BevMo Wines Which Should I Buy?

Posted on December 22, 2011

BevMo wines, which should I buy?

photo credit: nickdotreid

BevMo wines wines should I buy? Whoa, wait a minute! Maurice, are you actually going to talk about your arch-nemesis, BevMo?  It sounds like you are condoning shopping there.

Okay, okay, okay! Let me explain myself. I used to cringe when my mom would ask, “I’m going to BevMO, which wines should I buy?” But as time passes and I start to slowly dismount from my high horse, I have come to a new realization.

I now accept that BevMo is a leader in wine retail.  BevMo is well known for its 5 Cent sales. Who can compete with that?  What a genius marketing hook…5 Cent wines! This might be one of the reasons they have become a leader in wine sales.  All I know, is that Bevmo has mastered making wine accessible to the average person.  When I say the average person, like my mom, who drinks wine, buys wine, but doesn’t understand wine, walks into BevMo,  she feels comfortable.  BevMo is set up just like a grocery store. The isles are clearly marked, the sale items are popping out at every corner and there is so much space that one can go unnoticed.  Its a very different experience from walking into a fine wine shop where the space is cramped, one has to be a sommelier to find a wine and all the workers scrutinize your choices. BevMo has made wine shopping as easy as buying cereal. 

If my staff were to read this and think that I am supporting BevMo, they would have my head.  At the restaurant, I strive not to feature the wines sold at BevMo, Vons and CostCo.  As a wine director for a restaurant, I come from a different school of thought.  I want to turn people on to wines which cannot be found at the supermarket.  I am always on a search for eclectic and exciting wines.  Of course I need to feature some recognizable brands, however, what I recommend to the guest are the lesser known brands that are hard to find. The experience in the restaurant should be a unique experience, not one that can be reproduced at home.  Hence, I search for quality wines that cannot be found at BevMo.

Where I run into an issue is that the majority of the population does not go to my restaurant.  If we were to take a poll, we’d see that a large majority of the population will go to BevMo for their wine.  So as a sommelier, I believe that it is my duty to guide people through their wine experience.  Since the majority is not dining at my restaurant, then I have decided to go to BevMo to see what wines you should buy this Holiday season.  The season of gathering with family and friends is here, so many will be going to BevMo to stock up on wine.  Although some say the economy is on an up curve, people are still looking for values in their wine selections.  Keeping my mom in mind, I have searched for the best wines under $20. There is a lot of so-so wine, and even at 5 cents, it’s still so-so. I’ll help you get to the good stuff. Hopefully, next time my mom asks “Going to BevMo, which wines should I buy?” this article will help her in deciding.

Of course, if you have the time to stop in at Island Prime Restaurant and join Prime Cru Wine Club…Where we strive to have “Better Than BevMo Prices”. Cheers!

 

CHOICES FROM BEVMO SAN DIEGO MISSION VALLEY December 2011

WINES BELOW $10

 

Bishop Peaks Chardonnay $7.99 Special

Dry Creek Fume Blanc $8.99 Special

Graffigna Malbec $9.99 Special

Santa Rita Carmenere Reserve $8.99 Special

Root 1: Cabernet Sauvignon $9.99 Special

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

WINES BETWEEN $10-$20 

 

Albarei Albarino $13.99 Special

 

Craggy Range Sauvignon Blanc $16.99 SpecialCrios Torontes $12.99 Special

 

Dr Heyden Oppenheimer Sacktrager Riesling Auslese $19.99

 

 

 

Au Bon Climat Chardonnay $18.99 Special

 

Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir $17.99 Special

Concha y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Cabernet $19.99

 

Delas Cotes-du-Rhone $10.99 Special

 

Joseph Drouhin Chablis Domaine Vaudon $19.99 Special

 

Kaiken Malbec Ultra $18.99 Special

 

Lamadrid Cabernet Argentina $16.99 Special

 

Nine North Wine Co Twenty Bench Cabernet $17.99 Special

 

L’Oriflamme Chateauneuf-du-Pape $19.99

Qupe Marsanne $16.99 Special

Paco & Lola Albarino $14.99 Special

 

Zolo Gaucho Select Bonarda $10.99 Special

 

Querciabella Mongrana Maremma $19.99

 

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