Wine Shopping For All

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Wine shopping can be intimidating if, like me, you aren't a oenophile. In most wine shops the wines are on shelves arranged by region or varietals, and unless you are picking up something for a theme night at a wine club that doesn't help much with your selection. When we are considering what bottle to get, most of us are thinking about what will it taste like with grandma's lasagna, or if the wine will be alright to serve as a drink alone.

Jennifer Williams, owner of Maplewood wine shop Saint Louis Cellars, is extremely well versed in the ways of the grape, but she recognized that there was gap between the way a typical wine consumer shops and the actual wine shopping experience. Jennifer opened Saint Louis Cellars to serve customers who appreciate good wine, at a good price and want to be able to find the right wine even without years of training. The shop categorizes and arranges their wines by flavor in neat columns under banners that read: sweet, big, easy, fruity, rich, mellow, cool, bubbly, subdued and Show-Me Vines (bottles from local wineries). All you have to think about when you go through the doors is the way you want your wine to taste and head for that taste's section. All of the labels on the bottles are artfully designed and the shop also offers free gift wrapping on every bottle, which takes the edge off dinner party gift giving.

If you are looking to expand your wine knowledge or just check out some of the wines Saint Louis Cellars offers, you can stop by for a free tasting Monday through Friday from 5-7p.m. or Saturday from 10a.m.-7:30p.m. If you strive for oenophile status but need to attain it on a budget there is also the Saint Louis Cellars Wine Club. At a cost of only $35 per month, members select two bottles from the club's four monthly selections and they get tasting and food pairing notes to go along with the selections. Members are also invitated to an exclusive tasting at the beginning of every month. Williams said, "We are excited about the upcoming holiday season and we look forward to a busy fall with many wine club purchases."

Saint Louis Cellars is located at . in Maplewood. Their store hours are Monday through Friday 11a.m.-7p.m. and Saturdays from 10a.m.-7p.m. You can also keep informed about the shop's news and special events on their blog.