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Hand-Crafted Creations Set Birmingham's World of Wines Apart

With a pinot grigio kissed by kiwi and lime, to grapes that taste like peaches, you'll find unique vintages at World of Wines.

“People light up when they taste a good wine,” said Ed Bosse, owner of World of Wine. “It’s fun; it makes it for me.”

Located at 230 Willits Alley, World of Wine is a boutique wine store offering around 100 varieties of wine from around the world. Bosse, who used to own Simply Wine on Pierce Street, said his new store specializes in what he terms "green" wines from small, family-owned vineyards.

“’Green wines’ are wines that don’t have as many sulfates or other chemicals in them,” said Bosse. “Many are made from unique grapes.”

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One example of such grapes, according to Bosse, is a wine from Sicily made from Grillo Cattarro grapes. This pinot grigio-type wine has hints of lime and kiwi. 

Another example is a Michigan wine called “Del Lago.” Tasting like peach and spring water, the wine is made from the Auxerro grape.  “There’s so much diversity in wines,” said Bosse.

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Wines from the World of Wine truly create magic with food. “All of these handmade wines have nuances that wines from the major producers don’t have,” said Bosse. “(Wines from World of Wine) match the quality of the food better.”

Although Bosse’s customer base is broad — from the wine connoisseur whose cultivated palate can assess any wine to the newbie whose knowledge of wines begins and ends with “white” or “red” —one thing they have in common is their openness. “It’s really an adventure trying new wines,” he said.

Wine prices range from $8 to $2,000 a bottle. Bosse noted that learning more about wines doesn't need to be an expensive hobby either. “In general, a $15 bottle of wine is as good as 90 percent of the $80 bottles.”

Bosse’s 20-plus year love affair with wine stems from watching customers delight in a new wine, pursuing a unique grape and from the people who make the wines as well. “The vineyard owners are really friendly people,” said Bosse, “more like farmers. It’s that kind of stuff and all the people smiling (are why I do what I do.)”

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