The Urban Grape is more than just a shop; it's a community. And with regular (and typically free) tastings every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday as well as private events on Sunday, it's easy to get involved. On the 16^th, Farnum Hill is leading a tasting of their hard ciders, followed by a fireside Pinot Noir–focused tasting with TJ at The Fireplace Restaurant. On October 17^th, a true Keeper of the Quaich will conduct an in-depth Scotch seminar. “Whenever possible, tasting events should be accessible to all,” Hadley says. “That’s really our mantra…. We are all about building community, memories, and joy through the experience of wine and other beverages.” And don't forget to check “Tuesday Tweets” for 20 percent off the chosen local wine of the week! For a full list of events, visit www.theurbangrape.com/events/.

While most wine shops are organized by variety, The Urban Grape's progressive, user-friendly setup categorizes wines by their weight, or “body,” on a 1–10 scale. “Most people typically fall into a preferred section, based on their preference of how the wine feels on their palate or what food they will be enjoying with the wine,” Hadley Douglas, owner of the Urban Grape, explains. A staff member works with customers on a one-on-one basis at the tasting machines. “Once we’ve answered some basic questions — white or red, light-bodied, medium-bodied, or full-bodied — we move on to more in-depth questions to determine whether they like fruity, spicy, dry, sweet, etc.” And voila! You've found your perfect bottle.

Not really a wine lover? The Urban Grape still has plenty to offer, boasting a comprehensive bourbon selection as well as artisanal tequilas, organic vodkas, small-production Irish whiskeys, and almost 200 craft beers. Beer enthusiasts are known to come in and ask specifically for the opinion of their brew expert, Noah. They also have 40 different sakes on hand, one of the biggest selections in the area. “We love sake and will be doing a lot of education about sake at the store,” Hadley Douglas, owner of The Urban Grape, says. “It’s an underutilized beverage!”

TJ and Hadley Douglas, owners of The Urban Grape,  have a bevy of suggestions for wine nerds looking for educational resources. They cite the Boston Wine School for classes and rave about Jonathon Alsop's new book, Wine Lover’s Devotional, which is available at their store and ideal for wine lovers of all levels. For those serious about expanding their knowledge, they suggest Boston University’s Elizabeth Bishop program, of which TJ is an alum. The Second Glass’s upcoming Wine Riot is “a great way to taste a lot of wines at once. Sort of like the Wine Expo, but more geared toward the millennial generation,” says Hadley. And lastly, they suggest visiting all of the local wineries, breweries, and distilleries directly for tours and tastings: “They are like The Urban Grape in that they see the value in hand-selling every bottle to build a loyal clientele,” Hadley says.