Wine-tastings, snacks and lovely, inappropriate people

When you are poor and living in New York City, one tries to find fun things to do on a budget. As some of you might know, my wife has a nose for finding bargains, deals, and most importantly, Free Samples. If you put her in a Costco, she can sense them like Spidey senses danger. She can also bat her eyes and score samples from unsuspecting vendors of produce, groceries and baked good.

A rock-star friend of ours recommended we check out the free wine tasting at a small boutique in the heart of downtown. He gave a great warning, "Be careful, some people who attend are socially inadequate."

We found the place rather easily and the sign outside advertised an afternoon of wine-tasting. Walking into the store, there was a bewitching aroma in the store but my wife and I could not quite tell what it was.

There was a line of about thirty people in the store that went up a flight of stairs to a balcony where the tasting was to take place. As we walked in, the line surged forward and we went right up and started to crowd in with everyone. As we moved forward to sample the whites, we were cut off by four short, stout women. Armed with their wine glasses, they parked themselves in front of the white wine taster and proceeded to drink, and drink, and drink. After about four tastings (big ones) each and as their voices got louder and louder, the sommelier recommended that they move forward in line and try some reds.

Moving forward through the sea of people, we made it to the reds table. At this point, we chose to park ourselves and drink, and drink, and drink. Of course we chose to keep our voices down and be the picture of decorum.

The wine tasting was put on by Coppolla Vineyards and we especially enjoyed the Claret. Of course, when it's free, everything is pretty good.

After about three or four glasses, necessary to identify all of the variables that separate the Claret from the Shiraz, my wife and I noticed people had plates of food. There was a small kitchen in the back of the balcony and what was cooking? B.L.T sandwiches. Not just any B.L.T.s, but rather, the "Best B.L.T. in the City." Twice smoked Bacon, organic lettuce and tomatoes from the farmer's market in the square outside of the store, with mayo on bread. Limit one per person. Of course, the three Fates have moved on from the red wine table where we were all parked and have managed to put down three or four each by the time we finally get to the table.

To quote my wife, "Nothing says wine-tasting, like B.L.T. Sandwiches."

The nice thing was that I didn't expect to have a free wine tasting in the middle of the city. One would think that with the enormous wealth of the city there would be no reason to give it away. It turned out to be a lovely store with incredibly helpful staff and we are looking forward to our next trip.