Your First Wine Epiphany

[Joe L Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Joe L]

I grew up in an Italian/French family. In the 60's i remember those Chianti bottles with the straw around the base. Then there was Lancers and Reunite (on ice that's nice). Then Gallo Hearty Burgundy came and was soo good.

Years later i went into a wine store and asked for something special. The owner suggested something called Cabernet Sauvignon; I never heard of it before. He suggested Beaulieu Vineyards BV Rutherford. I could not believe what i was tasting. Everyone loved it. That SOB owner has cost me a fortune since that day, lol.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

I grew up in an Italian/French family. In the 60's i remember those Chianti bottles with the straw around the base. Then there was Lancers and Reunite (on ice that's nice). Then Gallo Hearty Burgundy came and was soo good.

Years later i went into a wine store and asked for something special.

We have to be the same age because I recall all of that and one more. Do you recall the Chianti bottles with the straw around the base and a 4 feet tall bottle neck?


Which wine store was it because I had worked in a large one on Queens Blvd. Back then it was Gold star not it is Empire. I was about 17 at the time.

[Joe L Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Joe L]

53 here Frank. I know the store you refer too, in Rego Park or maybe Forrest Hills. The store is Ace Liquors on Grand Avenue about 2 blocks off QB.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

53 here Frank. I know the store you refer too, in Rego Park or maybe Forrest Hills. The store is Ace Liquors on Grand Avenue about 2 blocks off QB.

ytes that is the one in Forest hills, Still to this day nice wines but nothing like it was back when I had worked there. We had bottles dating back to the 1800's that were priced at $10,000.

Ace is one of the places that you can still get a great deal at but I think Empire is still better and cheaper.

btw you got me by about 6 years.

[Joe L Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Joe L]

Empire has a much bigger selection. Ace gives me a discount though. Years ago I noticed they priced a Mondavi Reserve Cab Sauvignon way too low. I took three bottles to the counter. As he was ringing up the price I told him. He looked it up in his distributors book and realized the mistake.

I just bought one at the real price and got a discount ever since. That was ten years ago.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

I am not sure if it was the same place but I think my cousin Nick worked there. Now he is a wine sales man for Peerless.

[hliw Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close hliw]

First wine epiphany?

Not that long ago.....it was a bottle of St. Francis red zin....like 4th of July! I still love it, but have moved on to more sophisticated petite sirah's....I'm a HUGE fan of Vincent Arroyo's Greenwood and Rattlesnake petites...they are heavenly. I also like the Chase red zins, but among the red zins, my heart lies with my first....St. Francis