Are you ready for summer??? Are you ready for your kids to be out of school AGAIN? (didn’t they JUST go back?!) It might be time to load up on some wine girlfriend. Summer is actually my favorite time of year. Get togethers at the pool, having people over at the last minute for a drink outside, lazy mornings, no sports to shuffle off to and time at the lake. Now it’s the time to stock the fridge for the “last minute” drink with friend on your porch!
Winestore has been around since 2006, first opening at the Morrison Development, close to South Park Mall. Let me start off by saying one thing first. Wine stores may be intimidating if you don’t know your wine. Here’s the thing, they don’t have to be! I started out drinking Andre Spumante in college ($3.99 champagne), yes I am a cheap date and at 41, have only moved up to about a $16 prosecco. You don’t have to pay big bucks for great taste.
Matthew Hartley and Matt Snyder came up with an idea. They wanted people to have a cool,easy, non intimidating wine buying experience without having to spend a ton of money. They wanted the space to be approachable, simple, sleek and most of all, an easy experience. They wanted the average bottle to be around $12 and also wanted to guarantee to have the lowest prices in North Carolina. Winestore was born.
They partnered with Doug Frost, a master sommelier and master of wine. (This is a BIG deal to have masters in both btw) and he helped these guys learn all about wines and their different tastes, etc. You can read more about Doug here. Winestore became successful right off the bat.
Matt and Matthew’s goal was to carry wine for everyday drinking….not the wine that you are saving to drink when your kid goes off to college. They curated selections that TASTE good and are great wines at even better prices. They have 8 whites, 16 reds – and these are THE BEST reds for the money, in every store. They are also open 7 days a week. Can I get an AMEN?
And how cool is this? You can taste the wines too! Some are .50 to taste, some are $1, but how many times have you bought a bottle of wine thinking the label was pretty or it just “looked like it would be good” and the wine tasted terrible? Isn’t this so smart? AND!!!! If you mention my name at any location ( South Park, Blakeney, Lake Norman, Wilmington, Chapel Hill, Cameron Village and Mooresville) from Thursday – Sunday this week, you can get a $5 tasting card FREE! Happy tasting people!
When the pandemic hit, Winestore was considered essential, and as you can guess, business was booming. They had already set up an online store for people to buy from and always done curbside for the mom that can’t get her toddler out of the car (we have all been there). Another special thing about Winestore is that they keep your credit card on file with everything you buy on file as well. So say you loved the wine you tried last time but can’t remember, they got you covered. Or that you forgot your wallet at home, your card is already on file. BINGO. Smaller wine shops do not do this and Jack especially loves this about Winestore.
And for those of you who like a $12 but also like a $30 to possibly give as a gift (or to drink yourself), they do have a few selections in that range as well.
What I love about Winstore is that it isn’t intimidating. Jack likes how fast it is – he is in and out because they have all of his likes on file and his credit card as well. Like I said, I am a pretty cheap date and when I like something, I really like it and stick with it. I prefer sweet and light–Pinot Noir, Rose and Prosecco. My husband Jack prefers oaky chardonnays and full bodied red wines. He really knows his wine and cares more about it. Me, not so much – I either like it or don’t at first taste. Winestore is right up BOTH our alleys. Great tasting wines at even better prices. Here are a few bottles that both Jack and I recommend below – enjoy and let me know if you try one and like any of these!
First up for me was this SWIMBAD Rose. $9.99!! Yall this bottle is PLASTIC. Pools, boat rides, traveling, etc, this is the wine you need!! The Rose is delish. I am headed to Winestore to stock up next week. A new favorite of mine. They also have this in white wine as well.
Meomi is my absolute favorite pinot noir and it is $14.85 at Winestore and $23.99 at Harris Teeter. La Fage is another rose that I think is crisp, light and delicious and again, the prices at Winestore beat them all at $14.99 compared to Total Wine $17.99 and Wine.com $23.99
Snowvale Cabernet is Winestore’s best seller. It is a Cab and only $12.99 – this is one to buy by the case! Jack LOVES this one and usually I am not a cab drinker but really enjoyed this one as well.
On to the Chardonnays that Jack loves. He drank the Sea Sun at the lake over the weekend and said it was exactly how he likes his Chardonnays, oaky, buttery and more of a full bodied Chardonnay. And again, only $14.85.
The Darley is “awesome” as per Jack’s terms and he really loves the Escorlada – it is one that he buys everytime he goes in. The Darley is $29.99 and the Escorlada is $19.99.
Please go visit Winestore in one of or all 8 locations….OR order online today! You will also love everyone in the store. They are there to help and get you something you will like and come back for 😉
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