Tap the Wine Experts at Primo Vino in Olde Town Arvada

July 11, 1:45 PMDenver Food ExaminerAndrea Spikes

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Not long ago, the most I knew about wine was the difference in color, a little bit of knowledge of tannins (which causes the dry and puckery feeling in the mouth) and a vague idea of varietals (e.g. Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot). 

I'm not about to tell you that I'm on my way to being an aficionado, sommelier or other multi-syllabic definition that people typically equate to the word "snob". Nope. But I do know what I like, and it makes it easier to order wine if I can recognize it on a menu with some degree of confidence.

Enter the experts at Primo Vino - a tiny specialty wine and liquor store tucked into Olde Wadsworth Boulevard in Olde Town Arvada. Owned and operated by Brad Vanderpool - a certified sommelier - Primo Vino specializes in international wine. What does that mean? It means that Brad tastes nearly everything he sells so you don't have to worry about making a horrible mistake at your next dinner. It means that you can walk in, tell him or one of the other guys what you plan to drink it with (or with nothing at all), and walk out with something that is practically guaranteed to taste great no matter what your budget is.

Don't believe me? Then take the acid test and stop in on a Friday or Saturday afternoon for one of their free tastings. That's right - you can sample a few specially-selected wines (or beers) and get an idea of what they sell and where they got it from.

Primo Vino does as much - if not more - business on the Web as they do in the store. So get on their mailing list and take advantage of weekly specials, presale and futures opportunities, and occasional rarities from lesser-known vineyards. Who knows - maybe you'll know a little more too about wines outside the big three like Viognier, Tempranillo and Carmenere.