I spent the greater part of recent sunny and warm Saturday wandering around various parts of…read moreCalgary. It's been a few years since I've set foot within the "Heart of The New West", and Cow Town has certainly become more trendy and expensive. And it doesn't hurt there's a boom cycle going on in the Energy sector. One of my favourite personal measures of a metropolitan area's success is the number of specialty wine stores sprinkled about. Alberta got rid of their state store system long ago, which has unleashed a lot of creativity regarding adult beverages. This is definitely not Manitoba or Pennsylvania. I wandered into Metrovino after coming out of Brûlée Patisserie, ambling into Cookbook Co. and then finding Metrovino on the back end of the Builder's Block. This place is the real deal wine wise and I felt like a kid in a candy shop as I was admiring the well considered choices among many price points. Actually, the selection reminds my of Kermit Lynch as it's very specialized and Euro-centric choices. When I mentioned that to the Owner, he immediately perked up and went into a long positive tribute to this Berkeley Wine Shop which he has visited and of which he considers Kermit to be a mentor. I know enough about wine to talk a good game and be dangerous in my selections. In this case, the very nice and extremely knowledgeable Owner took me for more than that and proceeded into wine and grape discussions that were a bit over my head. It was still a lot a fun as this is a place that loves wine and engages in it with gusto and surprisingly little pretense. I left with a very nice bottle of Port and an intention to come back for a wine tasting where I could really learn something.

Metrovino's main entrance is on 11th Ave. SW but there is also a back entrance from The Cookbook…read moreCo. Cooks store. Both employees here are incredibly enthusiastic about the wines they sell wines in general and speak highly of their owner. According to them, MV does its best to cut out the middle man in purchasing, many of the vineyards that they carry are being dealt with directly. This ensures a more personable relationship with their supplier and they are passing this on to you with lower pricing. A lot of their merch comes from France but of course they carry wines from all around the world. The most impressive thing I see is that they had about 12 uncorked wine bottles at their counter which is available to any customer all year round, you are able not only to buy these select wines but you are able to taste which one beforehand. Classy! The pride is evident in service, and in education here, most of the employees are handpicked because of their past histories and most of them have moved on to more professional careers in their field. Expect great service, good prices, very informative staff but most of all try out some wines at the store yourself for better informed choices.

5 vines! What a great concept liquor store! This shop literally opened tonight and to a very happy…read morereception of people! This shop is the only store in the area and it is focused on craft beers and fine wines. What does this mean? They have a tasting counter for wines and food, a gigantic wine selection and a very well stocked craft beer fridge with practically every beer you can imagine in it! What's unique about this spot is the growler station. This is a stack if beer taps, like you would see in a pub, waiting to fill your own growler bottle so you can have fresh draft beer at home! Pure genius! The shop is owned by two young couples and they are catering to their demographic! People that like good wine, great local beer and the bright and clean atmosphere that is welcoming and easy to navigate. I give this place a very quick and easy 5 star rating and I will definitely become a regular given the location and the smiling young faces! Head here on the way to your next party and fill up a growler!

A great bottle shop for anyone that lives in the area. I was living at Keynote for a while and it…read morequickly became (possibly too much of a routine...) to stop in on my walk home and grab some red wine or craft beer. One thing I love about this bottle shop is that the staff are super helpful and knowledgeable. Most times that I've been there I've asked for a recommendation within my price range and I got some really good choices. They have a reward system that you can sign up for, and then you can just give them your name or phone number to collect points whenever you make a purchase. They have a really good red wine and craft beer range - can't comment on anything else here but I'd love to try one of their Growlers at some point!

"Found what you were looking for?"…read more "I wasn't looking for anything, but I found this. Is it any good?" "It sure is! And I'll tell you why..." Anyone that can convince me to spend $14 on ONE beer deserves five stars. Aside from beer, you can also find wine for your dinner party or for drinking alone with your block of smelly cheese and army of cats. I'm not judging. Wines, beers and spirits in most every price range. I also enjoy the fact that you can mix and match beers and make your own six-pack. And the wall of "sweet and sticky." Walk around without getting accosted, ask all the questions you want. I was sold on coming in by this suggestion: "Go in there. They have bottles open for tasting." Oh and by the way, this belgian lychee beer is delicious and I have only seen it here. Foux de fa fa!

Great wine store with an amazing variety of bottles from ~15$ to "sky is the limit". Staff is great…read moreat helping make a selection. Great place to buy wine for dinner or as a special gift to someone you love! Some beers and hard liquor also available.

The store has a fantastic selection of wine and single malt scotch. The staff is knowledgeable and…read morehelpful. Been here many times and never left without quality wine or scotch in my hands.

