Products
We select our products to ensure that we’ve covered all of the basics,
plus a broad assortment of premiums, exotics, and great values from off the
beaten path. A typical liquor store stocks about 100 popular wines, maybe 30
different beers, and about a dozen choices in each spirits category.
Hair O’ The Dog carries over 300 wines, many from artisanal producers.
We stock over 200 different brands of beer, and more than 100 cordials, 80
vodkas, 70 rums, 50 tequilas, 30 single-malt Scotch whiskys and 20 gins. Most
liquor stores don’t even try to manage this many brands. Why not? Because
it’s a huge pain in the arse! Luckily, we didn’t get into this
business to make things easier for us. We did it to make things better for
you.
Wine
At Hair O’ The Dog, we taste over 1,500 wines annually so that you
don’t have to. While most of these wines are enjoyable, some really suck.
Think of us as your personal Secret Service agents, throwing our palates in
front of offending wines so that you don’t get hit.
A small percentage of the wines that we taste are truly exceptional values.
These are the wines that we buy for you to drink.
They are generally not wines that you will find available for sale at the
gas station, the grocery store, or the pharmacy. Some of those aren’t
bad wines, but we prefer to support small, artisanal producers who care more
about making great wine than they do about marketing studies of the return
on investment of putting a kangaroo on the label.
Our Wine System
Some stores organize their wines based upon where the grapes were grown.
We guess that’s fine if every customer coming into the shop knows that
they want a Haut-Médoc Bordeaux Blanc or a Verdicchio dei Castelli di
Jesi. But it really stinks for the rest of us who are just trying to find a
bottle that we might like with tonight’s pork chops.
So we’ve designed a progressive wine system that makes it easy for anyone
to find a great bottle every time. Our system is better in that it groups wines
into eight Flavor Families. Each Family contains wines that have similar characteristics,
regardless of where in the world the wines are made. Even better, you can easily
match the wines with food using the Flavor Families.
 Crisp & Fresh
Light bodied white wines that quench your thirst and are the perfect
refresher on a warm afternoon, or anytime that you prefer something light.
These wines for the poolside include Pinot Grigio, Riesling, and Vinho Verde.
All are great alone, with salads, cheese or light seafood dishes. Fresh &
Crisps are superb picnic wines.
 Soft & Mellow
Medium-bodied whites that, like the girl next door, are lovely and alluring,
yet still quite approachable. S&M wines, like Sauvignon Blanc, Sancerre, & Gewurztraminer
(say that 5 times fast), are at their best with shrimp, scallops, fish, veal
and Asian foods.
 Round & Luscious
Full-bodied whites that are rich, deep and luxuriant. These wines, such as Chardonnay
and Viognier, are whites that even an avowed red-drinker can love guiltlessly.
Round & Luscious wines are robust enough to beautifully complement heartier
foods, including salmon, tuna, lobster, chicken and steak.
 Juicy & Fruity
Light-bodied red wines that, like puppies, are easy to love, even for red wine
newbies. An excellent red to drink by itself, or with light fare on a warm day.
Think Pinot Noir, Beaujolais , and Garnacha. Also stupendous with salmon, tuna,
or fowl, this is the quintessential lunch or picnic wine.
 Smooth & Velvety
Medium-bodied reds that are supple and elegant. If Nat King Cole's voice was
poured into a glass, and you sipped it on a starry night, this is what it would
taste like. Smooth & Velvety wines are unforgettable with veal, pork, game
and red meat. Merlot, Zinfandel, Bordeaux and Rioja are all S&V classics.
 Big & Bold
Full-bodied reds that are so robust and fulfilling, many regard them as The Kings
of Wine. Big & Bolds remind us of a certain TV chef… BAMMM !!. Examples
include Cabernet Sauvignon, Barolo and Syrah/Shiraz. These beautifully complement
flavorful foods such as cheese, lamb, beef and game. Great with grilled foods.
 Sweet & Decadent
Like perhaps your first lover, these dessert wines are sinful and bad (in a good
way). Port, Muscat , Sauternes & White Zinfandel. All are lovely by themselves,
served with robust cheeses, or as the perfect end to any meal. Port is particularly
wicked when paired with chocolate. Mmmmm.
 Bubbly & Fun
Sparkling wines, including Champagne , Prosecco and Cava. Bubbly & Funs
are perfect alone (such as when posing for your close-up) or with seafood,
hors d'oeurves, light desserts, or spicy foods. The wine of choice for celebrations,
though we recommend against spraying them on the heads of your guests.
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