WINE COUNTRY MINUTE
SAYS WHO?
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Secret Agents
April 14, 2009
Cultivating relationships with wine merchants makes a lot of sense. Having a few skilled ones at the ready who know your palate and your budget makes wine life more fun. But who helps find hidden gems such as the 11*14 Napa Valley Cab we bought last week? Only one barrel was made! Where's the next Screaming Eagle?
One answer rests in a smartly redecorated warehouse off the beaten path in St. Helena. It's home to specialty retail merchant Acme Fine Wines, brainchild of valley veterans, Karen Williams and David Stevens. In California they know the game and the players; and they have access. They've earned such a reputation for spotting new, upcoming winemakers that vintners seeking fame and fortune come knocking.
Acme matches the preferences of individual customers spread across America with its deep knowledge of little known and hard to get west coast wines, with a really keen eye for Napa Cabs. Whether a bottle or a case, they fill requests like ours: "we enjoy Quintessa meritage reds, Merry Edwards Pinots, and Cliff Lede Sauvignon Blancs, kindly hold for pickup four comparables you adore (three reds and a white) for under $240 all in."
Karen and David are down-to-earth, fair-minded realists who are easy to talk to. We've not yet found a better way to explore once-a-week California wines on our own terms.
Listed below are three stars that Acme's talent seekers have "discovered." In another Minute 00:60 we'll let you know which wines they selected based on our request.
What would you request?
888.963.0440