Hold on just one gosh darned tootin' minute. Another wine store open in Calgary? How many of them…read moredo we possibly need? About as much as we need another cool restaurant to eat in... read: a lot! With each boutique wine store comes another palette behind it to teach us things about wines that we didn't know before. And, 1st SW in Victoria Park didn't have a cool wine store yet, so, another reason to add one to the mix. Rather than being displayed by country of origin, wines are organized by type. Reds on one side, whites on another.. and subsequent categories by flavour... like smooth and sexy. C'mon, who doesn't want a smooth and sexy wine? I came in on the hunt for a nice red to sip on while doing some writing. I came out with just that-a sweet bottle of Barossa. I'll leave the full critique for another day, but if you like reds that are on the sweeter side without being too overpowering, shut down that computer, make your way downtown and pick up a bottle from Vine Arts before I decide I want to buy the rest of the bottles on the shelf. April Underdog Challenge: 5/30

Great selection for wines, spirits & craft beers. Friendly & knowledgeable staff & locally owned…read more Excellent prices.

This is a very well stocked store. There's a huge variety of wines (both in vintage and price) as…read morewell as unique rum, liqueurs, etc. The fellow on staff (whom I suspect was the owner) stated that they purposely order differently than CO-OP and other large competitors. He was boasting that people drive distances because of his unique stock. They also have a list highlighting that which is only stored in the cellar. Intriguing, isn't it? He offered to mail me the entire wine list yesterday and I accepted. However, he didn't keep his promise because I don't have it. I won't judge him for it, though. My favorite ale was in the fridge, so I was more than happy to walk out with that. April Challenge: The Underdog 12/30

I was in need of a nice white wine for a evening with friends, so I thought I would try Varsity…read moreWine. The guy at the til greeted me and asked if I needed help with anything to let him know. The store is very dim and disorganized with boxes everywhere. They have rack after rack of wine, which is supposedly organized by country. All the price ranges are mixed together, $14 with $35. They have a display case in the back full of $100 and even $300 wines! As I searched the rows, all I saw was red wine, one out of 20 was white! So I decided on a rose. Then spotted a red at the back that seemed appealing. I noticed that they do tastings, so I asked the guy when I went to pay. He said that they do and he actually had a red open right now, if I was interested. I never pass up free samples of wine! It turned out to be an amazing selection too, one I had never heard of, which I think I will try next time. They also have a basic stock of beer and liquors at standard prices. So I bought the rose, at $15 and the red at $20. The rose turned out to be horrible, so I feel that was a waste of money. I have had $10 bottles of wine that were better than that. The red turned out to be perfect. So I will definitely ask for advice when it comes to shopping here for wine again. I will return to Varsity Wine if I am in need of a pricier wine, but there are better places to buy a good cheap bottle of wine from.

Very nice wine vendor, cool dark wood-dominated décor inside. Kinda makes you feel like you're in a…read morewine cellar selecting your vino. They have a lot of wines you can't find anywhere else. I'd tell you which wines they are, but then you would go buy them and then they won't have any left for me! So go find your own favorite!

I love it here. Everyone I have asked about this joint has never been here. Even home-grown…read moreCalgarians! What a shame! I know, parking can be a "B" but downtown is downtown. If you happen to be down there anyways, come to this clean, dark, sinful, bootleggin' feelin', underground wine/liquor oasis and buy yourself a treat. Or 2.Or 5. As much as you can carry. The staff is always ready to help and I have enjoyed chatting with them all as wine is my thing. As soon as you walk in, staff will be more than eager to serve you! You may not find the exact bottle of wine or beer that you are looking for but I assure you, you will leave happy!

I love visiting the Cellar to grab wine because it is located in: bum bum bum... A cellar! To be…read moreclear, the cellar is that of the old Alberta Hotel, and this brings a very historic and slightly European atmosphere to the shop. It makes your visit into an experience. The other major benefit is that they play up the wine cellar connection - indeed the storage conditions are very good for the serious bottles of wine that they keep here. I am not an Oil Baron or associate, so I lack the resources to know about the best of the best that they keep here. But they have some pretty fine wines in my ten to fifteen dollar range, and are without snobbery in helping a girl find a good (cheap) wine. I love a good wine, although I am pretty far from being an expert so it is really nice to be able to refer to the ratings they have for the wines. Any questions you might have are answered by the helpful staff, and they know their stuff! So whether you are a wine newbie or a seasoned connoisseur, the Cellar is a wonderful wine gem conveniently located in downtown Calgary. When I have time I always try to make the trip pre-dinner party.

I have been here many time. I am part of the rewards club and it is my go to liquor store because…read morethey have more things than the average liquor store. This year 2018, marks the liquor stores 40th birthday where they are having a big celebration! 40 years that is pretty impressive!

Willow Park provides great customer service and hassle-free online ordering for friends and family…read morein Calgary. They contacted me to confirm my order and clarify details (which I appreciate). My gift arrived on time and beautifully packaged. Most importantly, they have a great selection of wines.