Cheese Corner

Cheese, We Do It Right...

Cut & Wrapped Fresh to Your Order!
We're proud of our Award Winning Cheese Department. Our staff is passionate and knowledgeable about the delicious products that we offer. We stock over 200 classic and artisan cheeses along with other delicious foods from around the World. We cut and wrap our cheeses fresh to order which delivers the highest quality while reducing waste. Our fresh cut approach also allows you to purchase as much or as little as you like. We offer FREE samples too, so you can taste before you buy! Stop by and see why the Riverfront Times calls us the "Best Place to Buy Cheese."

Cheese Expert Steve Jenkins
"When it comes to buying cheese, the biggest favor you can do yourself is to find a reliable, impassioned cheesemonger and benefit from his or her knowledge each time when you go shopping for cheese. Always taste before buying...a fresh-cut cheese always tastes better than a pre-cut, plastic wrapped one." -Steve Jenkins, Author of The Cheese Primer

Parmigiano-Reggiano $12.99/lb
Cut and Wrapped Fresh to Your Order!
"Parmigiano-Reggiano is a classic cheese that's versatile in the kitchen and at table. It's one of our favorite wine tasting cheeses too as it doesn't coat your palate and interfere with the flavors and texture of wine. We love to serve this with full-bodied Italian reds or a glass of Champagne. We urge customers to purchase Parmigiano-Reggiano in bulk (hunks, wedges, etc.) for snacking or garnishing pasta dishes, soups and salads. We highly recommend grating it fresh as pre-grated cheese tends to dry out and lose it's character quickly. Freshly grated cheese always tastes better. We have one of the best prices around on this Italian classic and we'll prove our Parm's quality with a FREE sample. Stop by the shop and see for yourself." -Simon Lehrer, Cheesemonger, The Wine Merchant, Ltd.

Wine Merchant Classes

Fun & Informative

Sauce Magazine Says...
"If you want to learn about the taste, geography, history and use of wine for daily dining and social pleasure, there is no better place..."
-Sauce Magazine

Classes at The Merch are fun and informative and a great way to learn about wine. Our classes are taught by members of our Award-Winning Staff which includes several Sommeliers, Certified Sommeliers and Certified Wine Educators and knowledgeable, wine industry veterans. Here is a list of current classes along with a link for our complete class schedule.

Best Buys Under $15: USA
Tuesday, January 12
Please call 314.863.6282 for reservations.
Everyone loves a bargain and we stock a fine selection from around the world. In this class we'll show you some American wine bargains that can compete with the best values in the world.
$15 per person

Wine & Cheese Pairing; The Classics
Thursday, January 14
Please call 314.863.6282 for reservations.
In this special wine and cheese pairing class we'll show you the most important, classic pairings that have survived fads and stood the test of time. We'll teach some of the science, geography and history of these classic culinary matches.
$35 per person

West Coast Pinot Noir
Friday, January 15
Please call 314.863.6282 for reservations.
In this fine class we'll show you some of the finest examples of this fickle grape. Pinot Noir has experienced the best success on America's west coast with the best examples coming from some of California's coastal regions and Oregon's Willamette Valley. Learn about them here in our West Coast Pinot class!
$40 per person

More Amazing Spanish Bargains
Saturday, January 16
Please call 314.863.6282 for reservations.
Spain continues to produce some incredible bargain- priced wines. Just when we think that we've tasted most of the best examples we discover more of 'em! Join us in this class and we'll show you more amazing bargains from Spain.
$20 per person

Custom Wine Classes

Please call 314.863.6282 for information.
"We've been teaching classes since we opened for business in 1992. They're taught by our Award Winning Staff and are a great way to learn about the fascinating world of wine. In addition to our regular schedule we offer custom classes that can be tailored to your order and presented at our original location in Clayton. We're available outside of the shop for custom classes and tastings too. We can help with a casual 'intro to wine' party at your place in the country or give a presentation on rare wines from France's Burgundy region before an elegant dinner in your home. We can also travel to your office for a special event for important board members or your place of business for a corporate seminar involving hundreds of participants. We offer many possibilities with our custom tastings, special seminars and in-home events. Our calendar fills up quickly and we encourage you to secure times and dates for custom tastings as far in advance as possible. Please see store for details." -John Nash, The Wine Merchant, Ltd.

