gruyere was a treat as was the salad made with those local filberts that seem to be everywhere. Finish with a Stumptown coffee and then head back to Portland.
So, as I sit and write this post I am happy to add another wine region to my travels, another experience spent talking to people with passion and a deep understanding of their vineyards and wine. I love that in so many of the wine regions I have traveled there is outstanding locally sourced food and art that inspires. Wine has a way of bringing the best of what is available to one place and that is evident in Willamette Valley.
Joel Abreu
October 18th 2018
Wine and Beverage Management
As a student taking this class I had to visit a wine retail store where I had to ask a few questions based on the what they have in stock and how the wines are stored. From what I noticed when visiting this wine shop many different people go in and ask for specific wines of their choice which shows that people know what they want when they go in and ask for what they are looking for specifically. The most popular wines that they carry are Pinot Project or Pinot Noir from California and Underwood Pinot Noir which is Oregon Grown. Some wines are kept in barrels of wood, are oaky and have a specific grape process which reminds the local customers where they came from. The manager mentioned to me that they prefer a wine that they once tried in their hometown and has a specific taste. This specific wine company by the name of G&I Wine Spirits has days when they host for wine tasting or they market the new merchandise by placing it in a specific area where the customer would take notice of what is being marketed to the buyer. The way this retail shop stores the wine is by keeping them in the basement, but one specific way the red wine is kept in in refrigerators as oppose to white wine that isnât. the most popular wine that is carried by this company is Caymus Vineyards which come from Napa Valley and Stags Leap Wine Cellars which also comes from Napa Valley. Eddie mentioned to me that he studied and received his wine certification here in New York City. Besides the customers he says that his biggest challenge is maintaining the wine so that it doesnât go bad. he said to me he makes sure that each and every single wine is able to be sold and has not gone bad. he makes it his responsibility to make sure that the cork hasnât gone bad because it can affect the wine as the aging continues.
This is an American sparkling wine named Gruet Methode Champenoise.
this is a wine from a region I didn’t know made wine which is Australia.
This one here is a shelf talker and product from Spain.
Few weeks ago, I went to a wine store with my two friends and our assignment. We went to the one that located at 146 W 38th St, New York, NY, 10018 and name Midtown 38 Wines. It is near the herald square station. We went there on the Columbus day, but the store was not busy at that day. When we step in the store, the owner and staff was very welcoming. They were willing to help us and answer our questions. The owner introduced his staff to us to answer our question. The staff told us a little bit background and the history of the store.
The store was open five years ago, and the higher sell amount is selling around 200 bottles on a day. The target of this store is people who work around Herald square. The staff told us that the worker doesn’t need to wine certification to work there, but they have to have some wine knowledge. Also, they develop their wine knowledge by read the label of the wine and taste the wine when they have free time.
After finished talk to the staff, we talked around and take some pictures. The wines were organized either by countries or grapes variety. I took a photo of Spain red wine which call 2015 Juan Gil. It costs $13.99. This wine has been aged in French oak barrels. It has black color. It has berries and smoked flavor. This wine is good to pair with meat and smoked seafood. And then I pick a sparking wine that from California which call 1882 Korbel. It is a California Champagne and has 12% of alcohol. It is $12.99. it is mix with orange, lime, and strawberry. It is medium dry. This wine is good to pair with fruit, cheese or light appetized. The third wine I picked is call Recanati 2016 Shiraz which from Israel. This red wine costs $17. This wine has a noted of black plum, dark berry and coffee bean. It also has smoked and espresso flavor. This wine has 13.5% alcohol. This wine is good to pair with smoked meat or seafood.
Overall, the price of wines in the store are reasonable and they have different kinds countries wine. The staffs also are very nice.
