When judging wine some ways are better than other. Selecting a good tasting wine that sells at a reasonable price can sometimes be a tough juggle. But don't worry: Toledo sommeliers and wine merchants have given us the inside scoop on some of the best deals. If you're going out to enjoy a bottle of wine (or two) these are the places to go:
Mancy's Steakhouse
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Mancy's Steakhouse Gus Mancy,
General Manager of Mancy’s
What is your most recent wine discovery?
1961 first growth Bordeaux with a bright cherry nose (just opened it last night).
Have you travelled to wine country and if so, how has it affected you?
Yes I love traveling to wine country but what I’ve realized is that it’s this simple, if you have good fruit you have good wine.
How have your wine tastes evolved?
What I’ve become good at is appreciating different varieties and figuring out who will like what.
How do you work on expanding your palate?
I do a lot of sampling I’d say over the past 5-10 years I try at least 5 new wines every week.
What’s your proudest or most difficult pairing?
If I had to pick I’d probably say that lobster and any chardonnay are going to be a great pairing.
How do you decide your selection? Are you more interested in giving people what they want or giving them a new discovery?
We have an iPad wine list now with an information list of almost 300 different wines. By doing this we’ve been able to sell products from smaller wineries that we never would
Gus recommends:
DEAL: Fisher Vineyards Unity Cabernet Sauvignon.
STEAL: Medlock Ames Bell Mountain Red
UNREAL: Vine Cliff, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley — Oakville, 2007
953 Phillips Ave. (419) 476-4154 • Mancys.com
SAUTTER’S MARKET
SAUTTER’S MARKETJim Sautter, Owner
What is your most recent wine discovery?
Nice dry California Rosé’s are great food pairing wines and are wonderfully refreshing year round.
Have you travelled to wine country and if so, how has it affected you?
I’ve been out there several times and through our suppliers we are able to stay in the vineyard homes and we are able to go on VIP tours — we’re not with the crowds.
How do you decide your selection?
I’ve gotten a lot more adventuresome. I’ve also become much more diverse.
How do you work on expanding your palate?
It depends on whatever mood I’m in. I like to experiment around and just want to try them all.
What’s your proudest or most difficult pairing?
A vintage Tawny Port with a beautiful 74% bittersweet chocolate.
Are you more interested in giving people what they want or giving them a new discovery?
I have some customers who are into Cabernet but maybe I think they would really like some Rioja from Spain or maybe they need to try some Cabs’ from South America.
Jim recommends
STEAL: Joel Gott Napa Cabernet Sauvignon $16.99
UNREAL: 1983 Petrus Pomerol (NOT FOR SALE)
5519 Main St. Sylvania (419)885-3505 sauttersmarkets.com
ELEMENT 112
ELEMENT 112Mark Maruszak, Beverage Director
What is your most recent wine discovery?
A new wine pouring system called Coravin. The wine never comes in contact with oxygen allowing us to offer nearly 50 wines by the glass to our customers.
Have you travelled to wine country and if so, how has it affected you?
I’ve been throughout California, the United Kingdom, and Paris. It’s one thing to read about wine areas in a book, but it’s entirely different to actually visit the place.
How have your wine tastes evolved?
Personally, I started on the side of sweet white wine, and progressed into bigger, bolder, and more complex wines.
How do you work on expanding your palate?
Frequent and intelligent tastings. It’s one thing to have a glass of wine simply to have a glass of wine; it’s altogether different when you actually begin to analyze the glass.
What is your proudest or most difficult pairing?
One of the biggest challenges that can be tricky is when two diners, who’ve ordered drastically different meals, would like one pairing to match both entrees.
How do you decide your selection? Are you more interested in giving people what they want, or giving them a new discovery?
I first figure out what type of wine they’re looking for, and then I try to recommend something new that they may not have experienced yet.
Mark recommends:
DEAL: 2010 Jean-Louis Chave Silene, Crozes-Hermitage, France $36 retail.
STEAL: 2005 Vina Vilano Reserva, Ribera del Duero, Spain $15 retail.
UNREAL: 2009 Domaine Pegau Cuvee Reservee, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France $99 retail.
5735 N. Main St. Sylvania • (419) 517-1104 element112restaurant.com
DéGAGé JAZZ CAFé
DéGAGé JAZZ CAFéSteve MacMillan, Restaurant Manager
What is your most recent wine discovery?
Buena Vista wine. Originates in California It’s complex, bold body, and smooth.
Have you travelled to wine country and if so, how has it affected you?
I have not yet… I have always wanted to, and will.
How have your wine tastes evolved?
I have come from only being able to tell the difference from sweet or dry, to being able to distinguish the under and overtones.
How do you work on expanding your palate?
I would suggest to just keep trying different wines and really tasting them.
What’s your proudest or most difficult pairing?
Our wine tastings normally consist of a 6 course dinner with a lot of unique ingredients. I would say these are the most difficult, but also the most proud pairings that we offer.
Are you more interested in giving people what they want or giving them a new discovery?
