Savour Wine & Cheese

I was so sad when the original Savour store burned down last year, but thrilled when they reopened in a new, larger space on Prospect Street.  I love going in, sampling wines from the tasting machines -- such a fun way to "try before you buy," -- and finding a special bottle at a reasonable price.  The owners are clearly knowledgeable and passionate about wine, always happy to provide guidance, answer any questions, assist with making a selection to go with a particular occasion or meal.  Kathleen,"the wine PhD," has an encyclopedic knowledge of wine and is always happy to help.

The cheese selection is great too.  I ordered a cheese platter for a gathering and it came beautifully presented on a slate board with quince paste and Marcona almonds.  

What a gem for Gloucester, and well worth the trip for others.

I have been a Savour customer since they first opened. I do not buy a lot of wine but when i do, i buy it from Savour. I also love the selection of cheese and other gourmet food items(coffees, salts, sugars, chocolates, olive oil, charcuterie etc.) that they feature. Our Christmas and Easter tables featured a wide selection of goodies from Savour...and wines too.

To celebrate Valentines Day my honey and I gifted each other with a community dinner that Kathleen (the owner of Savour) and the folks at Beach Gourmet hosted. Ohmigosh..it was so much fun and the food and wines were fabulous. We made new friends, enjoyed great food and learned a lot about pairing wines with food.  Totally worth the money we spent to attend.

That's when i found out about Kathleen's 5-week "Become an Expert" wine series. I immediately enrolled in the class and last nite we "graduated"! I'm not sure i'm an expert at selecting wines yet but i know soooo much more than i did five weeks ago and with some practice i'm sure i'll be an expert soon.

Kathleen's depth of knowledge is unsurpassed and not only did we learn about an amazing range of varietals, but we learned where they come from and how to describe them/compare them. Kathleen taught us how to choose the proper stemware for each, let us know the proper serving temperatures, how to know a good vintage from a bad and more. Last nite's class was all about food pairings and we enjoyed a delicious dinner and several wines around the shop's gorgeous big round wooden table.

I have a group of new friends, and a solid education in wine! What could be better than that!

Savour's selection includes a variety of under $10 wines too. There's no reason to shop at a local liquor store for wines anymore....Savour's wines will top any wine they feature, and Kathleen and her staff will guide you to the perfect wine for any occasion. They even feature fabulous tasting machines that dispense just enough for you to savor before you buy! Don't be afraid to walk in and admit that you need guidance!

I have recently completed a 5-week wine class at Savour.  Prior to this class I had driven past, but had not had the priveledge of going in as it's the type of place where I can be easily intimidated.  I have to say, my initial reaction was nothing but pleasure and only increased the more that time went on.  The shop was not only beautiful but friendly, helpful, and well-stocked with wonderful wines, cheeses and accessories - and the tasting machines sooo much fun!  

Throughout the classes there was such an abundance of useful information given to us we were extremely thankful for the binders full of material as we scribbled our notes in to them.  We learned everything from varietals to serving temperature to WHY different years, vineyards, etc tasted the way they did.

Kathleen (one of the owners and our instructor) made us feel right at home.  She was wonderful - right from the start she made us feel that no question was too silly or stupid, even as we apologized prior to asking them.  It is apparent that Kathleen not only loves fine wines but also loves to share her knowledge or just discuss the sensory attributes and characteristics of various wines.  

The shop is full of wines that are not available anywhere else in the state, but yet can accommodate any wallet. This past Easter I took Kathleen's advice on the wine that was served for my family dinner, letting her know who would be there and what would be served.  Thanks to her I was able to serve wines that everyone loved - even my cousin, who told me that she had never found a wine she liked before Sunday.  

Now that class is over, I will not only continue to be a patron, but will gladly recommend it to my friends.