The things we do here at ABC for our cherished guests! A couple of days ago our crack team of wine gurus gathered at our corporate office once again to taste through a plethora of wines in search of the very best and widest selection (as well as the best price) for you.

          I always say that these days, thanks to knowledge and technology, there are more great wines from more places in the world than there ever have been in the past. At this meeting, for example, we tasted Cannonau from Sardinia (delicious by the way!), Txakoli from northern Spain, Grauburgunder and Weissburgunder from Germany, Vinho Verde Rosé from Portugal, Malbec Rosé from Argentina, Pinotage from South Africa, an Italian Carménère (some say not the same grape as Carménère from Chile) and Oseleta blend, an Austrian Grüner Veltliner with a beer bottle top, and a pink Riesling from Chile. Not to mention all the usual suspects – Cabernets, Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays, Moscatos, Merlots, and Sauvignon Blancs from dozens of different wine areas and countries.

          Sometimes we refuse these wines because we feel we already have better examples of them to offer. Sometimes we feel that the price is too high for the quality of the wine offered. Occasionally we feel that the packaging and labeling is downright shoddy. But here’s the strange thing – for all I said about more great wine from more places in the world than ever before, it’s amazing how much bad or indifferent wine is still out there on offer.

          And that’s part of what we do too! We act as a buffer between the consumer and some pretty terrible wine. For every delicious bottle of vino you try from your ABC store, our wine team has had to wade through a dozen or so dogs. So what we do may sound like fun – and very often it is! – but occasionally it can be a real chore, made worthwhile only by the fact that our guests who shop at ABC can be guaranteed the best wine available from any region or grape variety at a variety of price ranges.

          Cheers to you all! Don’t forget to try a wine you’ve never had before.

Bill Stobbs, ABC Wine Supervisor

(Follow me on Twitter at abcwinebills)