Total Wine and More

[shotsup 836]

http://www.totalwine.com

 

Do You have this store near you? Went yesterday for the first time.

Holy hell what have I been missing. I was like a kid in a candy store.

Has over 3,000 different beers. All sorts of snack,sauces,hummus dips chips etc.

beer tasting station

Beer classes

 

And I didn't even make it over to the liquor side yet.

 

Never heard of it before and apparently they have 172 locations

[nzoner 939]

Been browsing and I'm in only two negatives,not one near me and no Boulevard Brewing beer selections.

[jerryskids 7,173]

Just went there yesterday, there is one 2 or 3 miles from my house. Bought 12 bottles of wine (you get 10% or something off, and I think you need to be a member?). Also restocked with 3 bottles of scotch and a bulleit rye for manhattans.

 

A great thing about it is that they have "experts" in all the different booze areas who can help you find/select stuff. See scotch story below.

 

For those interested the scotch (scotches?) I got were:

- Glenlivet Founder's Reserve ($30). Smooth, it is now always in my cabinet.

- Grangestone Rum Cask ($30). I've been wanting to try this a while; I was standing there looking at something else when an expert pointed a man and woman to Grangestone as a good scotch for the money. He offers to give them a taste, I invite myself and he says sure, come along. That was their regular 12 year. I asked him what he thought about the rum cask (aging imparts a slight sweetness) and he said he is a big fan, in fact he thinks he has a bottle open... yep, I gave that a taste, very good.

- Speyside 18 ($44). It's like I'm mind melding with this expert... the next thing he points me to is this scotch as a great value; $44 for 18 yrs old sure is. The thing is, I had just finished a bottle of Speyside 12 ($30) and it was nice and smooth. I thought hell, I like to keep a better scotch around, and it will be fun to compare to see the difference in the extra 6 years.

 

On a related note, Costco is apparently upping their liquor game, at least near me. They'll never have the variety of a Total Wine but we'll see how the pricing works out. As of now with a very small sample size it seems competitive. I wasn't shopping for handles though FWIW.

 

Happy drinking.

[shotsup 836]

Funny. Costco has liquor game in the same parking lot as Total Wine.

Was a fun place and will be returning soon.

[Bier Meister 1,771]

these are solid stores. several in the bay area. nothing near me.

[Drizzay 754]

They have a awesome cheap Gin there - Dover Strait Gin. It is 17.99 a handle. Its a great dry gin.

[The PosterFormerlyKnownAs 80]

Total Wine only carries beer and wine in Virginia and many other locations. Ive patronized their liquor section in New Jersey on a few occasions. They run the gamut, from cheap rot gut (including Scotch in a box) to hard to find special editions. Pricing is fair. Staff tends to over represent their knowledge, and often push Total Wine brands without mentioning that they are such. One word of caution - one of the more expensive bottles I bought from them had a dry cork issue. Only the second time Ive had that happen out of more than 300+ bottle purchases from across many retailers. The other was also a special run bottling, but from a sketchy liquor store in Orlando. I would have expected better inventory care by Total Wine ... but it may have been the bottlers in both instances.

 

Congrats on the rum finish purchase usually a great find regardless of producer.

[wiffleball 4,797]

Spec's in Houston. Best store ever! Even has its own cigar humidor. And if they don't carry something? They will order it for you and incur the cost of shipment.

 

They actually pick employees to go to Italy and France and elsewhere to become registered sommeliers.

[IGotWorms 4,063]

Cool store but I have gotten a couple of bottles of wine that had gone bad. I dont think they store em real well

[avoiding injuries 1,654]

My favorite liquor store. I drive 10 minutes further to shop there than ones closer to me. I agree with the employees being helpful and knowledgeable. At my location (only one Ive been to) they have employee rankings and list their best sellers. This helps when trying new wines. Also, Im just getting into bourbon whiskey, so they help with that selection too.

