When I was informed that there was wine tasting in a store, located in Aldie, Virginia, which my friend described it as a wine boutique store, I did not know what to expect. Upon entering, I was faced with a sweet lady who appeared to be an employee of the store. The ceilings were low and the interior was on the small side. The building was old. It felt cramped at first but the place began to take on a cozy feeling. Before I could glance around, we entered the tasting room where a handsome gentleman of a certain age greeted us who was the Peddler. 

The Peddler was an extrovert, and you quickly became affected by his friendliness that compelled you to enter his world. A bit eccentric perhaps, which made him interesting, but highly amiable. Not the usual wine tasting server. After a short introduction, I felt as if I had been a friend to the Peddler for ages. He pointed to his picture of his younger years that hung on the wall. He was handsome, but he looked like a buff, surfer dude when he was a young man. We all laughed about it. Soon, Peddler generously offered the tasting for us. As he poured the wines for us, he described the wine; he knew his wares. He liked to sell hard-to-find wines that are normally not sold at other stores. We fell in love with a wine with an adorable sheep on its bottle. 

When I took the wine from Spain, I felt the excitement of being transported somewhere else. Peddler had that kind of magic about him. Before I knew it, the room was filled with banter and laughter as newcomers started to pour into the tasting room. It didn’t matter that we were strangers and that we were packed in. We greeted each other and chatted as if we had known each other for years. The weather was foretelling of rain outside, but our moods were jubilant as if we were at a fete. One lovely young woman came in with riding clothes. She was kind enough to advise on horseback riding.

The trick was balancing. I thanked her and told her as she departed with a playful smile, “Don’t fall.”

We soon followed her after purchasing our precious wine with the sheep on it. I like to count sheep when trying to fall asleep and acquired a fondness for the darn sheep. Do visit the cottage-like wine store and become charmed by Peddler who will fill your day with gaiety and not just wine.

http://www.aldiepeddler.com/