On Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:36:45 -0500, Virginia Tadrzynski wrote:

> "Zeppo" > wrote in message
> ...
>> "George" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Virginia Tadrzynski wrote:
>>>> "Goomba" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>> Has anyone ever used a mail order wine company to send gift wines to
>>>>> friends or family for Christmas? Any recommendations on good companies
>>>>> to deal with? Anything special I need to be aware of?
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm stumped as to what to send my step-mother for Christmas. If she
>>>>> needed or wanted anything she'd just go get it. Christmas gifts are
>>>>> TOUGH!! I know she enjoys her sherry and I often send her bottles of
>>>>> Tio Pepe, but I wanted something more interesting, perhaps a "wine of
>>>>> the month" type deal.
>>>>>
>>>>> All suggestions welcome
>>>>> Goomba
>>>>
>>>> Do you live or does she live in a state where alcohol is regulated by
>>>> the state? Here in PA you can get gift cards for the local state store
>>>> or as it's called on the Main Line...the Wine and Spirits Shoppe.
>>>> -ginny
>>>
>>> I thought they called all of them that to disguise they are government
>>> stores? I did notice they disguise them further at a few places by
>>> calling them premium wine boutiques and other cutsey names.
>>
>> Most people still call them the 'State Store'.
>>
>> A monopoly by any other name....
>>
>> Jon
> NC used to call them the ABC Store (Alcoholic Beverage Control)...we always
> called them Aunt Betty's Cookie Store, or Aunt Betty's for short.

my dad used to refer to the county-owned store as the 'package store'
(montgomery co, md.), and i do, too. sometimes called an 'off-license'
store, meaning the alcohol must be consumed off the premises. barrooms in
the county that sell beer to go have an 'on- and off-license.'

your pal,
blake