Twenty-Two 2nd Street Wine Co

I had such a wonderful experience here! All the wines were displayed so nicely that it was easy to find what I wanted. Heather helped me decide on a wine in a way that was informative and made it fun. The hours are so convenient for me as well. A great addition to downtown! I’m going back today! –Arlene

As it’s just a hop, skip, and a jump for me to get down here, I thought I’d meander over to 22 2^nd and see what I could pick up. I was assisted right away by Steve, and my first impression was that the visual was just as important as what was inside the bottles. It was like going onto the floor of a very fancy dealership; not a lot out on the floor, but there was no need for volume, because the relatively small stock on display was quite fetching.
I wanted to pick up one of two things — either a Txakoli wine (which I had first had at Peck’s this summer), or a decent Rosé. I asked after the Txakoli first, and was told they didn’t have any —- but, there may have been a reason for this. In the ensuing conversation, Steve told me that Heather (you all know Heather and Vic, right? Without them, Monument Square is still filled with protests, porno theaters, empty, clanking bottles of MD/20−20, and crushed styrofoam cups migrating like lemmings to the Hudson. Maybe I exaggerate, but not too much…) will personally try all the wines, after reading up on them, and only decide thumbs up or thumbs down, Lucas or Peck’s or 22 2^nd, after sampling. Because maybe what works at Peck’s won’t work in the store. *That* is knowing — or anticipating, at least — your audience. And it makes me all the more aware how lucky we Trojans are to have in our midst proprietors that care to that extent about the experience they create for their clientele.
So Steve told me about the one of the two Rosés in stock, from Forlorn Hope (Kumo To Ame 2013), and sold me on it. I love the prices on the bottle in chalk marker (in good penmanship!) — it matches the aesthetic of the place. We chatted a little about the tastings they are planning, forthcoming classes (stemware classes! the proper glass for the proper wine!), the upcoming newsletter, how granite and shale make for different kinds of soils (forgive me, I was a geologist once), and new methods for in-​situ carbonation of grapes. Not bad for a twenty minute stopover.
At the risk of repeating myself, it’s clear that Heather and Vic care about their product, and once again, they’ve given Downtown Troy and its citizenry something that they can «nyah, nyah, nyah» Saratoga, Chatham, and Albany about. Because we have it, and they don’t. But those folks are free to visit and purchase any time, I’m sure.
Once again, Heather and Vic, thank you both for your efforts. We all benefit!

Stopped in to see the new shop and were met by the always lovely Heather and Vic. We pranced in with our small dog and were happy to find Charlie and Groucho behind the register. I love visiting pet-​friendly stores! The store has a wonderful vibe and beautiful set up. Heather has curated a great selection of eclectic wines that line all the walls of the shop. I will be visiting to pick her brain about new wines. We enjoyed the wine shopping and talking experience as much as the delicious cava we got.

Am I first?
I was compelled to come into this wine store on its opening day. Even though the shelves aren’t yet full, there is enough product on hand to knock my socks off.
This is the antithesis of those large we-​have-​whatever-​you-​want-​at-​the-​lowest-​prices-​in-​town wine warehouses. Sure, those have a place. But browsing these shelves is like looking through your cooler friend’s record collection. It’s a tightly curated selection, purposefully arranged in interesting ways, that will help you think about wine differently.
New world wines aren’t separated from their old world wine cousins, largely because this shop procures new world wines made in the old world style. I’m a bit of a wine geek, so if that last sentence didn’t make sense to you, I’m sorry. But trust me, that’s fascinating stuff.
The wine here is inspiring. There is stuff from ultra small wineries, juice from grapes I’ve never heard of, and bottles from one of my favorite importers. When a wine store is this small, every bottle is special. And Heather, who owns the place, can tell you all about them. She’s not snobbish. She doesn’t judge. And she really knows her stuff.
Prices are clearly marked on the front of the bottles in a chalk marker that wipes right off at the register. That way, as you’re perusing the racks, you don’t have to pick up every bottle to search for the price. It’s easy to see what’s in your everyday price range, and which bottles you might come back for to celebrate a special occasion.
There are a lot of bottles between 11 and 19 dollars. There are a selection that are 10 and under. And there are plenty that are 20 and beyond. But for the most part, these seem to be bottles that are meant to be enjoyed in the now, and not put down for years.
Ironically, given all the great wine in the store, I walked out with a bottle of French cider. It suited my purposes. But I’m going back as soon as they get in their shipment of Beaujolais Nouveau. Because it’s been almost impossible to find anyone who carries versions of this wine from small producers that isn’t filtered to death, and Heather tells me that she’ll be getting the good stuff that’s bursting with life.
I love this place. I hope you do too. But it can only be good if you are open and honest with the wine merchant. Nobody expects you to know anything about any of the wines on the shelf. Period. Tell Heather what you like. Be honest with what you don’t know. And together you’ll find something marvelous.
Happy hunting.