Cardiff Cellars $4.99
Excellent Values from California
These are really amazing wine values and perfectly balanced so they'll pair up with just about anything from the kitch. Cardiff wines are crowd pleasers, perfect for a large group, big family party, corporate event, etc.. Sometimes cheap wine just tastes cheap. These offer amazing quality at an affordable price and we think they're the best values around town. Check out what Sauce Magazine had to say...

Sauce Magazine on Cardiff Cellars
"Lots of super-cheap juice (remember, our limit is $6 a bottle) is bought on the bulk wine market and bottled with a goofy cartoony label (usually some cute mammal). The problem with this, though, is maintaining consistency and quality over time. Here are a couple of good finds without the cute label. All three of these California wines tasted like the varietals on the label - no small feat in the under $6 category. All are full of fresh aromas and hit the tongue with a splash of bursting fruit. The Cab has enough spice and backbone to accompany grilled meats while the Merlot is subtle and jammy, gliding across the palate with a silky finish. Once the Chard opened up a bit in the glass we got a nose full of crisp fruit and citrus, but not much oak, which is just how we like it..."
-Sauce Magazine

2008 Cardiff Cellars Chardonnay
On Sale $4.99
"This is really good. Fresh nose with notes of citrus and yellow apple. It's crisp and fruity on the palate with a snappy finish. No oak here baby. Cheap Chardonnay that actually tastes like Chardonnay. Hooray!"
-John Nash, The Wine Merchant, Ltd.

2008 Cardiff Cellars Merlot
On Sale $4.99
"Cardiff Cellars has quickly become one of our biggest sellers. We love the cheap and tasty Merlto. Plummy, purple color. Fresh nose of ripe cherries and black plums. It's silky and balanced on the palate like a good Merlot should be. The perfect crowd pleaser for your next big party."
-John Nash, The Wine Merchant, Ltd.

2008 Cardiff Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
On Sale $4.99
"Dark color. The nose smells like Cab should with notes of blackberry, plum and hints of cedar. It's rich, silky for a Cab and it ends with a chewy finish."
-John Nash, The Wine Merchant, Ltd.

Best Sellers Sale

Great Values Under $15
We take pride in the value priced wines that we have discovered and stock on a regular basis. We always taste before we select them and have found some incredible bargains. Some of these fine values are very recognizable others are a little off of the beaten path but offer just as much value, sometimes more. We These have passed our taste tests and offer great value.

2007 Protocolo Tinto
On Sale $7.99
"Deep, smoky aromas of cherry & dark berries, with notes of cracked pepper and black tea adding power; smells like an old school California Petite Sirah. Very rich & chewy, dominated by deep dark fruit flavors. Finishes with good grip, silky tannins and a persistent note of dark berries. An outstanding value."
-Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

2008 Protocolo Blanco
On Sale $7.99
"Greenish gold. Subtle aromas of mint, lemon and orange, with a hint of honeysuckle. Dry, understated and focused, offering clean citrus and melon flavors and slow-building sweetness. Finishes dry and brisk, with an echo of lemon. As usual, this is an outstanding value."
-Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

NV Segura Viudas Cava Reserva Brut
On Sale $8.99
"Unexpectedly complex, this first hints at smoke, cocoa and dry spices, and that layering rolls into the taste as well. Forward, ripe apple fruitiness rises above a dry hint of apple skin, wrapping up in a citrus and mineral grip. Stylistically it's graceful..."
-Rated 92/100 Wine & Spirits Magazine

2007 Morro Bay Chardonnay "Split Oak Vineyard"
On Sale $10.99
"Here's a new arrival that's really tasty! This is a partially, barrel-fermented Chardonnay that combines ripe fruit and hints of toasty oak. A new staff favorite and a great deal."
-John Nash, The Wine Merchant, Ltd.

2008 Kendall Jackson Chardonnay
On Sale $10.99
"I've always been amazed at the high level of quality control at Kendall-Jackson. I mean they make a sea of their Vintners Reserve Chardonnay and it's surprisingly tasty and incredibly consistent year after year. We have a great price on the newly-released 2008."
-John Nash, The Wine Merchant, Ltd.

