Wine Snob Strikes at is-wine

[Thomas]

Roberto, you will love this. Last night a couple come into the shop smelling of money and attitude. When I asked if I could be of service I was dismissed with a shaking head and the comment, "we'll take a look around."I could feel the end of that thought in their minds--something along the lines, "and then we'll judge if you are worthy of our patronage."

Well, they picked up two bottles of the lowest priced items we stock--good wines, but not exactly representative of the many knock-outs on the shelves. While they were "looking" a guy comes in, buys a Finger Lakes Riesling, talks a while with me about the virtues of the region, and then leaves. The couple ambles over to the NY section and the guy says, with disdain, "so you sell NY wine here!"

"I do, and I would like to show you the layout of the place, and tell you our philosophy."

As I go along, coming to the New World section, he interrupts with, "you should stock more California wine."

Me: "By whose authority should I do that?"

Him: "Well, I drink a lot of CA wine and it is good."

Me: "Good, with regard to wine, is a relative term. Besides, most CA wine I have been tasting does not fit in with our philosophy (I explain the phil. once again). We offer a second way for those with open minds to all so-called good wines."

Him: "Well, you stock NY wines, and they aren't good."

Me: "Have you tasted any of the NY wines I have on the shelf?"

Him: "Well, no, but I made a trip upstate many years ago and did not like what I tasted. You really need CA wine in here."

Me: "I need only what I determine I need. This happens to be my store, and I do not simply take orders, I taste and then buy what suits my store. I also do not like you insulting my ability to select wine by blanketing all NY as not good, even the ones on my shelf which you have not tasted."

The rest of the story winds up with me taking back the two inexpensive wines and bidding the snobby b------ goodnight.