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Sara, Fonda, Lili, Suzanne & Kate
22 W. Stimson Avenue Athens, Ohio 45701 (Map) (740) 593-5781
Your source for fine wines, spirits, and interesting beer.
Same Prices, Better Selection, More Class! |
View our Events page for more information on wine tasting!
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BellaVino & The Dream Journey Operation
07.27
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BellaVino | 22 W. Stimson Avenue | Athens | OH | 45701
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BellaVino’s Upscale “Yardsale”!
07.14
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BellaVino | 22 W. Stimson Avenue | Athens | OH | 45701
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Wine kiosks in PA??? Weird…
07.08
Swipe, smile, blow: Pa. has wine vending machines
Some question machines’ efficacy in preventing sales to minors
Bradley C Bower / AP
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania — Swipe your driver’s license, look into the camera, blow into the breath sensor and — voila! — you have permission to buy a bottle of wine from a vending machine.
Pennsylvania, which has some of the most Byzantine liquor laws in the U.S., recently introduced the country’s first wine “kiosks.” If the machines are successful in their test run inside two grocery stores, the state Liquor Control Board could place the high-tech alcohol automats in about 100 others.
But does anyone want to buy wine this way?
It seems the answer is yes. Customers using the machine at a Giant supermarket outside Harrisburg were thrilled that it could be a permanent fixture.
“This is just convenient one-stop shopping,” said Darby Golec, 28, of Enola. “It’ll be nice to have it all in one area.”
The vending machines
are a testament to both the wonder of technology and the obscurity of Pennsylvania’s complicated liquor laws.
Individuals can buy wine and liquor for home consumption only in state-owned stores staffed by public employees. Private beer distributors sell cases and kegs only. Licensed corner stores, delis, bars and restaurants can sell beer to go, but only up to two six-packs per customer.
Numerous attempts at reform have been turned back by special interests intent on keeping their slice of the pie. So simply stocking Chianti and cabernet on supermarket shelves is not an option under the state’s post-Prohibition liquor laws.
The liquor board has tried to be more consumer-friendly in recent years, including opening 19 full-service state stores in supermarkets. The board touts the kiosks as another step toward modernization — “an added level of convenience in today’s busy society,” liquor board Chairman Patrick Stapleton said in a statement.
Not everyone is swallowing that line.
Craig Wolf, president and CEO of the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America, questioned the machines’ efficacy in preventing sales to minors.
Keith Wallace, president and founder of The Wine School of Philadelphia, described the kiosks as well-intentioned failures with limited selections and overtones of Big Brother.
“The process is cumbersome and assumes the worst in Pennsylvania’s wine consumers — that we are a bunch of conniving underage drunks,” Wallace wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press. “(Liquor board) members are clearly detached from reality if they think these machines offer any value to the consumer.”
Conshohocken-based Simple Brands provides the kiosks free in exchange for the ability to sell ads on attached flat-screen monitors.
The machines are about the size of four large refrigerators, though the wines are kept at room temperature. An ATM-type device sits at one end.
A customer chooses a wine on a touch-screen display, swipes an ID, blows into an alcohol sensor (no contact with the machine is required) and looks into a surveillance camera. A state employee in Harrisburg remotely approves the sale after verifying the buyer matches the photo ID.
State officials say the process takes 20 seconds. The kiosks only take credit or debit cards, and they’re closed on Sundays and holidays. A “convenience fee” of $1 would be added after the pilot phase.
The machine got a warm reception at Giant, where customers asked lots of questions and perused brochures describing the 53 available wines, from Argentine malbecs to California merlots.
Simple Brands President Jim Lesser doesn’t anticipate much business from connoisseurs, but they’re not the targeted demographic.
“They were developed for the average consumer who wants a nice bottle of wine with their steak and seafood,” Lesser said.
Japan and Europe have beer vending machines, but Lesser said the self-serve alcohol concept probably wouldn’t have worked in the U.S. until now. Today, he noted, Americans use kiosks for everything from buying movie tickets to checking in for airplane flights.