[edjr 7,012]

Yes, at the mall 15 minutes away.

 

We have been there so much since it opened. Went to the home depot near it this weekend and my son said "please tell me we aren't going to the wine store again"

 

It is the greatest store I have ever been in. I drink maybe once a week right now, but the store is just off the charts. Prices are sometimes 5+ dollars a bottle cheaper for vodka

[MTSkiBum 1,626]

Spec's in Houston. Best store ever! Even has its own cigar humidor. And if they don't carry something? They will order it for you and incur the cost of shipment.

 

They actually pick employees to go to Italy and France and elsewhere to become registered sommeliers.

The problem with specs is that the ones in the suburbs suck. I can find a better beer selection at HEB than specs in sugar Land or Missouri City.

 

Yeah the specs inside the loop are awesome, but I am not driving 40 minutes for alcohol.

[patweisers44 872]

Yes, at the mall 15 minutes away.

 

We have been there so much since it opened. Went to the home depot near it this weekend and my son said "please tell me we aren't going to the wine store again"

 

It is the greatest store I have ever been in. I drink maybe once a week right now, but the store is just off the charts. Prices are sometimes 5+ dollars a bottle cheaper for vodka

 

Ed, your kid is cute and smart. You should have told him "don't you want a little brother or sister?"

[edjr 7,012]

 

Ed, your kid is cute and smart. You should have told him "don't you want a little brother or sister?"

He's been asking for a brudder for some time now. His mother doesn't want another one and I'm too old to knock up a floozy

 

and thank you

 

I think this summer I might try to use him to land me some lady friends

[patweisers44 872]

He's been asking for a brudder for some time now. His mother doesn't want another one and I'm too old to knock up a floozy

 

and thank you

 

I think this summer I might try to use him to land me some lady friends

Take him and a puppy to the park and you should be swimming in puss why.

[edjr 7,012]

Take him and a puppy to the park and you should be swimming in puss why.

 

Likely to meet a millennial that way

[Big Guy 1,427]

Cool store but I have gotten a couple of bottles of wine that had gone bad. I dont think they store em real well

 

Is that how you got worms?

 

Speaking of that, there's a great sale on Tequila

[Mr Fantasy 127]

Best prices around and great selection

[supermike80 2,140]

Stupid Michigan sets minimum prices on liquor. Its illegal to sell it for less than what the state says to sell it for

No sales of liquor. Ever. Best you can get is a holiday pack with maybe a free glass or two at Christmas.

Beer and wine can be discounted but a fifth of Jack costs the same or more(stores are allowed to exceed the minimum of course) at every licensed store here.

 

I hate Michigan's liquor laws.

[tanatastic 2,062]

Sounds like BevMo.

[shotsup 836]

Massatwoshits has pretty bad liquor laws as far as I recall

[jerryskids 7,173]

Massatwoshits has pretty bad liquor laws as far as I recall

 

Back in the 80s they had some pretty cheap rotgut stuff; Kappy's was the distributor/brand I recall.

 

Also you couldn't sell/buy grain alcohol but you could possess it, so occasionally we'd drive up to New Hampshire to get it for punch at parties. I imagine a few people died in DUIs going up there for grain.

 

I grew up in PA, they had and I believe still have state run liquor stores; you could get beer and maybe wine from distributors but the hard stuff came from the gubment which was never cheap, taxed to bejeebus, and the stores would close at like 6PM. I had a fake ID in college and used it at such a store successfully, because I had an immature frontal lobe like all teen males and as such I did stupid stuff.

[titans&bucs&bearsohmy! 2,745]

In Tennessee its still illegal to sell beer and wine and liquor in the same place.

 

They finally passed a law allowing wine in grocery stores, but delayed the implementation by a few years. I think it may be getting close now.

 

Liquor is still separate stores only.

 

And of course, nothing on Sunday before 3:00. Focking Bible thumpers.

