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It’s the newest place to pick up a curated bottle of wine, or a seasonal craft beer when you’re passing through the center of Wilbraham.
However, you may have to stray off the beaten path a bit to make your selections.
The Guilty Grape, tucked at the back of the new set of shops on Burt Lane, is a passion project for owner Robert Ward. A contractor by trade and owner of RH Ward construction of Hampden, Massachusetts, he and his crew, noticed the lack of a good beer and wine shop in the center of town while working on the construction of the shops. When a spot opened in the new building, Ward decided to fill the void.
With a pair of experienced consultants who are frequently in the shop sharing their extensive knowledge of wines and their origins with customers, Ward’s Guilty Grape is more than just a stop-on-the way-home kind of beer and wine shop. Combining unexpected offerings — such as an impressive selection of sake — with distinct imported and locally produced products and top-notch offerings of wines and beers, The Guilty Grape can also provide inspiration for special occasion celebrations such as Valentine’s Day. “We have a wine selection called Mi Amore,” Ward shared, showing off a quartet of wines — a rosé, a sparkling red, a sweet red and a white — all with beautiful red-hued capsules. “Mi Amore means ’my love’ in Italian,” Ward said of the imported vintage, adding that the wines would make a perfect addition to any Valentine’s Day dinner a deux.
For those who prefer a more traditional celebration libation for Valentine’s Day, Ward said The Guilty Grape also carries “a small selection of champagnes” as well as a good selection of Proseccos, sparkling white wines named for the village of Prosecco in Italy.
The Guilty Grape’s suggestions for that Valentine’s Day dinner go beyond just selecting a special wine to enjoy. Ward also stocks a curated selection of imported pasta by Mancini Pastafice Agricolo, crafted from four varieties of durum wheat grown on the family’s estate in Le Marche, Italy. Pair that with tomato basil sauce by La Fede, also available in Ward’s gourmet pantry, for a primo Italianinspired repast. Imported Greek olive oils, balsamic vinegars and olives by Manny, owner of Manny’s TV and Appliance of Wilbraham, offer inspiration for a creative salad. For Alfredo lovers, Ward stocks a kit with sauce and a pair of pasta nests, ready to prepare. “That alfredo is made in Italy, where alfredo was created,” Ward remarked of the sauce in the kit.
Ward added the alfredo would also pair nicely with a Sauvignon Blanc, a Pinot Noir or a Pinot Grigio, all of which he stocks. For those in a more festive mood, he suggested a selection from The Guilty Grape’s sparkling wine collection to toast Valentine’s Day.
For the less adventuresome home chef, Ward said his pantry also includes a simple pasta kit featuring penne with specialty tomato sauce by My Cooking Box that would pair nicely with a selection from The Guilty Grape’s red wines.
Biscotti created by Baker’s Love, another product in the shop’s gourmet pantry collection, would make a nice finish to any Valentine’s Day repast, Ward also noted. For those looking to put an Asian spin on their Valentine’s Day celebration, Ward suggested making a selection from his collection of sakes.
Ward said though “grape” is in his shop’s name, he’s also conscious of the growing popularity of craft beers, and stocks a wide selection of IPAs, stouts and specialty brews, with a wall of refrigerated cases lining one wall filled with offerings that change seasonally. Ward noted the shop’s extensive beer selection also includes more traditional choices, such as Sam Adams, Coors, Blue Moon and Heineken.
Beyond the craft beers, selections of ciders and apple wines by the Cidery of Brookfield, mead and honey wines from Oliver Winery and flavored meads by Sap House are among The Guilty Grape’s locally sourced libations.
For those looking for inspiration when making their beer or wine selection, Ward said The Guilty Grape offers weekly tastings on Fridays, some weeks offering a new wine, others a craft beer. The latest tasting is posted on their Facebook page, facebook.com/theguiltygrapema.
And for Valentine’s Day — or any other occasion — The Guity Grape also offers gift certificates.
Ward shared that though modest in size, The Guity Grape has “gotten a lot of compliments on our selection,” adding that the shop is also willing and able to order a specific wine “if a customer asks.”
THE GUILTY GRAPE, 6 BURT LN., SUITE 103 IN WILBRAHAM, IS OPEN MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY FROM 11 A.M. TO 9 P.M., THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY FROM 11 A.M. TO 11 P.M. AND SUNDAY FROM 11 A.M. TO 8 P.M.
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