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If you listen to Boston wine shop owners' wish lists for 2010, you'll start to sense that the year to come will be an even stronger year for the consumer than the year that's just passed.
Owners will be focusing on the elements that enhance consumers' wine experience, like education, value, and experimentation. Throw in some advice on building private collections and a focus on "real wine," and you've got one stupendous year on tap for wine lovers in Boston.
Cheers to you!
WHO: Kerri Platt, Owner
WINE SHOP: The Wine Bottega, 341 Hanover Street, Boston
WHAT SHE HOPES FOR 2010: We'll find new ways to present wines to people, and we'll develop more interesting forms of education. We need to find more ways to engage people, because you can't just do the same things you've always been doing.
WHO: David Gordon, Vice President
WINE SHOP: Gordon's Fine Wines & Liquors, 894 Main Street, Waltham
WHAT HE HOPES FOR 2010: I think people will continue to see better selection and better access to cool and nichey products. If you're ever going to start to collect wine, now is the time. I'd like to see a younger demongraphic start to build up cellars, so they'll have something to go to when they want to pop that perfect bottle.
WHO: Howie Rubin, Owner
WINE SHOP: Bauer Wine & Spirits, 330 Newbury Street, Boston
WHAT HE HOPES FOR 2010: I think people will continue to experiment with their wines. They'll look for more real wine, produced by families rather than corporations. They'll also continue to get more value for their dollar, especially when they see that you can get a great Carmenère from Chile for the same price you can get most supermarket wines.
WHO: Tom Prince, Owner
WINE SHOP: Panzano Provvisto et Vino and Tomasso Trattoria, 154 Turnpike Road, Southborough
WHAT HE HOPES FOR 2010: We're planning to focus more energy on education. In the past we focused more on tastings for people who knew what the wines were, but this year we'll focus more on basic education, particularly on Italian wines. We're developing a coherent curriculum that will continue throughout the year.
WHO: Lisa Miller Ryan, Owner
WINE SHOP: Brookline Liquor Mart, 1354 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston
WHAT SHE HOPES FOR 2010: We want to continue to educate younger consumers. We'll hold onto the more eclectic wines of the BLM inventory but we'll also reevaluate to make the inventory more value-oriented in general.
WHO: Klaudia Mally, Owner
WINE SHOP: BRIX Wine Shops, 1284 Washington Street and 105 Broad Street, Boston
WHAT SHE HOPES FOR 2010: That customers will take advantage of educational opportunities like free tastings and classes that are also available.
WHO: Len Rothenberg, Owner
WINE SHOP: Federal Wine & Spirits, 29 State Street, Boston
WHAT HE HOPES FOR 2010: He hopes to see the decline and fall of the Euro so that he can go to France and Peter can sell Italy.
A little perspective never hurt anyone.
Which is why we've asked around -- to wine shop owners and the professionals who work there -- to tell us which trends were most outstanding and meaningful to them in 2009.
You may be surprised by their answers. (We were.)
We also asked them about their wishes for 2010, that is, what they'd love to happen in the coming months when it comes to wine in Boston. Keep an eye out for those, in your Inbox tomorrow.
What both of these mini-polls amount to is a snapshot of wine in Boston. It's what we try to do every day. But today and tomorrow, we're doing it with a little more perspective.
WHO: Kerri Platt, Owner
WINE SHOP: The Wine Bottega, 341 Hanover Street, Boston
WHAT SHE NOTICED IN 2009: People are looking for the stories behind the wines, and they're looking for more educational opportunities. Wine is part of the movement to eat local and organic foods -- even if the wine isn't local, it can still be small-production, real wine. Looking for value at all price points actually makes for a better wine experience.
WHO: Howie Rubin, Owner
WINE SHOP: Bauer Wine & Spirits, 330 Newbury Street, Boston
WHAT HE NOTICED IN 2009: 2009 was the year of the consumer. People were shopping smart, sticking to their budget, and wanting good-quality, real wines for their dollar. Throughout the year we also saw the erosion of higher-end wines. Wine has become more of a lifestyle than something to put on a pedestal.
WHO: Klaudia Mally, Owner
WINE SHOP: BRIX Wine Shop, 1284 Washington Street and 105 Broad Street, Boston
WHAT SHE NOTICED IN 2009: It was a year for experimentation and for building relationships. People are getting back to the basics and taking the time to know and trust their local merchant. Maybe we'll exercise their palates and introduce them to a new grape or an unfamiliar region, but they see our enthusiasm for the wine and they're open to trying new things.
WHO: Tom Prince, Owner
WINE SHOP: Panzano Provvisto et Vino and Tomasso Trattoria, 154 Turnpike Road, Southborough
WHAT HE NOTICED IN 2009: People seem to be more comfortable with unusual varietals and unique locations, and more people looking for everyday bargains that they can drink casually. The make-up of inventory on our shelves is totally different than it was a year ago. Today you'd be hard-pressed to find wines over $20, whereas a year ago you were hard-pressed to find wines under $20.
WHO: Len Rothenberg, Owner
WINE SHOP: Federal Wine & Spirits, 29 State Street, Boston
COMMENTS: He hopes he's seen the bottom of the economic wine barrel.
WHO: Lisa Miller Ryan, Owner
WINE SHOP: Brookline Liquor Mart, 1354 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston
WHAT SHE NOTICED IN 2009: Liquor stores in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts held their own in 2009. The new government regulations -- including the 6.25% tax on alcohol and rulings on shipping -- were helpful in some cases (within the boundaries of the Commonwealth, for example) but harmful in others.
WHO: David Gordon, Vice President
WINE SHOP: Gordon's Fine Wines & Liquors, 894 Main Street, Waltham
WHAT HE NOTICED IN 2009: It was a great year for value as well as for having better access to higher-end products. You saw great deals out there for really good product, plus the nichey, high-end stuff has jumped down in price point. It's become more accessible. 2009 was a reality check for a lot of brands that have been charging a lot of money for perceived value.
