“Joy is the sweet voice, joy the luminous cloud…” Samuel Taylor Coleridge, 1772-1834, Dejection, An Ode, st. 5.
Awhile back, we all witnessed Phil Woodman exhaustively extolling the new opening of his latest behemoth market at W124 State Rd. 145 in Menemonee Falls, 262-415-4001. I couldn’t resist a trip out there, especially to see if the wine prices were as low and the selection as large as Phil intimated.
Without question, the store is like a 40,000′ airplane hanger, replete with bulging displays and heaps of bargains. I went on a quest for the wine department and finally found it in the corner of the store.
Indeed, the wine was presented beautifully, with glittering lighting highlighting a practically befuddling candy-like display of teasing vintages from around the world, Hungary and Russia included. Prices were, to me, at market level. I did encounter a blizzard of bargains in a couple of spots. For instance, Crane Lake wines, which are normally on sale in many aggressive stores for $3.99, were promoted that day for 3/$9.99, a price that’s truly tough to beat.
My conclusion upon leaving was not to buy with abandon or not “Let the buyer beware,” but “Be on the prowl for bargains.” Truly, you can succeed at the Woodman shopping experience.
My next stop was at Olsen’s Piggly Wiggly just outside of Cedarburg at W61N286 Washington Ave., 262-375-4474. I had heard that Olsen’s, managed by Ryan Olsen, had taken over extra space and opened a glorious wine department. My visit revealed a beautiful and fetching selection, bigger than most stores and extremely well-organized. Prices were quite fair, I felt, and I quiveringly had to catch myself from grabbing a few gems and dropping them into my cart.
Across the street was an Otto’s Beer Depot, which featured a decent selection of wine. My conclusion was that Olsen’s Piggly Wiggly is a formidable competitor and a good resource for the Cedarburg market. Given a choice, I’d shop there in a heartbeat.
Today’s wine trivia tidbit, submitted by an Oenophilic friend, was that the first evidence of medicinal wine was found in a tomb in Egypt with an assumed vintage date of 5,100 years ago.
What a sip that must have been, eh Tut?
