The Cork & Bottle Wine Shop, Edmond Oklahoma Gem

In a place you would never suspect a great wine shope to be, The Cork and Bottle sits next to a 7-11 Store in West Edmond Oklahoma. The young owner, Jill Ogden have made it their Holy Grail to find the best wine buys under $15, and they have succeeded. Located at 16502 N. Western, Edmond, Oklahoma 73013, Jill and here equally young employees have done their best to help this much older wine buyer, me, with great selctions, and also a constant update on new musci selections.

I like going into places that have a sense of community. You are not their just to buy, you are their as a friend. The unforced greeting as you walk in is real, and when you say what's new, you get not only an answer, but a personal experience with the wine they have profiled for you taste. Two days ago I came in and told them about Active Rain members blogging about their favorite small businesses and I wanted them to be the first. I also told them I wanted to compile 6 or 7 of my favorite buys that average under $12.00 a bottle and they did just that.

First, the Condesa De Leganze Crianza is fun to say. But it is also a great example of great low cost Spanish wine. The Tempranillo grape is a ruby red smooth taste with just a hint of spice on the finish. Yummy. The Gascon malbec is a great example of a Brasilian wine that is a Malbec grape famous for blending in France, but 100% goodness in South America. Chile also does excellent Malbec. Not to be left out California's Lost Angel Mischief is an example of how America does great blends. Silky smooth to the palate. The Pares Balta Mas Petit is a tasty organic wine. This is a growing category, and Green can be politically correct and tasting good. merlot has gotten a bad rap becasue of the movie Sideways but Velvet Devil hits the spot. Verderol Spring in a bottle is a cross between a Savignon Blanc and a Pinot Grigio. I am not much for whites, but in a hot summer when you don't want a beer this hits the spot. For a bit more money also try an unoaked chardonnay. It will change your attitude about that grape.

I drink these because these young folks care. They look at wine not to get sauced on, but as an extension of food, or as an aperitif. I saw that estimated sales for this tiny shop was $2.5 million last year. They must be doing something right, and since I moved out of the area and I am 15 mile away, I still make the trek to the little wine store that could, and does. Follow them on Twitter @Cork_And_Bottle.