Exit surveys show customers like the wine kiosks’ convenience and easy use, and early sales have exceeded expectations, said Lesser. Eventually, the machines may be seen in other states, he said.
Wendell Young IV, president of the union representing state wine store workers, anticipates some new jobs, from remote camera staffing to kiosk restocking. The number of jobs depends on sales, he said.
Local vintners are watching the initiative closely. Lee Miller, owner of Pennsylvania-based Chaddsford Winery, said she’ll support anything that might boost sales.
“If they’re not going to put it on the shelf, I think it’s a great way to offer wine to people,” Miller said.
Bob Mazza, owner of Mazza Vineyards near Erie, is disappointed that none of the approximately 120 wineries in the state are represented in the kiosks.
“You would think they would subscribe to the idea to support local industry,” Mazza said.
Liquor Control Board spokeswoman Stacey Witalec said the machines are stocked with proven sellers for the pilot period and will be re-evaluated based on customer feedback.
© 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Summer Newsletter 2010
07.06
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Hi ALL!!!
BellaVino | 22 W. Stimson Avenue | Athens | OH | 45701
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March 2010 Newsletter
04.08
Host your next Party or Business Meeting at BellaVino!!!
BellaVino is renovating the upstairs Tasting Room to make it even better for your parties and business meetings. Here is some information:
* Tasting room is great for groups of 15 people or less
* We offer wine classes and customized wine tastings
*Great for a unique and different parties, business meetings or an informative class
Call Carolyn for more information at 740.593.5781
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BellaVino Gift Baskets
 BellaVino is now offering a wider selection of gift baskets. There is no better gift than a basket filled with someone’s favorite wine or beer! We can also add locally made foods and specialty items. Just let us know what you want and we will put it together for you!!
Call us for more information at 740-593-5781 |
 OUTRAGEOUS OFFERINGS..now at BellaVino We are now offering a great selection of short breads and specialty nuts from Outrageous Offerings a family owned company out of Washington State and ever since we have fallen in love with these little shortbreads. We decided we had better start selling them before we eat them all ourselves!! So if this tells you anything these things are AMAZING!!!! They even tell you right on the package what wines to pair with each!!
Items we offer: |
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Crazy April Wine Discounts!!
** Some sale wines are here now the rest will arrive on Friday, April 9th. Pascual Toso Torrontes
$9.99 Very fine, with interesting herbal note suggesting fennel. The flavors are vibrant and punchy, with a crisp but powerful mid-palate punch of fruit, with lots of lemony concentration before a racy grapefruit acidity. Pine Ridge Chenin-Viognier Fat Bastard Chardonnay Mark West Pinot Noir offers notes of pomegranates, plums, cherries, underbrush, and herbs in a round, tasty, authentic style; lightness and softness are endearing. Sterling Napa Chardonnay $11.99 was $19.99 save $8.00 Smooth and velvety, this Merlot is immediately approachable yet has the structure to make it cellar worthy.It complements many entrees, including lamb rubbed with Middle Eastern spices, roast duck with a dried cherry sauce, or grilled portabella mushrooms. Edna Valley Sauvignon Blanc Sagelands Merlot $9.99 was $15.99 save $6.00 The full-bodied palate shows juicy mixed berries flavors with grainy tannins and a robust finish with black licorice and smoky notes. Enjoy this well-built wine paired with marinated pork medallions and roasted winter roots, grilled marinated lamb skewers with cherry tomatoes and summer veggies, braised beef short ribs, or New York steaks. Whitehaven Pinot Noir $11.99 This wine is perfect for every occasion and every place. It has an intense floral aroma mingling with cool melon and tropical fruit. Its light, crisp mouthfeel is complemented by fresh peach, ripe pear and pink grapefruit flavors. Incognito 2005 Rouge $17.99 ONLY $14.99 A mystery of elegant, smoky clove unveils layers of marmalade and toast that gently coat the mouth. This Rhone blend bursts with fresh blueberry and dried cranberry notes, finishing with a smooth myriad of tannins and spice. Michael-David Incognito 2006 Viogner $17.99 ONLY $10.99 Savings $ 7.00 Flambéed pear and honeysuckle aromas open up into flavors of passion fruit, green apple and a lingering dried apricot finish. |
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Don’t Forget our Wine Club!
