I had enjoyed a particular bottle of wine and couldn’t find it in the wine department at a nearby grocery store. I stopped by Rio Hill Wine and asked my friend Doug Hotz if he knew about it.
“I’ll check and see if I can get it,” he said. Three days later, Doug had tracked down a distributor and said he could get a bottle or even a case in three days. That’s the kind of service customers at Rio Hill Wine & Gourmet come to expect. Rio Hill Wine & Gourmet can help customers find the perfect wine to suit any occasion.
Doug Hotz, Wine Buyer and Consultant of the specialty wine shop at the Rio Hill Shopping Center on Rt. 29 North, helped put himself through college by working in a wine warehouse right out of high school. Later, Doug worked in the wine wholesale business for 12 years before opening his first retail wine shop on Emmet Street in 1999. In 2003, Doug relocated to Rio Hill Shopping Center. His staff combines for many years experience in the wine business.
“There is substantial knowledge of the wine business within this shop,” Doug acknowledged. “There is always someone here to help you with wine selections.”
In addition to experience, selection is the next most important product at Rio Hill Wine. Whereas a typical grocery store may choose wines from among 5 or 6 distributors, Doug personally selects wines from over 30 Virginia distributors. Many wines never seen at larger stores are available at Rio Hill Wine & Gourmet. And the prices vary as much as the vintners.
“We have wines from as low as $5.99 a bottle up to $800,” Doug said. “With our contacts and long term relationships in the wine business, we are often able to find hard-to-get wines for our customers.”
The Warehouse Section in Rio Hill Wine & Gourmet is a customer favorite. “We stock our Warehouse Section with wines sold in lots of 5 to 20 cases at ‘take it all’ pricing,” Doug said. “We buy these small lots and pass the savings on to our customers at extremely good prices.”
Unlike many businesses now in decline, the wine business is prospering and growing each year as people discover the joy of wine and food pairings.
“With our experience, we can steer you towards the type of wines you like and perhaps help you to discover new favorites,” Doug stated.
Doug went on to say that many of his customers are now pairing wines with different courses throughout the meal, whether entertaining guests or just enjoying a meal themselves.
Next time you’re at Lowe’s or TJ Maxx, stop by Rio Hill Wine, located two doors down from Dick’s Sporting Goods. For more information, call 295-88466 or visit www.wine-gourmet.com.