Sparkling wine not from France
1882 Korbel California Champagne which contains 12% of alcohol
Red wine from Spain
Juan Gil 2015 Spain Red wine
Red wine from a region I didn’t know
Recanati Shiraz Israel, 2016
Shelf Talker
Wines are storage by grapes variety
I went to the New York Cityâs largest wine and spirit store, Astor Wines and Spirits on September 27 around 11:40 am with my 2 classmates, Mei and Preeya. Astor is on the corner of Fourth and Lafayette Streets in Manhattan. Astor Wines and Spirits has been a Greenwich Village fixture since 1946. The retail store offers a variety of liquors and wines.
When we walked in the store, there were not many customers at that time. There were a lot of workers. Most workers seemed busy. We met the sales manager Doug Yacka. We explained why we were visiting the store, and he readily helped us for our interview. My three questions were: âWhich is the most popular wine in the store? How much does the average consumer spend in the store? What is the most expensive wine?â The most popular wine was Vezzo, Pinot Grigio 2016 Italian white wine. The original price was $6.96, but it was on sale $4.96 at that time. He said Italian wines are the most popular wine. Actually, I bought and tried it. It was a dry white wine with ripe and mixed citrus flavors. I liked it. I will definitely buy it again. The average customer spends an average of $40 with 2 or 3 bottles in the store. The most expensive wine was the Petrus, Pomerol 2009 red wine. Petrus is a Bordeaux, France red wine and costs $3,499.90 at the store. He did not show us the bottle. He said the wine is stored in a chiller in the basement. Their storage facilities ensure that all temperature sensitive items are held at the correct temperature so that they are not damaged before they arrive to the consumer. He showed us the cool room that also ensures that wines are stored at the correct temperature on the sales floor. Anything requiring gentler handling is stored at 57 F in the cool room. The cool room was very impressive.
Astor Wines and Sprit is well lit, clean, and well stocked. The staff is very well trained, friendly, and fairly knowledgeable. Prices are not cheap, but selection and quality make up for it. They have free wine tasting events on the weekdays at nighttime. I highly recommend this store. It will not disappoint.
(Selfâtalker)
This self-talker is about the most expensive wine at the store. It is Petrus, Pomerol 2009. The self-talker explains about the wine description, which includes region, price, and vintage. Petrus is always an impressive Bordeaux and certainly the type of bottle that will impress collectors.
(Red wine from Spain)
Vina Bosconia Reserva, Lopez de Heredia 2005, Rioha, Spain red wine is from traditional, family-run Lopez de Heredia. This wine is practicing organic. This wine exhibits nuances of strawberry, blood orange, pomegranate, coconut, and exotic spices. This wine is aged for three years in American oak barrels.
(Sparkling wine from Hungary)
This dry white sparkling wine is from Hungary. This wine is frothing with subtle notes of honey-drizzled pear, juicy white peach, and fresh brioche aroma. When served with a heavy chill, this wine is perfect for any meal.
(Red wine from Lebanon)
These two red wines are from Lebanon. Lebanon is next to Syria and Israel. I did not know about Lebanon wines. Chateau Kafrays is the most popular wine from Lebanon.
(Cool room in Astor)
The cool room ensures that wines are stored at the correct temperature on the sales floor. Anything requiring gentler handling is stored at 57 F in the cool room.
For the Retail Beverage Shop Analysis, I decided to go to Grand Wine and Liquor. It is located at 30-05 31st Street Astoria, NY 11102. On Monday-Saturday they are opened from 9AM to 10PM and on Sundays they are opened from 12PM to 8PM. The retail shop is family-owned for over 85 years since 1993. They have a slogan Life is Grand⌠drink it up. It was the first time I ever visited this beverage shop. The place from the outside looked big so I think inside the store would be a lot wider then it was. The employee that helped me answered all the questions I had for this report and other questions I had. The store was very well organized they had banners up on the sealing, so we knew where the wines were from. Also, they had posters up of the map of every country wine was located. They have wines that start at as low as $8.99 and range to $1300. If you have their mobile app you can even place orders on your phone and they deliver the wine to your house.
Questions
âShelf Talkerâ
Red from Spain,
Sparkling wine not from France,
Red wine from a region you did not know made wine
These are the pictures of how the store looked inside and the banners on the sealing.
