| I'm not a wine connoisseur. I don't even
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| | subscribing to that store's newsletters
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| own a decanter. (Some of my married
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| | or joining its tasting club. Often,
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| friends own several.)
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| | stores send out special deals and
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| But I like wine, especially trying
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| | offerings to these customers first.
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| different kinds. There are tons of
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| | A special fifth category is convenience.
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| resources out there to help you learn
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| | This matters especially when you're
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| about wine. But I don't have time to read
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| | buying in bulk, or if you are looking for
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| them. So I learn by doing, or . . . by
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| | a quick pick-up on the way home from
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| drinking.
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| | work. It's good to know where several
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| My only problem is knowing which bottle
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| | good stores are in town, so that you'll
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| to pick. If you put me in a wine store
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| | know which one to hit whenever the
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| with over a thousand bottles, I either
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| | feeling strikes.
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| need a sommelier or a psychiatrist.
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| | Here are my picks (in no particular
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| I usually start by studying the notes
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| | order) for great wine stores in Kansas
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| that hang by the bottles. The ones with
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| | City:
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| names attached to them like Wine
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| | 1. Cellar and Loft. Located in Brookside,
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| Spectator or Robert Parker or Bill, the
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| | this little shop is much more than meets
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| stocker. I contemplate the pictures and
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| | the eye. The upstairs is the "Loft," a
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| colors of the label. I analyze the
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| | showplace of new and antique home
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| pricing structure and weigh costs and
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| | furnishings and décor. Downstairs, you
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| benefits. Then after an hour or so, when
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| | can wind your way around "Cellar," a
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| I'm completely frustrated, I make a
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| | labyrinth of sorts with a good variety of
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| completely arbitrary decision.
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| | wines, beers, gourmet foods, kitchen
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| So I've come to this conclusion. I need
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| | items, and more. 112 W 63rd St, Kansas
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| help. And, since my shrink has his
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| | City, MO, (816) 444-2444.
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| limits, I need to find a wine store with
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| | 2. Cellar Rat. This unique boutique in
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| people who can help me through the
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| | the Crossroads is the anti-superstore of
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| process of buying a good bottle.
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| | wine. Cellar Rat prides itself on
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| All wine stores are not created equal.
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| | offering a hand-picked selection with
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| Here are some of the factors to think
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| | personalized service. Cellar Rat's
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| about when choosing a wine store:
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| | restored building is impressive itself.
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| 1) Selection
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| | The 5,000-square-foot shop at also
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| Don't be fooled. Having thousands of
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| | carries artisan beers, gourmet meats,
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| bottles is not the same as having a good
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| | cheeses, spirits, cigars and chocolates.
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| selection. Many large liquor stores
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| | 1701 Baltimore Ave., Kansas City, MO
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| stockpile wine with labels that are
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| | (816) 221 9463.
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| heavily advertised and sold with the
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| | 3. Vino 100. If you are in South KC, you
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| largest discount. You may walk into a
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| | should check out Vino 100. Vino 100's
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| store and think you've got thousands of
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| | concept is to offer over 100 bottles of
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| choices, but all you really have is same
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| | wine for $25 or less. The store is
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| bottles repeated over and over.
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| | well-organized and the also offers a
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| What makes a good selection? Look for a
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| | unique selection of cigars, single-malt
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| store: (1) with a knowledgeable wine
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| | scotch, cognacs, port, smoking
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| buyer and (2) with a variety of tastes,
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| | accessories and wine gifts. 13135 State
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| regions, and prices. A good selection
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| | Line Road, Kansas City, MO, 64145 (816)
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| will offer both wines that are familiar
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| | 941-VINO (8466).
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| and unique. Why is selection important?
| |
| | 4. Lukas Liquor / The Wine Bar. If size
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| Think of it as playing the odds. You're
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| | matters to you, Lukas Liquor bills itself
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| much better off choosing from a few
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| | as the midwest's largest merchant of fine
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| hundred wines tasted by a knowledgeable
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| | wines, spirits, and malt beverages. It
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| buyer than from several thousand that
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| | has recently expanded by adding the Wine
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| were trucked en masse.
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| | Bar, which offers cooking classes, event
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| 2) Storage
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| | space for corporate teambuilding or
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| If you walk into a store and start to
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| | meetings, and regular wine and liquor
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| sweat, turn around. Wine should not be
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| | tastings. 13657 Washington Street, Kansas
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| stored at temperatures over 80 degrees,
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| | City, MO 64145, (816) 942-8707.
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| or it will lose its flavor. That's why
| |
| | 5. Rimann Liquors. No matter where you
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| wine is usually made and stored
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| | are in Kansas City, there is likely a
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| underground. Avoid large warehouses where
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| | Rimann Liquor nearby. Stores are located
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| the temperature may be hard to control.
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| | in Lenexa, Prairie Village, and most
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| Seek out a wine store where the workers
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| | recently, in Briarcliff. For three years
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| are happy wearing sweaters in the summer.
| |
| | in a row, Food & Wine Magazine named
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| It's likely that the wine will be
| |
| | Rimann in its list of "Top Wine Shops in
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| well-cooled and happy too.
| |
| | America" based on selection, service and
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| 3) Information
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| | advice. Briarcliff: 4155 North Mulberry,
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| A good wine store is a good source of
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| | Kansas City, MO 64116, (816) 587-3399;
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| information. Don't be afraid to ask a lot
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| | Prairie Village: 3917 Prairie Lane,
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| of questions and seek out staff
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| | Prairie Village, KS 66208 (913) 236-5311;
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| recommendations. Many stores in Kansas
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| | Lenexa: 15117 W. 87th St. Parkway Lenexa,
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| City offer wine tastings, which are a
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| | KS 66219 (913) 492-1604.
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| great opportunity to try before you buy.
| |
| | 6. Ensimnger Liquors. Ensimnger offers a
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| 4) Price
| |
| | variety of wine personally selected by
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| Of course, wine prices vary widely, and
| |
| | its proprietress, Judy Ensminger. It's
|
| I've never found one store that's
| |
| | Judy's belief that "there are no bad
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| consistently cheaper. Even the big
| |
| | wines, just different wines for different
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| discount shops are not always money
| |
| | events." 11052 Quivira Road, Overland
|
| savers. After you've found a store that
| |
| | Park, KS 66210 (913) 469-9006.
|
| you like based on the other three
| |
| | is Kansas City's exciting new online
|
| factors, you can save money by
| |
| | restaurant guide. Eat. Drink. Taste KC!
|
