The holiday spirit has people buying spirits. Harborview Wine and Liquors says this is one of their busiest weeks and sales are good this year.
The shelves are stocked, and staff are on hand to help shoppers pinpoint their perfect bottle. Danielle Thomas can sometimes feel lost in a liquor store. "I don't know where to start," she said as she browsed the aisles. "I go for the New York wines, that's what we like."
"Look at the choices, trying new things in here is the way to go," said Joe Mironti.
Finding a flavor that fits is literally a taste test, which is exactly what Mironti did tonight when he grabbed a new bottle. "He gave me this alternative so we're going to see how it works out."
"I always ask what somebody has had that they like. And that gives me a good idea of sort of where their tastes lie," said Peter Freer with Harborview Wine and Liquor. But if you don't know what you like, think about what you're eating. Wine experts say that's a good place to start and narrow down your choices. Fuller bodied red wines, like a Bordeaux, pair well with beef or lamb, and white wines, like a Riesling, work well with light dishes like fish.
When it comes to wine most shoppers spend about $10 and you can certainly get a good bottle for that money. And if you're picking by price there is a bottle for every budget. "I was looking for a bottle of vodka around $20, so I got this, and I like to come here because it's cheaper so I save a little money," said Michelle Rath.
But for some 'tis the season to splurge. "For special occassions, it's the time to splurge a little bit on that bottle of wine that's a little bit more," said Mironti.
You can check out some of the top ranked wines here, many of which you'll find in local liquor stores around Central New York. And this website gives a breakdown for beginner buyers.
What's your favorite type of wine? Are you bringing any to a friend or family's house this weekend? You can leave a comment below.
