No tags yet.
So, for those who need a little history refresher, the Boston Tea Party of 1773 was a political protest by American colonists in Boston against their British ruler’s imposition of unfair taxes. To protest the heavy tax on tea imported from East India Company, colonists in Boston boarded three East India Company ships docked in the Boston harbor and threw chests of the British tea overboard into the harbor.
Now that we have that bit of historical perspective of the way, this blog has nothing to do with tea. On a recent trip to Boston, I learned that this is a city that is all about the food; and more importantly, the wine!
Having booked my room at the Boston Marriott Copley Place, I was positioned to be able to take advantage of everything Boston had to offer in the way of food and good wine. I was going to be in Boston for 4 days. Usually when traveling for this length of time, I will often find the closest wine bar or wine store and purchase a bottle or two for evening nightcaps. Boston would be no different in this case. Upon my arrival, I checked into my room and immediately noted the amazing view of the harbor from my suite.
I unpacked my things and immediately began to think about where I would be able to purchase a great bottle of wine to enjoy this view later on.
Copley Place is Boston’s distinctive shopping destination with plenty of restaurants, bars, coffee shops and high-end hotels and stores. As my fingers moved swiftly across the face of my smart phone to perform what some would believe to be the quickest research of the local area, I came across Urban Grape. Urban Grape is an award winning beer, spirits and, yes you have it, “WINE” store in the South End of Boston. After taking a few moments to read about the store and a few reviews, I threw on my sneakers and sprinted out of my hotel room. Fortunately Urban Grape was only a 15 minute walk from the hotel, so I was able to take a picturesque stroll around Copley Place and take in the old neighborhood of aged brownstones, cobblestone streets and more modern facades of newly built condos and restaurants.
People were generally friendly as I stumbled up Columbus Avenue. All of a sudden, the storefront appeared in front of me out of nowhere. The entryway to nirvana was somewhat ethereal. As I entered the front door of Urban Grape, I soon realized it was just the lighting that made it appear that way.
Upon entering, I was greeted by very friendly staff who manned the registers. As I looked to the right of the entry, I noticed that the wines were organized by grape and finish.
Those of you who have been to purchase wine know how difficult it is sometimes to find that perfect bottle in a wine store. Most places organize wines by grape and region. Organizing wines by finish was an ingenious idea.
Having a palate for more robust, heavy, fruit-forward wines, the clerk led me to the area where I would soon discover my chosen elixir. As my eyes and hands perused the heavily stocked shelves of robust cabernet and blends, my eyes became affixed on two simple but elegant bottles that seemed to speak to me.
Proper Winery
Proper Wines was founded in the Walla Walla Valley in 2005 by Coloradans Conor McCluskey and David Houle. They wanted to pursue winemaking that rivaled wines form the Rhone wine region in Southern France. For those who like wines with backbone, this wine had strong hints of black and white pepper with a smoky, jam-like finish. It had the perfect combination of spice and fruit and finished well as it rolled over the back of my throat.
Rosa Mystica Winery
Not particularly finished with my sampling, I decided to at least open my bottle of Rosa Mystica’s Cabernet Franc. This wine is produced in the Yakima Valley in Washington State and has the distinction of being the first winegrowing region established there. This Valley is also the backbone of the wine industry in the state.
This Cab Franc presented with notes of bright red fruit such as strawberry with a bit of spice to it. Not as heavy or bold as Proper, this wine is a keeper.
I ultimately enjoyed both wines during my stay in Boston and will definitely return for more sampling. Boston showed me a great time and has established itself as a culinary and wine contender. If you ever find yourself traveling to Boston, definitely find Urban Grape and purchase yourself a bottle or two. Remember to drink responsibly and enthusiastically!