And here is where you find the Wine Station Self-Serve Tasting Machine
Don’t be fooled by the nondescript storefront down the shopping strip from Ru San’s on Park Road in Dilworth. The Wine Shop Dilworth is open and about to make your wine-drinking dreams easier to attain.
First off, there is the Wine Station Self-Serve Tasting Machine. I was shocked to find out that it has been in operation at this location for five years and I hadn’t heard about it. Not that I’ve been able to drink legally for five years.
Speaking of years: The Wine Shop is a family business that has been in swing for 30.
As for the wine station, wine consultant Frank Fortner informed me that this baby consists of three units, armed with eight reds and four whites on tap. “We sell more reds than whites,” he said.
I also learned that wine on tap stays fresh longer and therefore keeps the glass price down, since less wine ends up wasted.
Eight of these bottles on tap are priced in the moderate-to-popular range, which means $9-$15. Then there are the high-end reds on the far left. No matter which you choose, you have the option to pay for a taste, a half glass or a full glass.
To get going, you can buy a smart card and put a value on it, the way you would with a gift card (you’re allowed to give yourself a gift). You can reload your card with money any time — and there is no cap, to Fortner’s knowledge.
Back to the gift part: he said the smart card is a great gift for a friend if you don’t know his or her preferences. “Wine is such a mystery to most of us,” he said. “There are so many labels out there … this is another way to broaden your palate.”
The 12 wines rotate out weekly. Fortner said there is even a following of people who come every week to try the new lineup. I would like to be one of those people.
More importantly, did you notice the pink heart by some of the wines? That’s the handiwork of Leslie Hamilton, The Wine Goddess (this is the actual title on her business card). These wines are Wine Goddess Favorites.
You can find them scattered all over the store by Hamilton, who leads Tuesday night wine classes at the shop. (The classes have been temporarily on hold, so check on the status before you show up.)
Also note the free wine tastings every Friday. (Not on hold.)
Fortner said that’s one of the best benefits a wine-lover can achieve. As is establishing a relationship with a particular wine shop. As is the option of renting a wine storage locker in the back, where you can store your wine in a controlled-temperature space. The thermostat is set at 59 degrees. It’s sweater weather back there.
But on any given day, no matter what you need, you can at least follow the hearts.
With the California Pinot Noir.
With the American Other Reds.
With the Prosecco.
Photos: Katie Toussaint
Now that she has seen the light, Katie Toussaint hopes to spend her Friday here with the free tasting session. When she’s not thinking about wine, Katie edits for CharlotteFive and community news at the Charlotte Observer. Follow her on Twitter @katietoussaint.
This story was originally published October 15, 2015 at 1:00 AM with the headline "And here is where you find the Wine Station Self-Serve Tasting Machine."