A great meal only gets better with a great wine. The problem arises when you're not sure which wine is a great wine to choose. With thousands of varieties, and new selections becoming available all of the time, even the serious sipper can benefit from an educated suggestion. The ladies at Swirl Wines have the expertise, and selection, to help you pick the perfect pairing for any occasion.

The mid-city shop is cute and inviting. The flowery purple logo flows across the front window. Brightly colored signs with simple wine words like 'crisp' and 'lush' decorate the walls. The store isn't lined with floor to ceiling shelves. Instead, round tables are scattered throughout the room, each one with a cluster of wines sorted by variety. Wooden racks line the walls.

Swirl employees are happy to make an educated recommendation to suit your tastes. For those who prefer to trust their own taste buds, Swirl offers plenty of opportunities to expand your horizons.

Each week, the store hosts several nights dedicated to helping wine lovers expand their repertoire of favorites. Tuesday nights are reserved for what the store calls "Swirlin' Dervish." The first Swirlin' Dervish event I attended was Pairing Wine with Chocolate. I couldn't think of two better items to be the focus of one evening!

Each taster was presented with a small plate of five different chocolates, a list that paired a wine with each, and a glass. Working the list from top to bottom, each pour came with a description of the wine and an explanation of why it was paired with the particular chocolate.

Other Swirlin' Dervish themes have included Tapas Night –six different wines each paired with an appropriate Spanish small plate, Life is a Cabernet, and Off the Beaten Path – a tasting of less common varieties. The cost of a Swirlin' Dervish event runs a very reasonable $10-$15. The number of participants is limited so it's a good idea to make a reservation.

If Tuesday at Swirl sounds appealing, Friday should be right up your alley. Friday Free for Alls offer free tastings of four wines from the same grape, region, or distributor.

On top of the regularly scheduled weekly events, Swirl hosts other special events throughout the month. Past special events include a scotch tasting, a wine dinner, and additional nights of wine tastings.

To learn more about upcoming events at Swirl, stop by the store, or visit www.swirlinthecity.com to sign up for the weekly newsletter. With new events every week, this is one mailing list you'll welcome to your inbox!

Swirl Wines
3143 Ponce de Leon
New Orleans
504-304-0635