I became a fan of Marczyk Fine Foods' wine department when the store first opened more than eight years ago. The selection is always thoughtful and well edited, and the staff is knowledgeable and helpful. Now, with the addition of new wine manager Maxine DiJulio, thee are even more reasons to shop there.

DiJulio, who grew up in a family of grape growers and is a Level 1 sommelier, goes out of her way to make sure customers have all the information they need to pull off a well-paired menu.

Approach DiJulio with a pairing question, and she'll carefully analyze each ingredient on the menu and then deftly suggest the perfect wine. For example, she might indicate how the subtle sweetness of a Ken Forrester Chenin Blanc tones down the spiciness of a spicy Thai basil shrimp, and how the sugars in the dish complement the honeycomb-vanilla-caramel nuance in the wine.

Bonus: Ask nicely, and DiJulio will e-mail you tasting notes to print off for your guests—a real boon for the perfect pairing party.

Marczyk Fine Wines, 770 E. 17th Ave., 303-894-9499