Wine prices drop during slow summer season

The latest issue of Wine Spectator has a grim story about the state of consumer spending as it relates to restaurants and wine consumption. It reports that even Las Vegas' high rollers have ratcheted down their spending, looking for less expensive wine when they dine out.

Southwest Floridians are practicing the same thrift. Area restaurants have responded and it appears there's a summer sale on wine throughout the region, with some offering bargain-priced bythe glass selections and others slashing bottle prices by as much as 50 percent.

The result is that it's a buyer's market for cost-conscious oenophiles.

Here's a look at some of the other bargains available in the region:

Lee County • Half-price bottles. Every wine listed at $150 or less on Angelina's extensive wine list is available at half price through Oct. 31. • Summer wine tasting series. Bennett's Fresh Roast in downtown Fort Myers features 5-ounce glasses of wine for $5 all day all summer. Current selections include St. Francis Sonoma Chardonnay 2006, Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages 2007 and Julian Chivite Gran Fuedo Rose 2006 (100 percent grenache rose). Selections change monthly. • Summer Stimulus. Harold Balink of

JIM MCCRACKEN / FLORIDA WEEKLY Frank Albano pours a glass of wine for Diana Pelusi of Fort Myers at Bennett's Fresh Roast. H2 Tapas and Wine Bar in downtown Fort Myers is offering his Summer Stimulus to help boost wine sales. Leese Fitch Cabernet Sauvignon, Michael Pozzan Cabernet Sauvignon, Primarius Pinot Noir and Eric Chevalier Chardonnay are all $6 per glass. • Wino Wednesday. Known for its imaginative cocktail list, The Joint at Cape Harbour in Cape Coral shifts focus on Wednesdays. "This is the night we dedicate to the lover of juice," said Bob Mulroy, managing partner. Wineries featured this week are from Rosenblum Cellars and Sokol Blosser Winery. Guests can try a flight of two whites and two reds (3-ounce glasses) for $15. The Joint also has an "end of bin" special for $5 per glass or $20 per bottle. "Instead of running out on our wine list, we take wines off when the inventory gets really low," Mr. Mulroy says. "This way the guests don't order a wine that is out of stock." Right now bin specials include Fess Parker Viognier, Steele Merlot and St. Francis Wild Oak Chardonnay. • Flight Night. 55° Cool Wine and Cheese at Gulf Coast Town Center runs Flight Night every Friday and Saturday. Choose a flight of three wines in 2-ounce pours for $12, or pair with cheeses for $20.

Collier County • Bottle Shock at Culinary Concepts. The Naples-based company owns Blue Water Bistro in Estero, Chops City Grill in Bonita Springs and Naples as well as Yabba Island Grill and Pazzo! Cucina Italiana in Naples. The promotion's name comes from the 2008 movie of the same name that chronicled a 1976 blind tasting that changed the world view of California wines, after one of them — Chateau Montelena Chardonnay — bested its French competitors to capture first place. Customers at all five restaurants may purchase Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 2007 for $9.50 a glass, a bargain price considering a bottle normally sells for $95. The restaurants also offer Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon 2003-04, normally $117 a bottle, for $12.50 per glass. The promotion runs Sunday through Thursday. "Great wine completes the meal," says Jennifer Chin, Culinary Concepts director of internal operations. • Wine Down Wednesdays. M Waterfront Grille's Wine Down Wednesdays feature wine, appetizers and live jazz on the outdoor veranda and lounge. From 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays, the Naples restaurant offers specially selected glasses and flights of wine. "It's a great chance to try new wines that we normally only sell by the bottle," says General Manager George Quinn. Three-ounce pours are $6 to $7, and a flight of three is $16. • Wine of the week. Each week Cafe Italia in North Naples offers a different wine plus an order of bruschetta for $20. Co-owner Jennifer Pucci says this week's selection is 337 Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon. • Enomatic bonus. Naples Tomato is running a 50 percent bonus on purchases from its enomatic (wine-dispensing machine) this week. Look for additional savings in coming weeks. • Bottle sale. All wines priced at $120 or less are half price at Bice at lunch every day and at dinner Monday through Thursday. • 5 for 6 'til 7. Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar features five wines by the glass, five cocktails and five appetizers for $6 each from 5 to 7 p.m. in the bar.