Carrboro offers eclectic wine options for consumers
Commons Photo by Allison Parker
By Allison Parker
Staff Writer
From Counoise to Sauvignon Blanc – Carrboro has what it takes to satisfy even the most eclectic wine connoisseur.
Mary Turner, full-time employee at Weaver Street Market, said the market has a variety of wine options available for any type of consumer.
“We see it all – customers who want the best of everything, to customers who want the cheapest wine, and also everything in between,” she said. “But, most of the people in here are looking for good quality wine at a low price.”
Noel Salaz, native of Napa Valley, Calif. and student at UNC-CH, said her knowledge of wine allows her to choose the best when she goes wine shopping. “I know a lot about wine; it’s on the front page of the newspaper in Napa Valley every day,” she said. “When I shop, I like to go to unique places and find something rare that people haven’t heard of.”
Weaver Street Market has a section of organic wine that is very popular with customers, Turner said. According to the Organic Consumers Assocation, for a wine to be labeled “organic”, it must be made from at least 95 percent organic ingredients.
“A lot of people look specifically for organic wine, such as people with special needs or people who want to avoid over-processed food,” Turner said.
But just because a wine is considered organic does not necessarily mean it is organically-grown, according to Jim Wald, part owner of Glasshalfull, a new wine bar and restaurant on S. Greensboro Street in Carrboro. He said the sulfite content of organic wines could still contain pesticides.
“We carry organically-grown wines,” Wald said. “For a wine to be organically grown, it contains no chemical fertilizers or pesticides.”
Salaz said she does not prefer organic or organically-grown wine over non-organic wine. “Any high quality wine has the same taste, whether it’s organic or not,” she said.
Glasshalfull, open since late March of this year, puts a special emphasis on wine, according to Wald. They serve wine by the glass, the half-glass, the bottle, or by the case.
The three-ounce portions allow customers to sample a variety of different wines to see which ones they like the best, he said. “People can try different wines with different foods and also compare the wines with each other.”
Wald said they try to have a good variety of wines, and search all over to find wines that have no flaws. “Our hope is that in all different price ranges we have selected things that are representative of value,” he said. “For example, we try to choose a really good $6 wine along with a really good $40 wine.”
Weaver Street Market has a wine sale twice a year, with the current sale lasting until April 15. “It’s crazy around here, almost like Thanksgiving and Christmas,” Turner said.
During the two-week long sale, tents are set up on Weaver Street and Southern Village to showcase the wines, according to Turner. “We have a wine show where people can taste everything that is on sale,” she said. “We have a big variety – mostly reds but there are some whites as well.”
Turner said the lawn at Weaver Street is a good place to relax and enjoy wine. “People come out here in the evenings and buy wine,” she said. “They can sit outside and really enjoy it.”
