Fans of the grape

When the owners of Walter’s moved to new, larger quarters in Portland, Maine, they were also able to have a bigger, more ambitious wine list—a fact they wanted to promote. Walter’s implemented a policy whereby they would open any bottle priced at up to $100 for a customer who would then agree to purchase two glasses from it; the restaurant then put up the balance of the bottle as a by-the-glass blackboard special.

“I’ve never been a fan of half-bottles, and more people appreciate being able to try a wine they wouldn’t ordinarily order,” says Cheryl Buerhaus, who owns Walter’s with her chef-husband Jeff. “It’s a great complement to our daily blackboard food specials. We don’t sell a tremendous amount of wine this way but it’s much more than we thought it would be, and our regulars really appreciate it. And it’s worked brilliantly to introduce customers to our extensive wine selection for the next time they come in.”