Astor Wine & Spirits – Retail Store Assignment
For my retail wine project, I have chosen to visit Astor wine and spirits which is located in 399 Lafayette St, New York. The reason I chose this place is because of the positive reviews online through Yelp.
Astor Wine and Spirits was established in 1946. I was not able to speak with manager as he was not available but he was kind enough to let one of his staff members give me a small tour of the place and answer some of my questions.
At first sight, the store looks intimidating as it is large and sort of overwhelming with so many wines placed in wooden shelves that you donât know where to start from. The place is very spacious compare to some other wine stores where most of the time is Once you let your first impressions through you realize that the store layout is attractively decorated and is set up to where wines can easily be found by country, region and grape varieties. When you first walk into a country section you will see signs on the shelves with the name of the different regions that produced wine. For each region the sign gives a small description of the region its representing. Then you will notice shelf talkers below each wine. The shelf talkers give a small description of the wine. The person guiding me told me that some wine stores decide not to use shelf talkers because they want to interact more with the customer but Astor Wine and Spirits decided to keep them because some customers find them very helpful.
My first question was how and where do they store the wines. One of the workers was kind enough to let me view the cellar where they store the expensive and other wines at the right temperature, 55F. I expected to go into a basement where they had some sort of fridge but instead it was a beautiful room with glass doors and wines in either wooden shelves or boxes.
My second question was if there is a new existing wine how do they introduce it to the public. He told me that they have a shelf at the front where people get to see new wines.He also informed me about their free wine tasting they offer during the week from 5pm to 8pm and Saturdays from 3pm to 6pm. They sometimes use this to introduce new wines to people as well.
My third question and 4th question was more towards their sales. I asked what country sells more and how do they keep track of it. He answered by stating that most people buy from the region of France. He also mentioned that they have a best selling shelf where they place all the wines that are the most popular which helps them keep track of what is producing the most sales.
In conclusion it was a fun and enjoyable experience to visit Astor Wine and Spirits.
“Shelf Talker” displays the name, vintage, price, and a description of the characteristics of the wine.
Red Wine: Bozeto de Exopto, Rioja is a red wine from spain from the region of Rioja.
Sparkling Wine not from France: Prosecco Treviso, is a beautiful sparkling wine from Italy, that contains pineapple, pear, and apple flavors.
Vlahiko is a red dry wine from Greece. It is from one of the coolest regions called Zitsa. The climate from this town is continental than Mediterranean.
I had to opportunity of visiting “Greenwood grape and still” located at 723 4th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11232. Recently open in 2017 this retail shop is a mix of wine and hard liquor. Every Thursday evening there is “wine tasting”, on Fridays there is “spirit tasting” and on Saturdays there is “whiskey, gin and agave tasting”. The prices to their wines are fair. After I left I did some research on the same wine in other stores and did not see a big price difference. The manager at the time Leonardo was very polite and very welcoming. Leonardo has been studying wine for over 15 years. We spoke about pricing and his advantage was that not many wine stores in his area (2 mile radius) so he feels that his prices are not based on competition but on value/quality.
Red Wine From SpainÂ
 Granija Remelluri Rioja Reserva
Country: Spain
Region: Remelluri
Vintage: 2010
Grape: 75% Tempranillo, 20% Granija, 5% Graciano
The wine has hints of hazelnut, dried flowers. It is a full-bodied wine with a strong finish.
Sparkling Wine Not From France
Collalbrigio Presecco NV
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Vintage: 2017
Grape: Presecco/Glera
This DOCG wine is perfect for mimosas, it has a yellow straw color with hints of pear, peach and honeysuckle flower.
As I was looking around the store I saw this one red wine from Argentina that interest me because I was unaware of how popular it was at the time. Mendoza accounts for 70% of Argentina’s vineyard acreage
Carmelo Patti, Melbec
Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Vintage: 2013
Grape: Melbec
This red wine has hints of strawberry, tilled soil, cherries. medium bodied with a soft finish.
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