Scheider's is my local. Where do you buy wine in Washington, DC??

capitolhill

MacArthur Liquors on MacArthur Blvd.
Circle and Calvert Woodley on Connecticut Ave.

PH

And tell me, PurpleHaze, do you shop there because it is more convenient or because you prefer the price or selection or ???

I love our consultant at Schneider's and find that I never think of going elsewhere, though of course I read the C-W ads in the Post regularly.

capitolhill,

MacArthur Beverages is by far my favorite. I find their pricing significantly lower than Schneiders, and they are very strong in the wines I prefer. Tuscany, Piedmont (their Italian section is the best in town by far) Bordeaux & Rhone. They are good in domestic reds and decent in German/Australian. I find their consultants to be honest and knowledgeable. Oh, and the owner is a client of mine, and she'd kill me if I went anywhere else!

PH

You make an excellent point. I suppose I tend more toward French wines than Italian. MacArthur Liquors is out of my orbit and the next time I'm in the area, I'll stop and take a look. I can't remember the last time I was in there. Do you have a favourite wine consultant or do you just pop in and help yourself, so to speak?

captiolhill,

They are all, without exception, quite knowledgeable. For Bordeaux, see Mark. Burgundy, Joe. Italian, Tom or his assistant Tim. Domestic red and sparkling, Andy. Rhone, Steve. Another employee Kat (Katherine?) is quite pleasant and knowledgeable. She is an assistant sommelier at Citronelle. I have found that these people are quite good outside their areas of expertise, and have gotten good recommendations from each of them in areas outside their "turf". I'd be interested in your feedback after you pay them a visit.

PH

CH,

I have found the following: Schneider's strongest in town in Aussie wines, probably Spanish wines, and, perhaps, in US wines (except Dean and Deluca in Gtown). Calvert-Woodley is stongest in town in Rhones and, to a slightly lesser extent, Burgundy and Bordeaux. MacArthurs is strongest in Italians, and very good on most other areas of Europe. Circle often has good prices on weird, rare wines. Pearsons a smaller, but well thought out selection and a great case discount (25%).

Regarding service, Calvert-Woodley recs are not always so good. Circle doesn't really have service. Pearsons is decent. MacArthurs I don't have enough experience with to judge. Schneider's is probably the best, but also quite biased toward wines that they import directly.

just my $0.02,
a

"What contemptible scoundrel stole the cork from my lunch?" -- W.C. Fields

I find prices at Schneider's to be a little on the high side, though I like their selection and service.

CW's prices are sometimes quite good, and the selection is also quite nice.

For the fellow cheapskates out there, Costco in Pentagon City occasionally offers some great deals.

World Market at various locations also offers some good deals.

A friend of mine, who lives in the area, was just telling me last night that he likes a little shop in the Watergate Hotel for inexpensive french wines. I don't know if that's one of the ones you mentioned or not.

"...You are in my blood like holy wine,
You taste so bitter, and so sweet.
I could drink a case of you,
And still be on my feet,
And still be on my feet..."

I do most of my shopping at C-W, but really like Rodman's, too. Their prices can be very nice.

Not DC but close:

The Wine Cabinet, Reston Town Center - Reston, VA. Not a cheap place to buy, but an interesting and eclectic selection by owners who are passionate about wine. I let the owner pick a 6 pack of wines I've never tasted 3-4 times a year and have been pleasantly surprised each time.

PH

Plain Old Pearson's is my favorite... Wish it was closer to DC. I like that they have about 30 wines open to taste about every day.

Yesterday, today and tomorrow.... 30% off sale. Anyone lend me some cash?