Riesling. Pinot noir. Shiraz. Zinfandel.
Sound like a foreign language? Don't worry, you're not alone - and with the help of a friendly mom-and-pop wine stop on Mill Avenue, you don't have to be in the dark anymore.
With a knowledgeable, passionate staff of wine enthusiasts, Vinoteca caters to every type of clientele. Whether you've tasted your way through the vineyards of France or have yet to sip a wine that didn't come from a box, you'll feel right at home here. The store specializes in eclectic wines you're not going to find at the local supermarket - and at affordable prices to boot.
Not sure if you're an earthy, full-bodied red zinfandel person or a fruity pinot gris person? Not a problem. For $5 to $7 you can taste 10 to 15 unique wines and get a free lesson on finding the right wine for you at Vinoteca/Caffe Boa's monthly wine tastings. The tastings are usually the second Tuesday of every month, with this month's on Oct. 7. The August tasting drew a crowd of 150 people, half of who were under 30, says Vinoteca employee Brian Bergeron.
Since owners of Mill Avenue's Café Boa, Jay and Christine Wisniewski, opened the store in May, students have been pouring in. About half of the patrons "have been enjoying wines for years," and the other half are just "the kid walking down the street," says Bergeron, an ASU graduate.
Considering that younger generations across the nation are consuming more wine, this isn't surprising. A March 2003 Scarborough research study of the wine industry found that 25 percent of wine purchasers are between the ages of 21 and 34. Wine consumption is also on a rise as a whole. The study also found that more than one-third of adults over 21 years old have purchased wine in the last three months.
"[Wine] is just a great beverage," 30-year-old Bergeron says. "Better wines are being made for a better price. It's not your grandfather's Bordeaux anymore."
The most popular wines among younger people are merlots and shiraz, says Bergeron, but he encourages amateur wine drinkers to experiment with as many varieties as they can, starting with the classics like cabernets and chardonnays. "After that, your palette will tell you what you like," and then you can move on to different regions.
"It's just like anything else - experience, experience, experience," Bergeron says. "Other places can be intimidating, but we're just your friendly neighborhood bottle shop. If you have $8 in your pocket, I'm going to help you get the best bottle for your money."
Wine tasting, Café Boa. 709 S. Mill Ave., Tempe. 6-8 p.m. $5 to $7. 968-9112.
At the walk-through tasting you'll be treated to a progressive selection of wines - lightest body to fullest body - from different growing regions around the world. Perhaps you'll take a liking to the South African cabernets, or maybe you'll prefer a "chardonnay with attitude." The Vinoteca staff is there to make sure that your palette's every desire is fulfilled.
If you've never been to a tasting before, you're probably picturing a hoity-toity group of old men standing around swirling and spitting as they discuss their latest yacht vacations. But fear not, because at Caffé Boa "there's not elitism or snobbism," Bergeron says. "Taste it just like you're going to drink it at home. We're not going to correct anyone."
After the mingling, sipping and eating on Caffé Boa's patio, you can head next door to Vinoteca and pick up your favorite bottle at a 10 percent discount. With prices ranging from $4.99 to $49.99, Vinoteca prides itself in offering great wines at reasonable prices.
"We try to find the best value that's affordable to everyone, from students to professors," Bergeron says.
Reach the reporter at jaime.schneider@asu.edu.
