Back from vacation - fabulous feedback....and ch-ch-changes!

Like most of you, I am returning from a brief summer vacation. As we're approaching our first year in Melrose, I was able to take a few days to unwind and relax (well, as relaxing as a family vacation to Hershey Park can be!). As sad as I am for it to be over - I'm so glad to be back.

To make the return even better, this morning I read this great article which really made me so very happy; this encapsulates what our business model is, and why we want the small wine boutique shop to be an experience - not just an errand. (http://passionatefoodie.blogspot.com/2010/08/rant-best-advice-on-buying-wine.html)

Labor Day is approaching - and that means Harvest is upon us. This is probably my favorite time of year; and to celebrate - some changes are coming to the Melrose store in the next month....window displays featuring Henriot Champagne is a big switch; if you are an enthusiast of the bubbles and have not yet tried this line - I insist that you try. Speaking of windows, a plan is in the works to pretty up the windows and give us a very classic and unique outside appearance. I'd been hoping to unveil it for Labor Day, but the schedule seems to be slipping on that one..

Hours are changing as well! We are now officially open until 9pm on Thursdays - and look for Sundays to stay open until 7. We know how halftime during football season is always the time that everyone needs to run out and refresh the coolers; or maybe you've got a Sunday dinner plan and forgot that bottle of wine to bring. No worries - we're here for you.

And of course...the inventory. Not sure if you've noticed, but the last three weeks I started stocking Harvest/Pumpkin/Octoberfest beer! Dogfish, Victory, Ipswich, Sam Adams, Shipyard - just to name a few. Who doesn't love a good pumpkin ale, right? We also have Fall Ciders from Woodchuck & Harpoon for those of you looking for something other than traditional beer or wine.

In the wine department - I'm cutting down on some of the lighter Spanish white wines, and re-engaging my South African section. South Africa has some delicious and exciting wines at fabulous prices. The "bigger" wines and higher end (but still not over the top in price) are bulking up as well. It's never too early to think about holiday gift giving!

And then, there's food.... Bread is coming back on Fridays in the next two weeks! I know some of you have really missed that, so I'm happy to announce the return. I've got some great food lines that I found over the summer coming in over the next month - and best of all - they're all LOCAL. Small, artisan food producers are so much fun to find for me - -and you can feel good knowing you're part of supporting our local economy. Buy local, buy fresh -- it's not just a tagline; it's a principle and business model I work hard to follow.

My batteries are recharged - and hopefully, you will enjoy the subtle changes that are going to be happening. My wine shop is your wine shop - and it is a constantly evolving, living thing. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome, and as always - thank you for your support.

Inspired...

Today, a customer suggested I try a Live Chat here on the blog - sort of a weekly wine Q&A; some weeks there may be a topic, other weeks it may be more of a "ask anything you want to know" kind of forum.

I've got the software now, so it's just a matter of picking a day to give it a try.
Got a topic you'd like to discuss? Post it here, and maybe it will be the debut!

Cheers!

Can't Vacation? Travel the World on a Staycation...

We all know the economy can be difficult, especially when planning for vacations. So if you can't get away this summer....why not get away in the luxury of your own home? You can travel the world - and even our own state - right from your own dining room table.

You can be sitting on a veranda in Italy or Spain....lounging in the hot springs of Portugal....enjoying Paris at night. And I'm ready to show you how!

Can't get to the Vineyard?
Help yourself to a bottle of Black Dog Vineyards Chardonnay or Cabernet!

Have a night in Spain with some of our very own Tapas Mix and a fantastic bottle of Albarino or Moscabel. Perfect for hot balmy nights with a bit of spice!

Bring the flavors of France to you with Sancerre, White Burgundy, Vouvray and maybe a bit of Brie or Camembert with Carmelized Onion Chutney.

Tour California wine country by sampling Chardonnay from Napa, Sonoma, Carneros, Ynez and more. Try different varietals as well..... Viogner is one of my personal favorites!

All this is just a sampling of how you can tour the world from your home.
Come to the store and see how we're calling out wine for your very own international experience!

What's happening over the next few days...

Okay, so there's a lot going on so my wine recommendations have fallen to the wayside temporarily.

Sunday, we're having a fundraiser for Dana Farber Cancer Institute. In conjunction with Melrose Boot Camp, we're sponsoring a shopping day where 10% of our sales from the Melrose store from Sunday will be donated to DFCI via Joy Fay - who is running the Marathon and raising money for this fantastic facility. Unfortunately, in this day and age there is virtually no one that isn't affected by Cancer in some way and in some capacity -- so this is a great way to help contribute to the fight against the disease. So come by on Sunday and know that your contribution will help!

Monday, we will be part of the special that Chronicle is running on wine! So you dont' want to miss out on that...

We've got lots of tastings coming up in the next week for the holidays. I'll post more on that Tuesday.

In the meantime, here's a snapshot of our freezer and cheese case (at least how it looked as of this morning!) -- just in case you'd like to pop in at some point and indulge. Remember, we carry Dom's Sausages, Steak Tips & Ribs!

Beacon Hill Wine & Gourmet on Chronicle!

Today, the Melrose store was recorded for an upcoming episode of Chronicle that will be featuring wine and wine shops!

It was exciting, and a lot of fun - though truthfully, I'm a little nervous to see myself on television. Who really likes the way they look or the sound of their voice? But hopefully, the shop will look beautiful and I will have represented our corner of the world in Melrose fabulously.

One of the things I talked about is a feature that I hope will pick up -- did you know we offer a rack registry? Whether you're getting married, moving into a new home - or celebrating a golden anniversary, registering your wine rack is a great way to start your own private wine collection! You can schedule a private consultation to pick out your preferences -- we set you up with a web page that only you and your guests can access -- and they can shop for you. The best thing is -- duplicates are a welcome thing! Email or call for more details if you or someone you know is interested.

In the meantime, keep checking back to find out when the episode will air!

Getting married? Buying a new home? Celebrating a Silver or Golden Anniversary?

Did you know that we offer a Rack Registry?

Perfect for soon to be newlyweds who are registering for their big day....or for someone who's buying a new home and plans on throwing a housewarming party! If someone you know loves wine and you are suprising them with an anniversary party, why not register their wine rack? It's a great way to pick out gifts you know they'll love - and duplicates are always welcome.

It's easy - we set up a web page that only your group can view, complete with the products and price ranges. Either you pick out the wine in store from our inventory - or leave it up to us to choose the perfect selection! It's a great way to start your wine collection - or add to your existing one.

Email or call the Melrose shop Monday through Friday for details.

Web logging it....

So, I'm thinking about launching a weekly wine tip via video log here on the Beacon Hill blog.
Thoughts?