After frequenting the same grocery store for over three years, I was almost brought to tears of happiness and disbelief one day after I heard someone say, “Hey Caro! How are you doing?” Now, this wasn’t just anyone. It was an EMPLOYEE!!!! An EMPLOYEE recognized me, used my first name and made me, for the first time ever since living in this town, feel like I actually existed while shopping for groceries. I have ranted with my best friend in the past about how sad it is that we go the same places and do the same things EVERYDAY, yet we rarely make connections with the people we see “in passing.” And my rants were well-founded because I was beaming for at least an hour after this friendly, personal exchange from someone who noticed me as a regular customer.
Now, sure. It did happen to be wine guy, but I don’t think that matters. I mean, I am a self-proclaimed wine snob(1) of sorts. Oh, and beer snob. And as such, I have spent some time in the wine aisle. But I had also spent some time hanging out at Bel Air on Thursday nights.
Ah, Thursdays. Remember when you were in college and Thursday night was THE night?? Who has parties on Fridays when they could on Thursdays? Yep! Well, Thursday nights are back, ladies and gentlemen! They are back and appropriate for us [insert age decade here]-haven’t-been-an-undergrad-in-quite-some-time-somethings. Or maybe the fact that I get excited about this just shows how lame I am on weeknights. (But you should SEE me on weekends!!!)
Well, the real reason that Ron the Wine Guy (holla!) knew my name is because 1) he’s got an AMAZING memory 2) he actually cares about getting to know his clients 3) he’s a really great guy, and 4) he sees us frequently for the Thursday Night wine tastings at the cafe in Bel Air. (I actually don’t run into him that much in the wine/beer aisle.)
Now, this applies to some of the local Sacramento Bel Air and Raley Markets, as detailed in this press release from earlier this year. Live elsewhere? I suggest that you check your local Bel Air or Raleys (or Nob Hill if you’re in the bay area) because many of these stores do these wine tasting events. Here’s how it works in the Sacramento area stores.
From 5:30-7:30pm on either Thursday or Friday (depending on your store), the store will do a winetasting with one of the distributors of a winery. Usually they’ll taste around 5 bottles total (sometimes more) from one or more wineries. Each flight costs $3. With this $3 you get the flight of wines being tasted, appetizers made freshly at the deli (they usually are quite unique and delicious), and a $3 coupon off your next “wine purchase”(2) of $10 or more. The coupon lasts for a month from the date of purchase, so if you might break down and buy a bottle of wine within the next month, that winetasting you had (and appetizers) was money well spent!! Additionally, if you like beer, they will sometimes do a beer tasting along with the wine tasting (see March 11). Now this is another $3 fee, but you get the same coupon and they’re usually tasting microbrews, which makes it WORTH IT!
I really enjoy going, and there is quite a scene there — truly, friendships have been made there and it’s interesting seeing the same people come back and eventually getting to know them through side comments/jokes and perhaps a conversation somewhere in there. Hey, I’m all about community, and I feel that it is not present most of the time so anything that resembles it makes me happy.
But, alas. It’s the Lenten season and hubby and I have tossed aside alkihol. So we won’t be able to make it to this month’s tastings, so go for us. Tell Ron we sent ya! At our local Bel Air (Bel Air – 3250 Arena Blvd. in Sacramento), Ron is tasing the following during the month of March:
March 4…………..Ghost Pines and Gascon Malbec Wines
March 11………….Chateau St. Michelle/Anatori Wines and Guinness Beer
March 18………….Matchbook Wines
March 25………….Acacia and A by Acacia Wines
The following is a list of stores in the Sacramento area that offer wine tastings on Thursdays or Fridays. Call them to see what’s on your menu:
Thursdays
Bel Air – 2760 East Bidwell in Folsom
Raley’s – 692 Freeman Lane in Grass Valley
Bel Air – 3250 Arena Blvd. in Sacramento (Natomas)
Fridays
Raley’s – 3935 Park Dr. in El Dorado Hills
Raley’s – 25025 Blue Ravine Rd. in Folsom
Raley’s – 6845 Douglas Blvd. in Granite Bay
Raley’s – 4000 Lake Tahoe Blvd. in South Lake Tahoe
Cheers!!
(1) [this is my attempt at a footnote] snob (n): one who engages in the criticism of something or others on the basis that he/she/it simply exists. But I’ll still drink bad wine occasionally, and I definitely won’t criticize wine unless it’s in the privacy of my car, home, around loved ones (usually only to the ones who didn’t bring the wine in question), or I’m put in a position when I feel it’s my duty to evaluate (i.e., winetasting). I’m no rampant snob. I keep it real.
(2) We’ve encountered different opinions about whether or not “wine purchase” meant total wine purchase, or the purchase of a $10+ bottle. Not that it matters. No one likes wine less than $10 anyway, right. 
No comments:
Post a Comment