Wine lists: thinking outside the box
I got an e-mail recently about the unusual wine list at LJ’s & the Kat Lounge in Hagerstown. What's really unusual is that it wasn't describing the wines, but how they were presented. The owner wanted to think outside the box so he literally turned the list into a wine card box. Get it?
Here's how the PR person described it: "With creatively indexed cards, categorized from light to dark wines and divided by cork separators, this miniature-sized treasure chest is allowing patrons to flip through wines, pull out their wine selections, pass the card around their table and discuss wine choices; turning a wine choice into a wine conversation." ...
I can't decide what I think. Wine lists are something I'm a bit of a traditionalist about, and this sounds awfully cutesy. On the other hand, what's wrong with having a bit of fun when you go out to eat?
That got me to thinking about other unusual wine lists.
The one at Baltimore Pho in the Hollins Market area, for instance, startled me because it listed all its wines by the glass. You could order any of them by the bottle, but unless you asked you wouldn't know what you were going to be paying.
(Photo courtesy of LJ's)
Comments
I like this idea, especially if it encourages management to update the list frequently. There is nothing more frustrating than deciding on the perfect wine from a list only to be told they no longer have it.
Posted by: Dahlink | April 12, 2008 7:50 AM
On their website this style of wine list takes a long time to read - card by card by card. (And they sure do have a very healthy mark-up going on for a lot of those wines.)
Posted by: rkb | April 12, 2008 9:39 AM
I will second, third, and fourth Dahlink's comment. I always pick a wine and then chose food to go with the wine. It is especially frustrating to not be informed about the wine until you have placed your food order.
Posted by: Mark | April 12, 2008 10:04 AM
My first thought was along the line sof Dahlink. A perfect way to keep the list up to date. Out of a wine? Pull the card.
Posted by: Janet | April 12, 2008 10:16 AM
I think having the label on the card is a great idea. I have ordered wine in the past and then when it was presented I knew it wasn't what I wanted. Often the label is more memorable than the decription.
Posted by: Mark | April 12, 2008 8:47 PM