| The World Is Your Bacchanal |
 |
 |
| Written by Cameron Delahoussaye |
| Wednesday, 21 January 2009 15:51 |
|
All great things in life start in the raw. Raw materials, raw ideas, raw desires—that place where you peel away all of the outer layers to get to that wholesome, unique, uncompromising source from which all later things evolve. Nestled in the back of the unique Bywater lies a raw paradise of spirits unlike any other: Bacchanal—a little wine shop pleasantly deprived of pretentiousness, arrogance, and every other bad idea that often accompany the wine world in its most popular of these modern American days. Located on the corner of Chartres Street and Poland Avenue (600 Poland), it’s easy to miss from its weathered white and exposed brick exterior. But once you enter, your world transforms to a cozy old-quarter building with unique bottles lining every rack in the room. You know that feeling—like entering an air conditioned building from the excruciating heat and humidity on any August day, like entering a restaurant and inhaling the aromas of the day. Bacchanal has what you want, and you certainly want it all! For the discriminating wine connoisseur as well as the know-nothing looking for a quick drink, Bacchanal offers a unique experience and a selection from seven dollars to seventy, every bottle striving to please. The proprietor, Chris Rudge, proudly brags that he drinks every bottle in the store, and as I have experienced, price usually is not the determining factor of that which will please your palate, no matter how well-developed your palate may be. Bacchanal was founded upon the understanding that many outstanding wines exist at all price levels, and Bacchanal exists to find those needles in the haystack for its customers. You know…those great discoveries that come every once in a long while that have a taste that exceeds the price two or threefold or more. The ones you love to brag about to your friends. At Bacchanal, every bottle tastes much better than its price, and it’s Rudge’s passionate search for these unique, obscure, and even raw jewels that make the place such a great asset to our City. Last but not least, and probably best of all, you can enjoy your selection right there for just a modest corkage fee. Whether you seek to indulge your purchase among the wine racks, in the sitting room, or in its cozy courtyard in the back, the choice is yours. There are free wine tastings every Saturday afternoon, and live music and food in the courtyard are plentiful on weekends—especially Sunday evenings. The world is your Bacchanal…don’t let it sip by! |