I try to balance our selection with popular items that everyone can enjoy and mixing in some wines that may be outside of the general comfort zone.
Steve recommends:
STEAL: Joel Gott Napa Cabernet Sauvignon $16.99
UNREAL: 1983 Petrus Pomero
301 River Rd. Maumee • (419) 794-8205 historiccommercialbuilding.com
The Anderson's Market
The Anderson's MarketJim Heltebrake, Wine Guru at The Anderson’s
What is your most recent wine discovery?
Icardi made with a Cortese grape, it’s a Northern Italian dry white wine $9.99.
Have you travelled to wine country and if so, how has it affected you?
Yes, I’ve been to France, Spain, Italy, Germany, California, Oregon, New York, Michigan and Ohio. It gave me a much deeper understanding of all of the different parts of the winemaking process.
How have your wine tastes evolved?
I’ve tasted over 60,000 different wines; I’ve been at Anderson’s for over 19 years. You start with a basic understanding but then develop a more keen sense of distinguishing the subtleties and differences.
How do you work on expanding your palate?
Constantly tasting, judging and comparing — I’ve tried over 500 wines so far just this year.
What’s your proudest or most difficult pairing?
A Spanish Albariño; dry white wine paired with shrimp, mussels and Moroccan spices.
How do you decide your selection? Are you more interested in giving people what they want or giving them a new discovery?
First is quality of the wine; Then value. We don’t care where it comes from or what the price is — quality always makes our shelves.
Jim recommends:
DEAL: 19 Crimes SHIRAZ BLEND
STEAL: Black Beret Grenache Syrah
UNREAL: MOLLYDOOKER THE BOXER SHIRAZ Retail $27.99
4701 Talmadge Rd. • (419) 473-3232 Andersonsstore.com
ROCKWELLS STEAKHOUSE
ROCKWELLS STEAKHOUSEBrian Welborn, Manager
What is your most recent wine discovery?
Altos Las Hormigas Malbec
Have you travelled to wine country and if so, how has it affected you?
Wine country is all about the best America has to offer — we incorporate that here at Rockwells.
How do you work on expanding your palate?
My staff does all of our tastings and they typically are able to select something they know the customers will like.
What’s your proudest or most difficult pairing?
Roasted ostrich breast paired with a Rodney Strong Jane Vineyard Reserve Pinot Noir.
How do you decide your selection? Are you more interested in giving people what they want or giving them a new discovery?
At Rockwells we’re more interested in giving the people what they want. We have a classic steakhouse wine list — very domestic red heavy. But we also incorporate old world wine in our list.
27 Broadway St. • (419) 243-1302 oh-rockwells.com/
PAULA BROWN SHOP
PAULA BROWN SHOPPeter Brown, Owner
What is your most recent wine discovery?
Barnett Vineyards and Pride Mountain Vineyards.
Have you travelled to wine country and if so, how has it affected you?
Yes, it helps us understand the wine culture by getting some one on one treatment. We’ve been able to visit some vineyards in Napa and we’ve decided to bring more of those wines back here.
How do you work on expanding your palate?
Drinking, reading and talking with our customers.
What’s your proudest or most difficult pairing?
The toughest thing is probably with Mexican food — with Mexican I like a sparkling wine.
How do you decide your selection? Are you more interested in giving people what they want or giving them a new discovery?
We try to get high quality wines that you won’t find just anywhere. We don’t sell most of the stuff you find at a grocery store. We try and hit all different aspects and listen to our customers.
Peter recommends:
DEAL: Ridge Vineyards Retail $32.00
STEAL: Alfredo Roca chardonnay Retail $ 10.99
UNREAL: 2003 Vintage Don Pérignon Retail $ 185.99
912 Monroe St. • (419) 241-8100 paulabrownshop.com
FINAL CUT STEAKHOUSE & SEAFOOD
Jason Leither, Food and Beverage Manager
What is your most recent wine discovery?
Seghesio Zinfandel from Sonoma California. It has a lush dark berry flavor, followed by a velvety mouth feel
Have you travelled to wine country and if so, how has it affected you?
Unfortunately I have not.
How have your wine tastes evolved?
The more types of wine you try, the more you learn how diverse the flavor profiles of different varietals can be.
How do you work on expanding your palate?
Local wine tastings, and product showcases put on by vendors allow for those of us in the industry to try new wines in a fun social environment.
What’s your proudest or most difficult pairing?
Spicy foods are often more difficult to pair wine with. I prefer a Red Zinfandel. The low tannins and bright fruit flavors contrast the flavors usually found in spicy dishes.
How do you decide your selection? Are you more interested in giving people what they want or giving them a new discovery?
The selections allow a guest to order something they are familiar with, or they can explore the interactive iPad wine list and try something new.
Jason recommends:
DEAL: Sonoma Cutrer Chardonnay $28
STEAL: Miguel Torres “Santa Digna” Carmenere $20
UNREAL: Vueve Cliquot La Grand Dame $965
1968 Miami St. • (419) 661-5381 hollywoodcasinotoledo.com
