photo by Lisa Carrington

In the 1960’s there were only a few wine shops in LA that carried Californian wine, and one still thrives today Greenblatts Delicatessen & Fine Wines. It was built in 1926 as a deli and by the time the 40’s had rolled in and prohibition was abolished the deli started selling liquor. In the 60’s Greenblatts began selling a new region for wines and Jeffrey Kavin remembers those pioneer’s coming by his dad’s store. “Fetzer would pull up in his station wagon and deliver his wine. At that time there were like three places in LA that sold Californian wine so, word got out pretty quickly that this was the place to go, Greenblatts.”

Jeffrey is the third generation to run the family store. “My grandfather bought it in the early 40’s and in 1952 my father took over and he soon started selling wine.” Jeffrey’s introduction to wine grew with his father’s passion. He’d often come home from college and his father would have a new producer or vintage for Jeffrey to taste. In the early 1980’s his father grew tired of the daily grind and that’s when Jeffrey’s father asked him to give up his successful law practice and take over running the store.

The largest inventory of fine wine in Hollywood today resides on the sales floor or in the underground cellar of Greenblatts. “The items stacked up in the front of the store are particularly good deals and the prices are the lowest or lower than anyone else’s prices around town,” says Jeffrey. Burgess Napa Valley Cabernet 2000 at $17.95 and the Piper-Heidsieck Brut Champagne $22.95 are both tremendous values and with the Piper cheaper than Trader Joe’s!  “Some of the older inventory is things that are from our original stock we bought, but we do have our own contacts in Bordeaux and in Napa where it’s possible for us to get perfect condition often Chateau stock directly from the producers.” The 2004 acquisition of the famous Saint Emilion wine Chateau Canon, 1978 is solid evidence to this claim.

Jeffrey and his staff are the tasters that determine which wine gets in. “Our focus has been to take care of our customers and delivering a reason for them to want to come back. That means delivering superior wines, excellent service, and matching the best prices in the market.” Jeffrey’s own tastes have led him to covet red Bordeaux’s, white Burgundies, and Napa cabernets and central coast Syrah’s. “I like Rhone’s, too.” Sounds to me as if his father influences still live.

To be sure the menu at Greenblatts is broad in its scope however Jeffrey’s hand picked wine selections always have an answer when searching for a match with your dinner. “A number of our customers think California Cabernet and pastrami are one of the best combinations in the world.” Do you love Macallans Scotch? Greenblatts carries the 30, 25, 21, 18, 15 & 10-year style of this perennial favorite of single malt scotch aficionados. Greenblatts Cruvinet wine cabinet, a temperature controlled wine-keeper, was one of the first in LA and today they do over 30 wines by the glass.

The clientele is fiercely loyal and with some families they are on to the 3^rd generation who have come to shop and eat at Greenblatts. “Some will say customers don’t have any loyalty, but a tremendous portion of our customer only buy their wine here because they have always bought from us because we’ll take care of them.”

Tasting: Bourgogne Chardonnay 2002 – This 100% chardonnay is a gorgeous wine from the exceptional 2002 harvest in burgundy. White burgundy is a favorite of Jeffrey’s and this wine has a nose of citrus & minerals, is layered with flavors of honeysuckle & lemon fruits, creaminess, and a lingering finish of minerals and acids. At Greenblatts for $9.95

You can contact me at adam@canyon-news.com