Celebrate California Wine Month | Dig Lounge

Dig Lounge would like to welcome Erin McGrath to it?s family of fine contributors. Erin hails from the wine and spirits industry and is especially geeky when it comes to e-Commerce and online wine retail. In her first story, she explores the perfect wine shops and bars to sample California wines. September is California Wine Month, and the perfect pairing for such a drink-local-celebration is a visit to your neighborhood indie wine shop to stock up. With fantastic, unique selections, tasting bars at the ready and hip, in-the-know owners, you?ll find that these L.A. spots are more mom ?n pop than BevMonster.

Buzz Wine and Beer Shop, Downtown
460 S. Spring (at 5th St.); (213) 622-2222

Finally, the downtown L.A. renaissance includes a fabulous wine and beer store. Fed up with the lack of wine retail options in their neighborhood, buddies and fellow restaurant industry vets Scott Kamalski and David Bakhshi created a shop for downtownies, geeks and the generally curious. Boasting over 4,000 bottles of wine as well as a large and carefully chosen beer selection (bottle and keg), the corner of 5th and Spring just got boozier. California wine selections include superstars like Melville, LIOCO, Alma Rosa and many others. Open until 2 a.m. daily, the shop even rents monthly wine storage lockers for those fancy personal collections.

Drink This: Kunin 2009 ?Pape Star? Rhone-Style Blend (50% Grenache, 25% Mourvedre, 25% Syrah), Santa Barbara County. $23

Monopole Wine, Pasadena
21 S. El Molino; (626) 577-9463

There?s so much more to Pasadena than Old Town. Just a few miles east, the PlayhouseDistricthas seen an influx of businesses setting up shop in the area?s beautiful, historic buildings. MonopoleWine opened its doors just a year ago in a 1920s-era space, a fitting setting for its discerning, reasonably-priced wine selection. It?s here that one can find a unique wild yeast California Roussanne as well as a buttery, new-world style Chardonnay. The cozy tasting bar serves pours by the taste or glass daily with specialized flights changing weekly. Food trucks ? including Pie ?n Burger and Flatiron ? park outside the shop on Thursday nights for Mad Music Thursdays. A Flatiron pork burger with that Syrah? Indeed.

Drink This: Kukkula 2009 ?Vaalea? White Rhone-Style Blend (Roussanne, Viognier, Grenache Blanc), Paso Robles. $16

Silverlake Wine, Silverlake
2395 Glendale Blvd.; (323) 662-9024

SilverlakeWine is now an L.A. wine institution for its reliable wine selection and awesome staff. Not only do their weeknight tastings rock (Let?s Be Frank parks a cart outside on Thursdays to boot!) but Sunday tastings are a must-do, at least once in a while. At 3 p.m., this more structured event kicks off with bites to match each wine in the flight, which is focused on a certain producer or region. Heirloom L.A. frequently caters, serving everything from whole grilled Halibut to delicious lasagna cupcakes. All for $20 a person. No kidding. The shop boasts a really interesting wine selection ? at all price points ? including California wines from some of the state?s best producers. Even shop alum Matt Kaner?s own wine, AMFM, is sold here.

Drink This: Homefire 2007 Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley. $13.75 (*includes tax!)

Mission Wines, South Pasadena
1114 Mission St.; (626) 403-9463

Mission Wines is the best reason to make the trek to South Pas (well, the best wine-related reason.) Owned by renowned sommelier Chris Meeske (Charlie Trotter?s, Patina Group) the selection is, in a word, insane. The small space is crammed with excellent choices at every price point ? the $10 and Under ?wall? has yet to disappoint, and the floor selections include recognizable names as well as cult wines from just about every region worldwide. The Saturday tastings are usually crowded, with regulars taking up most of the space at the small tasting bar ? so get there early and taste five wines for $15 (or $10 with the purchase of any bottle.) Tip: All purchases on Tuesdays are tax free!

Drink This: Breggo Cellars 2009 Gewurztraminer, Anderson Valley. $22.99

DomaineLA, Hollywood
6801 Melrose Ave.; (323) 932-0280

What started as an online wine retailer (domaine547.com) is now a brick ?n mortar, and proprietor Jill Bernheimer?s eclectic assembly of wines appeals to every palate. Tastings are always awesome ? recently DomaineLA hosted Alice Feiring, wine writer and author of ?Naked Wine? for a book signing and tasting centered on natural wines. Test your know-how at this month?s event on September 18 ? a blind tasting of 12 different wines that range from $22 to $200 per bottle. ($25/person, more info here.) Tip: Take a DomaineLA bottle to Susan Feniger?s STREET at no corkage fee.

Drink This: Sherman and Hooker?s NV ?Shebang? Red Blend, Sonoma County, $12; or Broc Cellars 2010 ?Carbonic? Carignan, Alexander Valley. $23.

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Source: http://www.diglounge.net/wine/celebrate-california-wine-month/

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