BellaVino’s first ever wine club started in January and has been a huge success. So call us today to join !!!!!
The Benefits of Joining…You might ask…. Some Benefits include*:
* For more information please contact Carolyn at bellavino.office@gmail.com
Lili’s April Wine Pick
Famega Vinho Verde $6.99 |
French court condemns massive transatlantic wine scam
02.17
y Suzanne Mustacich Suzanne Mustacich – 1 hr 29 mins ago
CARCASSONE, France (AFP) – French wine-makers and dealers were convicted Wednesday of selling millions of bottles of fake Pinot Noir to the US firm E&J Gallo in one of the biggest scams ever to rattle the world of wine.
A court handed out suspended jail terms and hefty fines to 12 people for selling 18 million bottles (135,334 hectolitres) of wine they said was Pinot Noir but which was in fact made from far cheaper grape varieties.
The convicted included executives from wine estates, cooperatives, a broker, wine merchant Ducasse and the conglomerate Sieur d’Arques.
“The scale of the fraud caused severe damage for the wines of the Languedoc for which the United States is an important outlet,” the judge told a packed courtroom in Carcassonne in southwestern France.
He said that the accused made seven million euros in profits from the scam, with Ducasse raking in 3.7 million euros and Sieur d’Arques pulling in 1.3 million euros.
But the fines he imposed ranged from just 1,500 to 180,000 euros, while the suspended jail sentences went from one to six months.
The wine was sold in the United States under Gallo’s popular “Red Bicyclette” Pinot Noir label, which in 2006 was marketed as having “aromas of dark fruit flavors” and whose palate was said to be like “black cherry and ripe plum.”
It is not yet clear whether Gallo purchased the wine at a lower price than the market rate for Pinot Noir.
If so, they would have substantially increased their margins on a wine that sells for 11.99 dollars a bottle. Gallo was neither a defendant nor a plaintiff in the case in Carcassonne.
The giant wine firm has not yet said whether it plans to launch a lawsuit against the French producers in the wake of Wednesday’s judgement.
Meanwhile, US authorities are investigating potential infractions.
The Alcohol, Tobacco, Tax and Trade Bureau has been in discussions with the French authorities about the wine scam over the past year, a spokesman said, and will now review the court documents to decide whether to take any action.
The scandal broke in March 2008 when France’s fraud squad, the DGCCRF, became suspicious during an audit at the wine merchant Ducasse.
Ducasse had been buying Pinot Noir at 58 euros per hectolitre when the official market price was 97 euros, and generic local grape varieties were selling for 45 euros.
Meanwhile, the volume of wine from the renowned Pinot Noir grape being sold to Gallo far exceeded the possible supply from the region.
Ducasses’s own suppliers could have only filled two million bottles of Pinot Noir a year, and some of the boldest perpetrators of the scam do not even grow Pinot Noir.
After a year-long judicial investigation, the defendants were accused of substituting wine made from less expensive local grape varieties for the Pinot Noir, which is hugely popular on the American market.
Jean-Marie Bourland, a lawyer for Sieur d’Arques, did not rule out an appeal. “There is no prejudice. Not a single American consumer complained,” he argued.
Pierre Dounac, lawyer for three defendants including Ducasse’s director Claude Courset, argued that his clients had done no harm as they had delivered a wine with the characteristics of Pinot Noir.
The industry fears that the swindle, which began in 2006 and ended in 2008, could undermine the credibility of fellow French winegrowers.
“What worries me the most for my country are the economic consequences,” prosecutor Francis Battut told AFP during the trial.
