I’m not quite a wine snob, but I have enough friends who are that I manage to learn a few things here and there. In other words, my white Grenache days are behind me. I’m not going to be satisfied with something just because it fits my budget and it’s “okay.” Give me something old, exemplary or a rule-breaker to hold my interest.
WineStyles near Vintage Park is not a place where you will find standouts and not quite the right fit for my needs, but it’s a good start for people seeking an education or who are on a budget. Most of the bottles here are under $30. WineStyles is a franchise, and the one at Vintage Park is one of only two locations. The other is near Barker Cypress and Highway 290.
Isn’t that like letting the fox run the henhouse? Surely that couldn’t be right, so I visited later and asked again. The young man I spoke with clarified that the distributors bring the selections, and those in charge pick from amongst them. So, there is some type of screening there.
I was hoping to encounter someone there who is passionate and vocal about which wines they love. I wanted to learn and be exposed to something remarkable, and that never happened.
Most of the wines there are from California and other New World locations. There wasn’t much in the way of Old World selections.
We were utterly bemused by the special glasses they use for tastings (and sell for taking home, of course). One side is deeply dipped in a concave shape. It’s supposed to allow the glass to fit better around the bridge of your nose so you get a full snoot full of the wine’s aromas. We didn’t detect any improved functionality. As one of my friends observed, “The pros have found regular wine glasses perfectly adequate for years.” One of my other companions said the glass shape was like a “wine urinal.” It was hilarious, in a disturbing sort of way.
WineStyles has a huge selection of wine-related gifts. They carry everything from simple and sturdy wine towers to “bottle balancers” to stoppers with doorknobs as handles. It felt like walking around the retail area of a Cracker Barrel. It’s a whole bunch of stuff to take in during a visit, and in that situation, I give up on finding anything I actually might want. It’s just too much stuff.
In all fairness, while WineStyles might not be for me, it’s probably perfectly suited to where suburban Northwest Houston is at in its desires and culinary interests. There’s a room that looks like it holds 50 to 75 people where musicians (mostly local) can perform music (mostly country).
My stiff attitude towards the place loosened greatly the second time around. This time, I skipped the Tasting Trail and wandered around looking for a bottle to crack into. We selected the NV Maison Badet Clement & Cie Fleuraison Vin Mousseaux Blanc de Blancs Brut for $13.99, and you know what? It was pretty good.
We also got one of their cheese and cracker plates and were extremely pleased to find they use Houston Dairymaids-sourced cheese. We recognized one of my favorites, Barely Buzzed by Beehive Cheese Company, right off the bat. I just wish something had been provided so we could tell what the other tasty selections were.
Best of all, though, another couple showed up at the next table, and we talked about some of the things they liked there. Once that happened, the employees became more conversational. They really should have been more involved from the start, but regardless, once the ice was broken, it became a nicer experience overall.
Truth be told, WineStyles is a pleasant, comfortable hangout. My advice: If you’re new to wine, take advantage of the affordable price points to try some new things. Ask lots of questions, have a cheese plate and, most importantly, relax. Wine snobs need not apply.
The WineStyles I visited is located at 10300 Louetta Road, 281-257-WINE (9463). The other Houston-area location is at 12361 Barker Cypress Road, Cypress, 281-758-3560.