I've lost track of the number of MEGA GROCERY stores opening in and around the Broad Ripple area. I'm still not sure if I need 65 choices of yogurt or want to have a martini after I stroll the cereal aisle. But more options of where to go to get your bacon, also means more places to buy your wine. Gone are the days when grocery store wine tasted like, well, grocery store wine. Back in the late 90's when Marsh Supermarkets was still locally owned, it was the first to add wines that could only be found in liquor stores to its wine section. Then Michigan based Meijer came to town and brought its large wine inventory philosophy with it. Soon after, other established grocers, big and small, were adding more bottles from around the country and the world to store shelves. Then came the cavalcade of specialty/organic groceries offering specialty/organic wines. Choice is good.

I first sampled the Dark Horse brand about 4 years ago when it had yet to hit the Indiana market. Now it's widely available. The Cabernet Sauvignon is dark and rich. The Red Blend is full bodied and smooth. The Chardonnay has just enough oak to add a soft touch of vanilla to the fruity dry white. NEW to the market are its Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc.

The former, fresh and easy drinking. The latter dry and crisp with soft notes of lemon grass, herbs and a soft zing of grapefruit.

Most of these food-friendly, affordable wines are screw-capped too, so no need for a corkscrew. And since it's almost impossible to find a grocery store that doesn't already have your breakfast-lunch-snack-dinner-ready-to-go, the only choice you have to make is what plate and glass to use when you get home.