Issues in retail wine

[pk]

Ok , first up I do sell wine for a living , so there is a conflict here - sorry for those that I offend .

Talking to a few friends over a lazy sunday lunch the topic of our favorite bottle shops came up , now and in the past . After much discussion ( also some red spilt - big hand gestures , must rember to put glass down ) the general consences was that the good old days were good , now trying to find a great retailer is harder than it should be .

Note , this is not a go at the people out there now , more of a nostalgic look at what was .

Rember with fondness Arlnolds fine wines , some not all of the toohey brothers stores , tastings of 5 vintages of grange that was for free ( true ) at vc double bay , The Woolarhra Bottle shop that allways seamed to have back vintage hunter wines at stupid ( cheep ) prices ....... sigh

The oak barrel before it moved , that guy on oxford street that would answer all questions with " White in the fridge , red on the shelf " oh joy he was fun .

Would love to here your storys , Peter

[TORB]

Peter,

If my memory serves me correctly that bottle shop in New South Head Road in Double Bay was called "Household Supply Company" or something like it. It also sold a limited range of upmarket groceries.

That bottl'oh in Oxford Street was a classic; I had forgotten that line about whites in the fridge etc. From memory that was just about below Armados Spanish Fiesta (which was licensed and sold Ben Ean for $26 a bottle with the good reds starting at about $32 a bottle. Sheesh, that joint was expensive then.

I fondly remember going into country pubs that had old wine for low prices; they were always happy to get rid of it too.

The Watsons Bay Hotel was also great. You could buy wine by the bottle at the bottle shop price, and sit and drink it in the beer garden.

[pk]

The watson bay hotel , I do remember having a few great days there , I think you have sorted out what to do this weekend ... will report if you can still buy wine in the bottle shop and drink in the beer garden , Thanks . Peter