Newly smitten with wine lady finds favourite bottle at trendy inner-city bottle shop, is how the headline to this review should read. Alas, it still wouldn't sum up the simple pleasure Malt Traders has given me. You see, I'm new to this wine business. Up until recently, it was something I could take or leave. Now, I'm quite partial to a drop or two and I've been drinking an Oeuf Blanc from SA by the glass at Gerard's Bar quite happily. It doesn't hurt that it goes oh so well with a serving of salumi and cheese.
But I digress. Malt Traders is a bottle shop but its a category that doesn't seem to do the slick inner-city space justice. A little sister, if you will, to the long-standing Malt Restaurant, Malt Traders offers the more refined of us a well-curated selection of wines, spirits, pre-made classic cocktails and beers. For the urban dweller, there's also space in their cold storage dedicated to take-home meals and deli items. The gents that call this place "work", a pros. This isn't, I gather, some part-time or casual schtick for them to pay the bills. They're invested in the industry, in their products and giving customers a great experience in-store.
Add to this that the gentleman working in the store when I stopped by was able to give me great insight into wine (very welcome for a newbie like me), it made me feel like I was welcome despite my new beginnings. I see many visits in my future. read more