NV Segura Viudas Cava Brut Rosé
On Sale $10.99
"The best value among these sparklers is the non-vintage Brut Rose. Salmon pink-colored, it exhibits an attractive yeasty, strawberry-scented nose and crisp, fruity flavors. It has surprising length for its price point."
-Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2006 Morro Bay Cabernet Sauvignon
On Sale $12.99
"We're big fans of Morro Bay's Chardonnay. Not long after we discovered that tasty morsel it garnered a Best Buy in the Wine Spectator. We really like their Cab too. This isn't a typical Cali Cab. Aging in a mix of French and American oak barrels has tamed the beast. This is actually elegant and suave, sophisticated even, especially for it's price. Serve this with grilled flank steak, portabella mushrooms, lamb ka-bobs, grilled polenta topped with blue cheese and fresh tomato, etc."
-John Nash, The Wine Merchant, Ltd

2007 Dickson's Mill Zinfandel Sonoma County
On Sale $12.99
"Here's a fine bargain from California's Sonoma County! This darkly colored Zin is loaded with notes of crushed berries, brambly fruit and peppery spice. The finish is long and velvety."
-John Nash, The Wine Merchant, Ltd.

2007 Diseno Malbec Mendoza
On Sale $12.99
"We did a double-take when we first tasted this impressive Malbec from Argentina. Seems like Malbec from Argentina is all the rage but we're not impressed with most of the widely-distributed examples. This one "WOW'd" us with its dark, saturated color which seemed to coat our wine glass. The nose is rich, layered and complex with notes of black fruits and exotic spices. It really impressed us on the palate with a richness and silkiness that usually comes from a more expensive bottle. A new staff favorite."
-John Nash, The Wine Merchant, Ltd.

2008 Vega Sindoa Old Vine Grenache
On Sale $14.99
"Inky ruby. Exotically perfumed bouquet displays black raspberry, cherry compote, licorice and dark chocolate, plus a sexy floral overtone. Fresh, focused red and dark berry flavors are given depth by a note of bitter chocolate and framed by silky tannins. Finishes with very good clarity and mineral snap, with the black raspberry note repeating. Year in and out this is a superb value."
-Rated 90/100 Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Grey Goose Vodka
France's Finest On Sale
We have a great price for you on Grey Goose Vodka. This is one of the top brands worldwide with an incredible following and rave reviews from the critics. We were offered a special price from our supplier and we love to pass on the savings to our faithful customers. It's in stock but quantities are limited so please act quickly on this special offer.

Grey Goose Vodka
On Sale $27.99
"Made from the purest water from the Cognac region of France. The ultra smooth flavors and clean finish make Grey Goose perfect for martinis."
-Rated 96/100 The Beverage Tasting Institute

American Blues

Cut and Wrapped Fresh to Your Order!
We carry a stunning array of blue cheeses from around the world. We love the versatility that they offer. Blue cheeses are great for snacking, can dress up a salad, melt perfectly into a grilled burger or garnish a juicy pork chop. Here are some of our favorites blues from some of the top US producers. As always, stop by for a FREE sample.

Maytag Dairy Farms "Maytag Blue"
Cut and Wrapped Fresh to Your Order!
Yes, this is the Maytag family that has supplied America with major appliances. Down the road in Newton Iowa, from their appliance factory, they also own a dairy farm where they produce one of the finest blue cheeses in the United States. These cheeses are handmade from raw cow's milk and then aged in cellars carved directly into the side of a hill on the farm. This blue has a marvelous peppery flavor with a creamy texture that lingers on the palate. Serve this as a garnish to a mixed-greens salad or with fresh fruit and walnuts after dinner. Maytag Blue works well with soft, fruity red wines and, like most blue cheeses, really struts its stuff when served with a sweet, after dinner wine: Port, Sauternes, Muscat Beaume de Venise, etc. Stop by for a FREE sample.

The Rogue Creamery "Rogue River Blue"
Cut and Wrapped Fresh to Your Order!
The Rogue River Blue has a natural rind and the aging process imparts flavors from the Rogue River Valley. These naturally occurring molds from the Rogue River terroir impart flavors of wild ripened berries, hazelnuts and pears to this rich, creamy blue cheese American classic. To preserve this wheel it's wrapped it in grape leaves from the Applegate Appellation of Oregon. The grape leaves are soaked in Pear Brandy which adds additional complexity. This is a stunning blue cheese and one of our new favorites. Stop by for a FREE sample.

Point Reyes Blue
Cut and Wrapped Fresh to Your Order!
Cheesemaker Monte McIntyre learned his trade at Maytag Farm in Iowa before heading west to the sunny, coastal stretches of northern California. The ocean fog and the salty Pacific breeze leave their inedible stamp on this amazing blue cheese. Rich, creamy and luxurious. Stop by for a FREE sample.