A Taste of Redding Wines and Spirits

Smooth white wine and a cuddly black cat named Saturn? That’s what you should expect to be welcomed with at this summer.

Owner Rodney Stavert and Manager Chris Meyer have seen their business busier than usual this summer. With backyard barbecues and poolside parties, their regulars have been by more often.

“We know at least 80 percent of customers by name,” Meyer said. “The people around here are kind of low key, but they are loyal to us. We get to know a lot of people and families around here.”

The presence of a liquor store on Black Rock Turnpike has been historical in Redding. Stavert, who bought the business in February 2006, was preceded by liquor stores of the 1940s and 50s in the same location, Meyer said.

Jill Callaway, who was shopping when Patch visisted the store, stops in not only for a bottle to accompany her meals, but to see the friendly faces that run the store as well.

“My favorite aspect of [Redding Wines and Spirits] is the friendly service. They are just great here,” she said. “I usually stop in to get a white wine.”

Two particular wines that Meyer has seen go out the door like wildfire this summer have been Block Nine from Caiden’s Vinyards and Jongieux by Vin de Savoie.

“Block Nine is a nice Pinot and the Jongieux is a good white summer wine,” Meyer said.

Each week, Redding Wines and Spirits adds a new white wine and a new red wine to its shelves. Stavart and Meyer reap the benefits of trying out new flavors.

“We have around 15 to 20 sales reps come in to the store each week,” Meyer explained. “We taste their wine and decide which ones we’d like to bring into the store.”

On any given week, Meyer and Stavart taste anywhere from 15 to 20 wines.

“That’s why we spit it out. We can’t be drunk at work,” Meyer laughed. “My favorite wine changes weekly with all that I get to taste."

For customers wanting to find a good summer wine, or just something new, Redding Wines and Spirits hosts wine tastings at their store every Saturday.

“We usually crack open a bottle of red and a bottle of white,” Meyer said. “They are usually newer wines.”

Meyer wants customers to know that he is the guy to go to for beer selections and Stavart is the man to give wine referals.

“I’m more of a beer guy and Rodney is definitely a wine guy,” he said.

Meyer wants customers to know that when they step into Redding Wines and Spirits they will find fair prices.

“We are not trying to make a killing, but we are also not a Walmart discount store,” he said.

As far as the summer goes, they are both happy with Connecticut’s law on not allowing liquor sales on Sunday,

“Like a lot of other stores, we like our one Sunday off,” Meyer said.

Meyer invites customers to join him and Stavart for their next wine tasting. For anyone looking for a good summer activity, wine tasting at Redding Wines and Spirits can become a regular option for those truly interested in understanding wine.

With new spirits in each week, horizons can be broadened by the end of the season.