Randy Clement, April Langford and George Cossette’s Silver Lake storefront is the quintessential neighborhood wine hub. You might call it "the People's Wine Store" as the staff here take pride in defining themselves by their customers. No matter your speed—Armani and shades or board shorts and sandals—every customer gets the same treatment from an enthusiastic, knowledgeable staff who maintain their role to merely navigate the customer. You'll always discover something new as the selection—smartly chosen and constantly changing— is mostly small-production domestic and French with a smattering of natural European wines.
Good for: In-store tastings are featured on Mondays and Thursdays.
In & out factor: There's a free parking lot adjacent to store off Glendale Blvd and metered street parking in front.
TOLA pick: Forget Burgundies and Russian Rivers. Try the surprisingly stellar Pinots of New Zealand like the Cashburn Pinot Noir Central Otago 2010 ($21.75) or go domestic with a lighter Syrah like the Scribe Syrah East Side Atlas Peak Napa Valley 2007 California ($41.75). Both reds aren't overwhelmed with dense fruit or oak, perfect drinking wine at your holiday dinner.