Bargain Wines with a Premium Taste

Pick of the Vine is a special niche in our Wine Department created specifically “for the people.” The name was chosen by a customer, and the entire concept caters to those who want quality wines without steep price tags. All 55 wines in the Pick of the Vine collection are under $15, and each one has something special to say in both its design and taste. This uniqueness means that even though these are inexpensive wines, they never taste that way.

Wines found “Off the Beaten Path”

The “curated” component of Pick of the Vine is crucial, and it means that wines are never chosen at random or trivially. Along with the price, our wine experts also ensure that the vinos have a certain je ne sais quoi that can’t be found in highly visible bargain brands. The selection also looks different as it is peppered with unique labels, bottle shapes and cans amidst traditional 750ml varieties.

The brands in Pick of the Vine come from around the world and have been specially selected to expand our tasting horizons beyond mainstream varietals like Chardonnay and Cabernet. Although the classics can still be found, they share the space with lesser-known styles of wine that have familiar and bold tasting notes, like Grüner Veltliner. A lesser-known Austrian grape, Grüner Veltliner offers customers a taste that stacks up with popular white wines and pairs perfectly with many foods. If packaging is worth praising, Scarpetta’s pig-adorned cans of Frico, a Lambrusco style of wine, get our applause. No matter what kind of wine someone is thirsting for, Pick of the Vine offers flavors people recognize and others that they’d never think they would love.

Something for Everyone

One of the ways people are easily introduced to new styles of wines in the Pick of the Vine section is through the organization of the bottles. The 55 wines are arranged so that customers can identify new wines to try based on the taste of more familiar wines rather than grape varietals. This means that someone looking for a full-bodied and dry wine can still find something they like, even if it is not the chardonnay they are familiar with. This allows wine fans to find something new that is still in their wheelhouse.

Looking to the future, the Wine Department plans on consistently updating the Pick of the Vine collection in order to bring even more unique wines to Heinen’s. In stores, wine associates are giving more meaning to Pick of the Vine by answering questions and giving customers both wine suggestions and pairing recommendations. Because of our associates’ expertise, customers can quickly find new styles of wine that will taste great alongside their dinner – even if it’s a last-minute one!

Although Pick of the Vine wines may cycle out, the section’s overall goal will never change: introducing people to high-quality and low-cost wines that everyone from wine aficionados to first-time wine buyers feel great about drinking. It’s never been easier to find your pick of the vine!

By Heinen's Grocery Store

In 1929, Joe Heinen opened the doors of a small butcher shop on the east side of Cleveland, Ohio, aiming to establish himself as the city’s purveyor of quality meats. As customers came into Heinen’s new shop for their meat purchases, they began asking him to carry groceries as well. Joe added homemade peanut butter, pickles and donuts and by 1933, business had grown enough to include a line of produce and canned goods. Heinen’s Grocery Store was born.