Flash player is required to view weather conditions. Download

site web  

SPRINGBORO — One is available in six liters, one costs $4,000 a bottle, and one is called The Dead Arm.

You can quench the thirst of dozens of people with a $300 bottle of Chateau Margaux; wait years until you can get a rare red burgundy — Domaine Romanee-Conti; or be brave and try the Australian label.

These are just three examples of more than 2,000 varieties of wine lining the shelves at Dorothy Lane Market in Springboro.

Local wine lovers and curiosity seekers can visit the store at Settler's Walk from 2 to 7 p.m. every Friday for DLM's weekly wine tasting event.

Wine manager George Punter and assistant wine manager Giri Dodballapur can answer customers' questions about vintage, history, and the nuances of red and white, sweet and dry styles.

"It's the only job in the world where you get paid to taste wine," said Punter, who has a couple decades of experience at all three DLMs in the area, including Oakwood and Centerville.

"That's how you learn. You can read books and learn about wine areas, but you still have to taste the wine so you can understand how this wine tastes versus that one, and how one style works."

The two wine experts have up to 25 people visit during the weekly tasting party.

Some of the regulars even have a personalized wine glass.

Washington Twp. resident Keith Stuckey, who said they "tend to break easily," is now using his third glass.

"I've been going to wine tastings for 20 years. First I started off with Arrow Wine on Saturday mornings with anywhere from five to 30 people leaning up against the coolers," Stuckey said.

"This is definitely a communal type of event."

Another customer who likes to commune with other wine lovers is a man known as "Captain Ed," who has experience with wine tastings at all three DLM stores.

"I like everything about wine, and Springboro is my favorite store. The building has an Italian concept with tan floors and high ceilings. It's an awesome location," he said.

It was the vision of Calvin Mayne and designed by Dan Kourkoumelis of Kansas City.

The bar displays eight soil samples under glass, all from the Napa Valley region in California.

Punter and Dodballapur visited many California wineries on a research trip in April.

"We stayed at Franciscan Winery, and toured Simi, Macauley, Darioush and Whitehall Lane. We learned about vitaculture, land, history of the vines and the wines," Dodballapur said.

You can do your own wine research and help a great cause at the same time.

Todd Nikolai, the first DLM wine manager, recently died at the age of 40.

From 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 27, there will be a wine auction benefit at the Springboro store.

All proceeds will be donated to Wendy Nikolai and her 3-year-old daughter, Carinna.

For more information, call Punter at (937) 748-6800.

Contact this reporter at pamdillon@woh.rr.com.