“If Americans lose confidence in French wine production, particularly the Languedoc region, which is already going through a serious crisis, the consequences could be terrible.”
The wine trade is not new to fraud.
In 2007, French Beaujolais producers were caught dosing their wine with sugar, while in 2005, Sauvignon Blanc was doctored with fake aromas.
A 1985 case revealed that Austrians had spiced up their cru with a substance also found in antifreeze.
Why Screwcaps???
01.13
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Happy New Year (2010)! A hearty ‘Thank you!’
01.08
Happy New Year!!!
Just a quick note to thank EVERYONE who showed up to show us your support this past holiday season. I was in tears when writing/sending the last email and then was overwhelmed by the quick and HUGE response that we received from YOU! It has honestly, corny as it may sound, renewed my faith in human kind and our little Athens Community. YOU are what keep us open…please never underestimate your contribution to our little, cozy store that we see as home.
Okay, so that’s all I’m going to say on that note, but here are things that you should be aware of in the New Year:
- All accessories (including bags, shirts, and pretty much anything non-drinkable/non-alcoholic) are 10% off today (Wednesday) and tomorrow (Thursday). Take advantage while you can!
- We still have PLENTY of champagne…If you’re thinking it’s only a “holiday thing” you’re WRONG!!! Nothing’s better than treating yourself to a little bubbly. Don’t know if you’ve heard, but doctors are now saying that in addition to red wine being beneficial to your health, having a couple of glasses of sparkling a day are as well. YAY!
- What you say counts: Please help us by telling your friends, neighbors, family members that we are not only your premier wine store, but also boast the largest and best thought out selection of craft beers and imports as well.
- Anything you want, we’ll get (or at least we’ll try our hardest)! Special orders, whether one bottle or multiple don’t cost anything extra! Our store is small, so though we don’t have space for everything, we love your suggestions!
- Case discounts are always 10%
We love you and want to see you soon!
–
~Lili~
BellaVino
Athens’ Original Carryout
22 W. Stimson Avenue
Athens, OH 45701
“In victory, you deserve champagne, in defeat, you need it.” – Napoleon
(740) 593-5781
www.bellavinoathens.com
On Twitter @ BellaVinoAthens
Facebook: Friends of BellaVino
WINE CLUB IS FINALLY HERE!!!
01.08
The benefits to joining, you might ask…
Case per month club:
- Private Sampling of a selection of the wines of the month for members only
- Preview of products not available to the public included in your case purchase
- Free delivery on entire case purchases*
- Your choice! Each month you will receive your choice of one case (All Red, All White, Organic or Mixed). These wines are my favorites, up and coming and have already been previewed by me (tasting notes included)!
*For more information on deliveries, contact me directly J
Requirements to join:
- Cost for members is $149.99 which includes the aforementioned benefits and includes the 10% case discount & tax (credit cards must be kept on file; payment is required within two days of us recieving the product-if you pay with cash, check or other card, the credit card on file will not be charged).
- Minimum 30 day notice for cancellation
6 btls per month Club
Benefits:
- Private Sampling of a selection of the wines of the month for members only
- Preview of products not available to the public included in your case purchase
- Your choice! Each month you will receive your choice of 6 btls (Pick one option: All Red, All White, Organic or Mixed). These wines are my favorites, up and coming and have already been previewed by me (tasting notes included)!
Requirements to join:
- Cost for members is $79.99 which includes the aforementioned benefits & tax (credit cards must be kept on file; payment is required within two days of us recieving the product-if you pay with cash, check or other card, the credit card on file will not be charged).
- Minimum 30 day notice for cancellation
That’s it! Simple, eh? Let me know if you’d like to sign up. The first shipment will be arriving soon!
Please feel free to contact me if you need more information or have additional questions!
~Lili~
BellaVino
Athens’ Original Carryout
22 W. Stimson Avenue
Athens, OH 45701
“In victory, you deserve champagne, in defeat, you need it.” – Napoleon
(740) 593-5781
*Shipping is not available
