Bob Fishman, owner

first growth
by Bob Fishman, Proprieter

As we start out twenty third year of business we want to reflect on how things have changed. In 1987 California had about 250 bonded wineries, and today there are over 3,000 labels just from that state. Oregon has over 400 wineries and Washington has approximately 600. Every state in the union including Alaska and Hawaii produces wines. Some states better than others though.

Our vision when we opened The Grapevine was to provide the best and most comprehensive selection of domestic wines in the area. Our goals have been met since we still do what we had set out to do. But many things have changed in the world since we opened the doors including how one purchases wine. Back then our competition was other wine shops, now it is the independent wine merchant vs the rest of commerce. Think about how many places you can buy your wines grocery stores, drug stores, convince stores, department stores, mass marketers, gas stations, internet stores, directly from wineries, just to name a few.

We have built our reputation on working with our customers on an individual basis to fit their needs. Almost every wine that we carry has been tasted to determine if it works for us or not. As a matter of fact we reject almost seventy five percent of all wines that we taste, because they do not meet our criteria. In order for a wine to be carried, we have to believe in it and it needs to be something unique or different from what else we already sell. There is no reason to carry duplicate wines that either taste the same, or are from the same area or are the same price as existing inventory.

We can intelligently talk and recommend any wine that we sell and will find the best one for you based on your price range. Gift wrapping any wine that is purchased from us is always complimentary. If you are to busy to visit us at the store just call us, email us, or fax us and we can have your order ready to be picked up or we will be happy to deliver your wine or gift baskets to your home, office or recipient. We are just a phone call away. Most importantly we value our relationships that we have with all of our customers and will do everything to make them part of our family. We stand behind our products and our service and will continue to do so as long as we are in business. Shop local, support local that is our motto.  

Since we first opened in 1987, we have offered our customers the best in fine wines, gourment gift baskets, expert advice and exceptional service.

 

2009-2010 Grapevine Gift Baskets

Our gift baskets are simply the best ones around. Since 1987 we have been the leader in the area with the most creative, innovative and amazing baskets that you can purchase. Every basket that we create is hand designed and is filled with foods and wines that are unique and thoughtful. That’s what sets us apart from the rest.

Stop by or give us a call to place your orders, you will be thrilled with our selection and products.

How Much Does A Good Wine cost?

That question comes up fairly often. I recently read an article on line and here’s a summary of what they had to say. With many grape varietals gaining in popularity, the three most sold categories at retail are Chardonnay, Cabernet and Pinot Noir. They wrote that to find something decent in today’s market expect to spend $15.00 for Chardonnay, $18.00 for Cabernet and $30.00 for Pinot Noir. While we are happy to carry those wines, we stock plenty of good wines starting at just $6.99. You name the price and we will find the best thing for you.

That said, does price equate to quality? Often it does, but not necessarily always. One of our greatest joys over the past 21 years is uncovering those hidden gems at all price levels. They are out there and it is our job to find these and bring them to you.

A wine costs more for several reasons. Mainly it is quality in the vineyards. If you have smaller yields per acre the wine will be more concentrated and richer. How careful is the winery in determining what grapes are of a quality they want to use? How much is spent on marketing the wines? Larger brands have larger budgets to promote their wines. The most important thing really is how the wine tastes. We would rather recommend a less expensive wine to someone who is just starting out enjoying wines than an expensive wine that is over their head. Stop by today or give us a call and we will be happy to find just the right wine for you. Don’t forget that you can save TEN PERCENT when you purchase a case or more of wine. 

Beer Selecton

Our beer selection is increasing every week with additions to compliment our hand chosen wines. There are so many handcrafted beers that will go nicely with your meals or just by themselves. More frequently with our dinners we are having these and they go so well with a variety of cuisines. The beers are all well chosen for their excellent qualities and flavors. We sell about 25 different beers that you can purchase by the bottle so you can experiment and see what they are all about. Just a few of the ones we stock in 4 or 6 packs are from Buffalo Bill’s, Looking Glass, Dog Fish, Rogue, Chimay, Duvel, He brew, Pyramid, Seadog, Breckenridge, Two brothers, Old Speckled hen and Left foot brewing.

Just another great reason to make The Grapevine not only your wine shop but also your beer shop and of course your gift basket headquarters.  

New Arrivals

2007 Lenore Syrah $15.99 The fruit is from the Columbia valley in Washington state and is a steal for the quality in the bottle. Medium to full bodied, spicy, rich and very enjoyable with some of the heartier Winter foods.

2007 Taz Chardonnay $17.99 We have carried their Pinot Noir before but this is the first time for this outstanding Chardonnay. It’s rich, creamy, buttery and has beautiful tropical fruit. Limited quantities that normally sell at $21.99 and will go quickly for this gem.

2005 Bass Creek Cabernet $10.99 We liked this wine so much that we included it in our gift basket selection this year. From a terrific vintage, this soft, smooth red is velvety and is reasonable for the quality.

2007 Ninety Nine Vines Chardonnay $10.99 This is the other selection for this year’s exciting giftbaskets. Crisp, great balance, with light flavors make this one that you should purchase by the case.