Grocer to uncork new wine store

Giant Food Stores is expanding its in-store wine trade in the midstate with the opening of a vintner shop in its Silver Spring Twp. store on Saturday.

It will be Giant's fourth wine store in the state and third in the midstate.

Allegro Wines, which also supplies wines for Giant's East Pennsboro Twp. store, will be open from noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

"This is an inspired union between central Pennsylvania's leading grocer and Allegro Vineyards, which has been crafting fine wines since 1980," said Carl Helrich, winemaker and vineyard owner.

"Our common goal is to offer Giant customers a varied selection of fine, Pennsylvania-produced wines,"

Alcohol sales at Pennsylvania food markets is relatively new. Some grocers, including Weis Markets and Wegmans, began carrying beer in 2004. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board also operates a handful of shops inside supermarkets.

Giant is the only grocer to carry wine. It launched a wine shop at the East Pennsboro store in November, followed closely by shops at the store off Hershey Road in South Hanover Twp. and at its Willow Grove store in December. The South Hanover and Willow Grove wine shops are operated by Blue Mountain Vineyards in Lehigh County.

Allegro's vineyard is in southern York County. It produces dry, sweet and other wines that will sell for between $11 and $35.