EAST GREENWICH, RHODE ISLAND - A wine shop known for steady growth in a down economy continues to reshape the retail wine and spirits industry. The Savory Grape, one of Rhode Island’s leading boutique wine and spirit companies, today announced the launch of its first private label wines.

The Savory Grape teamed up with highly regarded California winemaker Bill Easton of Easton and Terre Rouge Vineyards to offer two vintages of a special barrel selection of Sierra Foothills Syrah called “Savory Grape Cuvée.” Limited in production and each bottle signed by Easton, the 2004 and 2005 vintages are wines chosen while The Savory Grape owners were on a visit to Easton’s vineyard last year. These are great examples of top notch Syrah.

"The grapes for the wines we produced for The Savory Grape were grown at two of Terre Rouge's top and most extreme vineyard sites in elevation and exposure,” said Bill Easton. “It was one of our top barrel selections from the 2004 and 2005 vintages.”

Terre Rouge and Easton Wines are located in California on the West Slope of the Sierra Nevada in Amador County's Shenandoah Valley. Vermillion-colored soil is one of the hallmarks of that region and the vineyards are in soils that are largely granite and volcanic-based. The Terre Rouge portfolio is composed of wines made from Rhône varietals grown in the rugged and varying terroirs of this region.

“It is interesting to taste both vintages side by side and see how Mother Nature deals out the cards in different years,” said Easton. “Both are equally enjoyable expressions of elegant and nuanced Syrah and we were thrilled to collaborate with The Savory Grape on this incredible project."

According to Jessica Granatiero, owner of The Savory Grape, the company chose to team with Easton because of the quality and longevity of his wines which feature great cellaring capacity.

“Bill does not release his wines early but holds them back so they can come into their own,” said Granatiero. “These particular wines are ready to drink now but can rest in a cellar for another 10 years.”

Steady growth for The Savory Grape has been fueled by the company’s goal of always working to improve the customer experience. Producing the private label wine is yet another example of the company proactively serving consumer demand in Rhode Island.

Call 401-886-9463 (WINE) or email jessica@thesavorygrape.com.

About The Savory Grape Wine Shop (www.thesavorygrape.com)

The Savory Grape is one of the premier wine shops and online stores in Rhode Island. Its 1,700 square-foot shop carries a unique array of wine, craft brews and specialty spirits, not often found in other stores. A staff wine connoisseur, beer lover or scotch enthusiast is always on hand to assist with customer selection. The shop affords customers a chance to learn about their favorite wine - its taste, smell and characteristics - and choose from a vast international selection. The shop’s level of personal service, look and feel and carefully-selected inventory arranged in a customer-friendly manner make the shop a regular national destination- just like a favorite bookstore.

In 2010, The Savory Grape's Jessica Granatiero received the 40 Under 40 award by Providence Business News which honors the region’s most successful people under 40 years of age. She was also featured in the September 7, 2009 issue of Providence Business News. The Savory Grape is featured in the June 27, 2009 edition of The Wall Street Journal wine column on “Getting Help With Wine Choices” and has been mentioned as “Outstanding Wine Shop” by Wine Spectator Magazine (Jan/Feb 2009). The shop won the 2007-2011 Best Wine Shop - West Bay (Reader's Poll), 2007 Best Wine Newsletter (Editor's Poll), 2006 Best New Wine Shop (Editor's Poll) awards through Rhode Island Monthly. Owner Jessica Granatiero is a regular editorial contributor on wine to East Greenwich Magazine.