Visiting the new Le Vintage Wine Shop in Old Town Alexandria feels like a choose-your-own adventure through the 1,000 sustainably farmed labels that line the racks. Zone out while browsing the bottles or get help from one of the sommeliers—owner Benjamin Kuna or Michael Williams—who’ll help you pluck something suited to your tastes. “If you want to think about the wine, do that as much as you want,” says Kuna, also the wine director and GM at adjacent La Fromagerie. “Or we can do it all for you. What’s most important is the experience of wine: It’s so personal.”
The bottles are arranged by region—Southern Italy, the Balkans, the United States, including some Virginia wines. Each region is then sorted from lightest to heaviest in body. Perhaps even more important is the price. Not only is there a rack bearing 60 vinos under $20, but 80 percent of the wines in-store are between $25 and $40—the sweet spot for good grapes, says Kuna. Sure, there are outliers, like a $150 Emidio Pepe from Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, but affordability crushes the competition.
“We want to break the stereotype that there’s either cheap or expensive wine. Most wine doesn’t fall into those categories,” says Kuna.
Aiding in changing perceptions are the free twice-weekly tastings (Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 1 to 4 p.m.) at the beautiful bar. The sips are chosen with purpose; I attended a Saturday event starring four wines of the Loire Valley. It resulted in me snapping up a lovely Vouvray for $30.
There’s a monthly Flight Club tasting with five wines, cheese, and meat. (The cost fluctuates but will average about $60.) “It’s pretty casual,” says Kuna. “I can talk about the chemistry of tannins, or football.” And a monthly $18 Vintage Cru membership gives you 10 percent off everything in the shop—among other perks.
“We want to sustain our community rather than create a large profile,” finishes Kuna. As a wine-loving Alexandrian, I’m all in.
Feature image by Carla Cioffi
1218 King Street, Alexandria
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