Best of Boston

2008 Best Gourmet Shop, West

Lower Falls Wine Company

No ‘oaky’ chardonnays and ‘plummy’ merlots here. The quaff hounds at this third-generation business call on a broader viticultural vocabulary in helping a customer discover the perfect bottle: ‘Thought-provoking.’ ‘Animalistic.’ ‘Zany.’ And they’re as passionate about choosing their wines as their adjectives, traveling to craft vineyards worldwide in search of small-batch surprises like Sottimano Barbarescos and a cache of 2005 Rhônes. Stop in for a wine tasting or for a friendly one-on-one consult, and the word that’ll come to mind is ‘intoxicating.’

2366 Washington St. (Rte. 16), Newton Lower Falls, 617-332-3000,