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Community Corner

Cheap Thrills: Wine Tasting at Solano Cellars

Come inside this cozy wine shop and enjoy half-price night at their tasting bar.

Parked akimbo on a quiet corner of Solano Avenue,  — an unpretentious little wine boutique — waits calmly for customers to arrive, its doors flung open onto the street invitingly, beckoning guests inside.

Ducking into the dim interior, visitors are hit with the pungent, oaky odor of vino, the unmistakable musk hanging low in the air and exuding an earthy reminder of viticulture’s essence and ancestry. Bottle upon bottle of wine is on display, lined up on shelves, ledges, and stands. Handwritten descriptions offer guidance to the uninitiated, explaining a wine’s particular qualities and suggesting perfect culinary pairings.

Those in the know, however, wait until Monday night to drop by. Winding through the store’s impressive selection, they buy a couple of bottles and then head upstairs to enjoy half-price night at the tasting bar. Nestled high in the back corner of the store, the tasting area is like an adult tree house, an aerie where patrons can draw up a stool and enjoy the cozy quarters as they sip down a silky wine. With glasses of good stuff going for about five bucks, you can afford to explore, taking chances on choice and venturing into untasted territory.

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They friendly staff are happy to tender help, willingly offering opinions or information when it’s asked for. Knowledgeable and eager, the bartenders are equally unobtrusive, discreetly leaving customers alone to sniff, swirl, and socialize. So pick a Monday night to drop by this quaint wine shop, slide into a slot at the bar, and taste for yourself.

 

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