Pour Choices Wine

09/03/2026

09/01/2026

Let’s talk about the wine grape that basically packed a suitcase, moved to Italy, changed its name, and hoped nobody would notice.

Meet the 2023 Inama Carmenère Più.

Carmenère is a French grape. Bordeaux, old-world pedigree, very respectable.

But somewhere along the way, Carmenère made its way into northern Italy and apparently decided, “Yeah… I live here now.”

The problem?

For decades, Italian growers thought it was Cabernet Franc.

Nobody knew.

Carmenère was just over there living its best Italian life, minding its own business, while everyone called it by the wrong name.

Then DNA testing came along in the 1990s and basically blew up the whole operation:

“Ummm… guys? This isn't Cabernet Franc.”

Plot twist.

Inama took that discovery and ran with it. They started seriously exploring Carmenère in the Colli Berici of Veneto and discovered that the grape absolutely LOVES the region's iron-rich red clay and limestone soils.

So now we have a French grape, growing happily in Italy, that spent decades pretending to be another French grape.

And somehow… it works.

The 2023 Carmenère Più brings dark berries, black pepper, cacao, spice and a little savory attitude to the party.

So if you like Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon or Malbec, this is one to put on your “I need to try that” list.

Because sometimes the best wines come from a little confusion.

And sometimes the grape just needs to stop correcting people and enjoy its Italian vacation.

The 2023 Inama Carmenère Più is in the shop now.

Come meet the grape with an identity crisis.

08/28/2026

FUN FACT FRIDAY: We put nuts in our coffee.

Literally.

Our private coffee roast is made for us locally by our friends at Sibling Coffee Roasters right here in Charles Town. It’s a medium roast with pecans toasted right alongside the coffee beans during the roasting process.

Why?

Roasting the pecans with the beans adds a subtle toasted nuttiness and helps create a wonderfully smooth, creamy texture. The pecan complements the coffee rather than overpowering it, making for a cup that’s flavorful, balanced, and seriously easy to drink.

It’s local, a little unusual, and one of our favorite things in the shop.

Come grab a bag and find out what happens when coffee beans and pecans share a roaster.

08/26/2026

We hope everyone had a wonderful National Dog Day! From our crazy pack to yours 🐾

08/25/2026

I finally got my hands on a Sancerre!!

And honestly? That’s becoming more exciting than it used to be.

Sancerre has always had a loyal following, but finding it has become increasingly difficult. Between growing demand and the challenges affecting vineyards in the Loire Valley, getting our hands on bottles has become a bit of a wine hunt.

So when I was able to snag a few bottles of the 2024 Le Petit Silex Sancerre, you better believe I was excited.

Crisp, elegant, and made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes grown in one of France’s most beloved wine regions, Sancerre is known for its bright citrus, mineral character, and that unmistakable freshness that has made people fall in love with it.

The bad news? I don't know when I'll be able to get my hands on another one.

The good news? I have it now.

2024 Le Petit Silex Sancerre is officially in the shop.

08/22/2026

There are some days when the wine shop just has to wait.

For the last TWO years, we haven’t been able to celebrate our girl’s birthday together as a family, outside of the shop. So this year, we’re closing our doors for a little while to do exactly that: celebrate her. All of us. Together.

It feels impossible that the tiny preemie baby who was in such a hurry to get here has grown into this incredibly kind, sweet, funny, and magical young girl.

And the funny thing is… she’s always done things on her own terms. She tried her hardest to arrive earlier than planned, and then when the day finally came for her scheduled due date? Well… apparently she had other plans and decided she wasn’t quite ready after all. What was supposed to be a scheduled delivery quickly turned into an emergency C-section—because apparently, even her grand entrance had to be done her way.

That determination has been there from the very beginning.

So today, Pour Choices will be closed while we step away from the business and spend something we don’t get enough of these days: uninterrupted time together as a family, celebrating the girl who made us a family.

Happy Birthday to our "K". You have always been worth celebrating, and this year, we’re making sure we do it right.

The shop can wait. Family comes first.

08/21/2026

First things first: Pour Choices will be CLOSED TOMORROW (Saturday) to celebrate our kiddo’s birthday!

We’ll be back at it after some very important cake-eating and birthday shenanigans.

Now, on to your regularly scheduled Fun Fact Friday:

FUN FACT: The “legs” on your wine glass do not tell you whether the wine is good.

You know those little streaks that slowly run down the inside of your glass after you swirl it? They’re often called legs or tears, and somewhere along the way they developed a reputation as a sign of a “high-quality” wine.

Not really.

They’re primarily the result of alcohol evaporating faster than water, creating changes in surface tension that pull liquid up the glass before gravity brings it back down. Higher alcohol — and sometimes higher sugar — can make them more noticeable.

So next time someone dramatically swirls a glass, studies the legs, and announces, “Ah yes… excellent wine,” you are fully authorized to nod thoughtfully and say:

“Those are mostly physics, Gary.”

The good news? You don’t need to understand surface tension to enjoy a great bottle.

We can help with that part.

Closed Saturday for the birthday festivities — see you soon!

08/18/2026

Y’all have been LOVING our new, blank, greeting cards from Quiet Little Paintings! New to the display is this beautiful coffee setup, and it gives us all of the cozy vibes a good cup should bring you!

Stop by and grab a bag of freshly roasted, private label brands that we get from our friends at Sibling Coffee Roasters and a beautiful card, we promise it will make THE BEST gift ☕️

Also note: we will be CLOSED Saturday, August 22–we haven’t celebrated our baby girl’s birthday together as a family, outside of the shop, in two years!! So,this year we will be stepping away to celebrate her 💗

08/14/2026

FUN FACT FRIDAY!!

Chocolate has been around for thousands of years… but we're pretty sure they didn't have $2 truffles back then.

Chocolate was first consumed as a bitter, spiced drink by ancient civilizations in Mesoamerica. It wasn't until much later that chocolate became the sweet treat we know and love today.

Luckily for us, we have something considerably more delicious: locally made truffles from Rare Morsell in Frederick, Maryland.

And today is your LAST CHANCE to get them for $2 each when you pay cash!

So come see us, pick out your favorites, and celebrate Fun Fact Friday the appropriate way:

With chocolate and wine. Obviously.