[titans&bucs&bearsohmy! 2,745]

 

Back in the 80s they had some pretty cheap rotgut stuff; Kappy's was the distributor/brand I recall.

 

Also you couldn't sell/buy grain alcohol but you could possess it, so occasionally we'd drive up to New Hampshire to get it for punch at parties. I imagine a few people died in DUIs going up there for grain.

 

I grew up in PA, they had and I believe still have state run liquor stores; you could get beer and maybe wine from distributors but the hard stuff came from the gubment which was never cheap, taxed to bejeebus, and the stores would close at like 6PM. I had a fake ID in college and used it at such a store successfully, because I had an immature frontal lobe like all teen males and as such I did stupid stuff.

There was a homeless guy that lived in the alley behind the liquor store in college. He did a brisk business in proxy sales. Of course the store knew what was up, but they looked the other way.

 

When I became legal, there was a guy who ran a liquor store and a mini mart, and a pron video store all in one stop. And he had a delivery boy.

 

We pretty regularly would call at 1:00 am... yeah, gimme a fifth of jack, a fifth of Smirnoff, these five packs of cigarettes, some rolling papers, this assorted list of munchies, and a copy of ass blasters 3 please. Right to your door.

 

Sometimes you just gotta love the hell out of America.

[wiffleball 4,797]

The problem with specs is that the ones in the suburbs suck. I can find a better beer selection at HEB than specs in sugar Land or Missouri City.

 

Yeah the specs inside the loop are awesome, but I am not driving 40 minutes for alcohol.

Yeah, I can see that. I think that's just a separate licensing agreement anyway.

 

I remember talking to one of the managers one day. Downtown, they literally make enough money from just the month of December to pay all of their bills. And I mean all of their bills. Inventory cost payroll cost overhead you name it. That's 11 months of pure profit after that.

 

And they actually like the dry areas thing. These guys come in from The Burbs to work downtown and then stop by specs on the way back before the weekend. The average ticket price at the downtown specs even at that time was in excess of $100. People don't buy bottles there. They buy cases and cases of liquor. No wonder they don't mind having a few dry zones just outside the city.

[TimmySmith 2,783]

My County is the only one in the US that controls all Liquor sales. Of course prices are sky high, no competition. I can drive a mile the other way into DC and pay 80% of whatever bottle I am buying. DC has a Liquor store on every corner.

[edjr 7,012]

Massatwoshits has pretty bad liquor laws as far as I recall

 

Not any longer. Lickher stores can even be open Sundae now

[fricker66 93]

The trick to buying wine at Total Wine is to look for the wines with prices that end in "7", buy those, and ignore the salesmen. The "7" wines are loss leaders with nationally known names -- Kendall-Jackson, Bogle, Copola, e.g. -- that are priced just over cost for Total Wine. Their salesmen are taught to push the store's "exclusive" wines, which are typically unheard of, and produced pursuant to contract with Total Wine. I forget some of the names, but they are almost always a "staff pick" and placed in conspicuous spots in the store. You generally won't see them at other wine stores. They are sold at a much higher margin, and are typically labeled with a "tastes like...." or "compare to" label.

[edjr 7,012]

The trick to buying wine at Total Wine is to look for the wines with prices that end in "7", buy those, and ignore the salesmen. The "7" wines are loss leaders with nationally known names -- Kendall-Jackson, Bogle, Copola, e.g. -- that are priced just over cost for Total Wine. Their salesmen are taught to push the store's "exclusive" wines, which are typically unheard of, and produced pursuant to contract with Total Wine. I forget some of the names, but they are almost always a "staff pick" and placed in conspicuous spots in the store. You generally won't see them at other wine stores. They are sold at a much higher margin, and are typically labeled with a "tastes like...." or "compare to" label.

 

[shotsup 836]

 

Not any longer. Lickher stores can even be open Sundae now

What about having 2 drinks in front of you at one time. I remember we had a full beers in front of us and asked for a round of shots (big shock) and was told MA law forbids you from having two drinks served at the same time.

