While not exclusively a “wine word” I’m choosing “atelier” to kick off our Wine Word of the Week series because, as you probably know, it’s part of the name of my online wine boutique: The Wine Atelier. As a result, I often get questions like, “What does that mean?” and/or, “How do you pronounce that?” so I thought I’d take this opportunity to explain.
“Atelier” is defined as, “an artist’s or designer’s studio or workroom; a workshop, usually a small space,” and Merriam-Webster explains this word’s origins as, “French, from Middle French astelier woodpile, from astele splinter, from Late Latin astella, diminutive of Latin astula. First known use: 1699.” You can also hear the correct pronunciation of this word by clicking here. I chose “atelier” to describe my retail boutique because I wanted to provide my clients with an individualized, education-based experience when shopping for wine featuring wines and producers I’ve personally selected as opposed to a giant warehouse brimming with all things alcoholic. Unfortunately, these days shopping for wine is less about exploring the world’s wine regions and empowering your palate than it is about discounts and sales. Not that price isn’t important when shopping for wine, I always offer my clients competitive pricing, I just don’t think that should be the only factor driving their decision.
So if you want to learn more about and explore the world of wine in addition to enjoying fabulous pricing, I hope you take this opportunity to explore our selection of wines online at The Wine Atelier. As always, if there’s something in particular you’re looking for, please feel free to contact us at info@wineatelier.com. Thanks for taking the time to learn more about us – we greatly appreciate it and look forward to exploring the world of wine with you in 2014 and beyond!
Cheers,
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