Let’s be honest. It is, sometimes, hard to be taken seriously with the name “Piggly Wiggly.” It is always entertaining when we have winery representatives, from all over the world, come in and look at our stores. They are amazed that a group of six grocery stores in Lil’ Ol’ Alabama are so dialed in to the world of fine wine.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but we are only the best wine shop because you want us to be. We push ourselves to give you what you want. Thanks for making that fun. Not only are we honored that you, the readers, take us seriously. We at the Piggly Wiggly are also very honored that you chose us as the best wine shop around. Our peers are pretty dang good, so to be selected as the Best of the Best is a strong compliment. And not only do we not take it lightly, but we will not rest on our laurels. We will try even harder to maintain our place as number one. Thanks for selecting us five years in a row!
Piggly Wiggly might be the best wine shops that the rest of the world has never heard of, but you know who we are. We have selected four wines that are just like us. These are four of the best wines you’ve never heard of. Well, maybe you have, but you are one of the cool kids.
Lanson Champagne – real celebrations deserve real Champagne. This Champagne, which has earned the Royal Warrant of HRH Queen Elizabeth II, has been around since 1760. Not a bad run. Oh, and the Champagne is delicious. Why pay an additional twenty dollars, or more, for a Champagne that is more marketing than substance? This Champagne is an elegant balance of maturity and verve, depth and acidity, as well as bright fruits and rich brioche. There is no better value in Champagne.
Ostro Prosecco – Prosecco needs to be fresh, easy, and not too sweet. Other Prosecco labels, which we won’t mention here, have more than FOUR TIMES THE SUGAR of this Ostro. This is an Italian’s Prosecco. Just like a great pair of shoes makes an outfit, a well-crafted Prosecco can make a sunset. Again, you may have never seen this one before, but it has the lift, elegance, and balance that other Proseccos (or Prosecchi if you want to get real Italian) can only dream about.
Lucky Rock Pinot Noir – Pinot Noir can still be a good value. They only made about 3,000 cases of this wine, so it is a bit of a shock that we see it in Alabama. But this is a Pinot Noir that has the brightness, acidity, and freshness that some of the more mass-produced Pinot Noirs cannot aspire to bottle. Put a light chill on this guy, ignore the fact that the rattlesnake on the label has no rattle, and drink a Pinot Noir in the style of the old times… before they were overwrought and too fruity.
Kumeu Village Chardonnay – we cannot sing the praises of this wine enough. If there was ever a wine that epitomizes, “If the rest of the world knew about this, we would never see it in Alabama,” this is it. We believe that only about 1,200 cases come into the country. We got on this early-ish, so we get more at the Pigs then most states do. This Chardonnay, crafted by first Master of Wines (think of Master of Wine as a member of faculty at an Ivy League School, these folks know their stuff) in the Southern Hemisphere, Michael Brajkovich. Simply put, one of the best wines for the money we’ve yet found.