I pleaded the shot won't be in front of me very long - to no avail.

This was in Brookline

[SenatorRock 708]

In Tennessee its still illegal to sell beer and wine and liquor in the same place.

 

They finally passed a law allowing wine in grocery stores, but delayed the implementation by a few years. I think it may be getting close now.

 

Liquor is still separate stores only.

 

And of course, nothing on Sunday before 3:00. Focking Bible thumpers.

 

I took a chick to Trader Joe's in Knoxville once to show off the awesome wine selection.

 

Oooof.

 

TN liquor laws are gay as .

[SenatorRock 708]

Spec's in Houston. Best store ever! Even has its own cigar humidor. And if they don't carry something? They will order it for you and incur the cost of shipment.

 

They actually pick employees to go to Italy and France and elsewhere to become registered sommeliers.

 

They have Specs all over TX.

 

Better than any of the other big box alcohol stores.

 

Only problem is they close at like 9 or so. No late night runs to stock up on affordable quality bourbon or brews.

[titans&bucs&bearsohmy! 2,745]

 

I took a chick to Trader Joe's in Knoxville once to show off the awesome wine selection.

 

Oooof.

 

TN liquor laws are gay as ######.

Yep. Welcome to the focking Bible Belt.

 

Well honestly, thats only half the problem. The other half is that the liquor store lobby has stalled any change.

[SenatorRock 708]

The problem with specs is that the ones in the suburbs suck. I can find a better beer selection at HEB than specs in sugar Land or Missouri City.

 

Yeah the specs inside the loop are awesome, but I am not driving 40 minutes for alcohol.

 

You got any recs for TX beers?

 

They represent well at the Specs, Whole Foods, and even grocery stores out here. So many options. I have drank the ###### out Karbach and Big Bend but don't really know where to start with the rest.

[edjr 7,012]

What about having 2 drinks in front of you at one time. I remember we had a full beers in front of us and asked for a round of shots (big shock) and was told MA law forbids you from having two drinks served at the same time.

I pleaded the shot won't be in front of me very long - to no avail.

This was in Brookline

 

That's the "law" but rarely is enforced. I guess in Boston and around there, certain places it is.

 

Not at Sullys Tap though

[MTSkiBum 1,626]

 

You got any recs for TX beers?

 

They represent well at the Specs, Whole Foods, and even grocery stores out here. So many options. I have drank the ###### out Karbach and Big Bend but don't really know where to start with the rest.

No sorry, I mostly drink low alcohol beers like shiner Bock (4.4%)

[fricker66 93]

 

I took a chick to Trader Joe's in Knoxville once to show off the awesome wine selection.

 

Oooof.

 

TN liquor laws are gay as ######.

 

You sure know how to treat a lady.

[Mookz 1,386]

Went to TWAM yesterday thanks to this thread.

Was not aware of it, but there is one near me in Towson.

Had been looking for a bock beer like Shiner Bock in a couple other stores, couldn't find it, Total Wine had it, cheaply.

It's a big place, with multiple checkout lanes, like a grocery store. It's like a car vending machine.

There were a couple of li'l femininas there stocking up on alcoholized beverages as well.

 

Would return.

[Old School 360]

In Tennessee its still illegal to sell beer and wine and liquor in the same place.

 

They finally passed a law allowing wine in grocery stores, but delayed the implementation by a few years. I think it may be getting close now.

 

Liquor is still separate stores only.

 

And of course, nothing on Sunday before 3:00. Focking Bible thumpers.

Youve been gone for a while now.

Grocery stores started selling wine a while back.

Beer sales are allowed on Sunday- after noon.

Still no wine sales on Sunday, but they are about to change that as well.

 

Slowly crawling out of the dark ages.

[shotsup 836]

Went to TWAM yesterday thanks to this thread.

 

 

Would return.

You are Welcome. Making the GC great again.