The person behind the recommendation
“I love to look in their cart.”
Before Scott Atkinson recommends a bottle, he wants to know what’s for dinner. That grocery-cart glance captures his approach as Piggly Wiggly Birmingham’s wine specialist: begin with the food, the people around the table, the occasion, and the budget—then find a wine that belongs there.
Scott has worked in wine since January 1996, when he began at International Wines. More than 30 years later, he still treats a recommendation as a conversation rather than a sales pitch.
- Since 1996Working with wine for more than 30 years.
- Food firstRecommendations begin with the meal.
- Questions before answersYour preferences shape the bottle.
Wine advice built for real life
A better bottle starts with a better conversation
At The Pig, wine is part of the grocery trip—not a separate world with its own vocabulary. Scott looks at the meal taking shape and asks questions that make the choice more personal and more useful.
“Listen. That’s the biggest thing. I try to ask way more questions than I answer.”
Scott Atkinson
“The question is not, ‘Do you like this wine?’ It’s, ‘Is this wine right for me?’”
Scott Atkinson
You do not need a perfect description. A recipe, a photo of a bottle you enjoyed, or even a clear idea of what you do not like gives the wine team somewhere useful to begin.
A practical point of view
Scott’s three rules for choosing wine
- Start with the mealThe food, sauce, and preparation usually offer a better clue than the label alone.
- Name the budgetA helpful recommendation respects the ceiling and looks for a bottle that over-delivers.
- Trust your own taste“Everyone knows more than they think they do.” What you enjoy—or what you do not—is more valuable than perfect terminology.
Pairing field notes
Three useful places to start
Scott’s pairings are grounded in how food actually tastes. These are starting points, not rigid formulas.
- Fried food
- Try sparkling wine. The brightness and bubbles are a lively match for a crisp, rich bite.
- Barbecue
- Start with Zinfandel. Its generous fruit can stand up to smoke, spice, and sweet sauce.
- Pasta
- Begin with the sauce and preparation. Tomato, cream, herbs, and meat each point in a different direction.
Useful, not expensive for its own sake
The recommendation should respect the budget
Scott asks shoppers to name “the ceiling of your budget” because the goal is not to spend every dollar. It is to find the bottle that fits the occasion and delivers the most enjoyment within a comfortable range.
“You can spend half the money and be happier.”
Scott Atkinson
That same respect shapes the rest of his approach. There is no quiz, no judgment, and no requirement to speak like a sommelier—only a conversation about what will make the meal better.
Wine help, online and in the aisle
Explore first. Ask when you need a hand.
Pig Wine Online makes it easy to browse the current selection and plan ahead. When you want a second opinion, visit your neighborhood Pig and bring the wine team the same useful starting points Scott uses: the meal, your taste, the occasion, and the budget.
“We don’t really sell people anything. We help them find what they’re looking for.”
Scott Atkinson