VinoMatique

When jazz singer Cindy Good decided to hang up her microphone after 25 years in show business, her vision
for the future included red, white and the occasional blend. With the recent launch of her VinoMatique wine shop and tasting parlour in Berea, she�s out to
change everything you ever thought you knew about wine�one sip at a time.

By: Beth Newcomb
Date: 04/16/2008
You�ve never tasted wine quite like this before.

Few of us can actually afford the luxury of an in-home wine cellar, and on the rare occasion when a road trip to a private winery is possible, sampling is limited to the wines produced by that particular vineyard.

The new VinoMatique promises something entirely different. Located in the historic Makovich and Pusti Building in quaint downtown Berea, VinoMatique represents all the charm associated with a boutique, coupled with an entirely new wine tasting venue.

�Our parlour contains a digitally automated wine serving system that allows the customer to choose from 16 different featured wines,� explains Cindy Good, owner of the recently launched establishment. �It�s a fun way to try before you buy.� And it�s a great way to get acquainted with a variety of exceptional boutique wines not commonly found in our area.

�All of our wines are delicious,� she offers warmly. And the prices are almost as pleasurable as the sipping experience. Most of the more than 100 wines featured at VinoMatique retail between $8 and $30 a bottle and most are offered at state minimums.

Cindy personally selects the ever-changing sampling bottles. There are always eight whites and eight reds housed in the Enomatic, a custom designed wine sampling station Cindy imported from Italy.

�Vino Matique is the first wine market in Ohio to offer guests this unique approach to wine sampling,� Cindy offers. Guests pre-pay for samples and are provided a �smart card� to slip into the machine. A glass is then proffered, depending upon the type of wine to be enjoyed. Staff members are always on-hand to assist with selection, or explain the nuances of a particular vintage.

Then the sampling begins.

The sampling card is inserted into the Enomatic, then the wine is selected. Place your glass under the pour spout and out comes the perfect one-ounce sample. All of the whites are held at a comfortable 50 degrees, while the reds maintain a 62-degree temperature. �With this high-tech system, the wine is perfectly preserved so that every sample poured, tastes like the first glass from a freshly opened bottle,� she describes. It�s an ingenious blend of technological advancement with a traditional pastime.

A menu listing the wines available for sampling is located on either side of each Enomatic system. The menu provides a description of each wine, any noteworthy awards and also suggests food pairings.

Tables and chairs have been arranged nearby to encourage visitors to swirl and sip samples from that day�s Enomatic selections. Near the front of the parlour, a comfortable grouping of plush seating awaits, should you decide to relax and stay even longer.

�We get groups of friends who come in together and spend the evening tasting wine from the day�s Enomatic selections,� Cindy describes. �This is a fun experience that should be enjoyed in a warm, welcoming environment.�

VinoMatique�s inventory of wines comes from small production, boutique wineries from all over the globe, including New Zealand, Chile and the Pacific Northwest. Many of the wines have been highly rated by various publications.

As you browse the selections of carefully arranged bottles, note the description cards affixed to the rack fronts. �We have a well-informed staff, but should you choose to shop at your leisure, a wealth of information can be found on the cards,� she says.

Stop by on your way home from work and sample the 2006 Shoo Fly red. It�s a feisty Australian wine combining Grenache, Shiraz and Viognier with well-ripened blackberry, plum and currant notes. Made with structure and grip, the vibrant, juicy length lingers with a �have another glass� finish. And by purchasing a bottle for supper, you�ll be able to do just that.

Visiting with a group of your best gal pals? The Four Sisters 2006 Sauvignon Blac is a must. This provocative mixture of herbaceous, spicy fruit flavors offers a balanced finish with crisp, clean acidity. It�s perfect with a variety of food, particularly Asian dishes and is affordably priced at just $10.99 a bottle.

But if you�re the type who is consumed by your love of vino, then perhaps Fetish 2005 Playmates Shiraz/Grenache/Mataro blend is the one for you. Proclaimed as displaying outstanding potential, this vintage reveals a deep ruby/purple hue, along with oaky aromas intermixed with notions of blackberries, cherries and licorice. It�s a heady, lush, and tasty Aussie red that should drink well for the next several years. It�s offered at an irresistible $23.99 per bottle.

�Our sampling system makes it fun to travel the globe in search of delicious wine without ever leaving the comfort of the couch,� Cindy offers.

VinoMatique also carries a lively selection of flavorful cheeses. Customers are invited to select a cheese that complements the wine they�ve decided upon. And while the wine parlour is not equipped as a food-service establishment, anyone can nosh on the cheese and crackers of their choice while there, and then take the remainder to go.

They also feature an engaging assortment of wine-inspired merchandise that they can select from to create custom gift baskets for all occasions�personal and business.

Packing the perfect picnic? They�ve got a wine for that�and a basket to carry it in. The deluxe cheese spreaders are ideally paired with a VinoMatique gourmet cheese. The wine opener is the perfect accompaniment to a flavorful bottle of your favorite vintage. New merchandise continues to arrive daily and

Cindy anticipates the addition of even more items to appeal to both the spectator and the aficionado.

The selection of wines available for sampling changes on a regular basis. VinoMatique�s website will keep everyone informed of the current offerings as well as other special wine tasting events, wine classes and Parlour Parties.

VinoMatique is located at 109 Front Street in Berea, one block north of the Berea triangle. If you�re reading this story on April 17th, please feel free to stop by anytime for the Grand Opening from 10 till 10. Samples are half off if you mention Mimi�s.
Hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 1:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Call them at 440-826-WINE (9463) for further information.

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