Good or better wine shops, wine bars and wine experiences in out-of-the way places

[RooFlyer]

While Trip Reports often cover good wine experiences, they don't always focus on the important things - such as how to get hold of the good stuff when you are in an unfamiliar city, especially overseas.

So lets see if we can provide some help and short cuts here. I'm thinking of good wine shops, wine bars and even wine experiences, but not so much eating places with good wine lists.

 

[RooFlyer]

Re: Good or better wine shops, wine bars and wine experiences in out-of-the way place

CALGARY, Alberta, Canada

METROVINO

Location: 722 11 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0E4 (hard to see the entrance - look for the sandwich board)

Web site: Metrovino

Good for: Wines from around the world, especially European. A number of wines from most regions (weak on eastern Europe). Very good and knowledgeable owner; tastings available. Tthey stock Rockford at decent prices :shock: .

Also: A great deli and fine food shop attached - amazing selections!

Comment: Literally took me a couple of years to find this place but now its a magnet for me when I'm in town. They have me on their database, and know what I like and point me to the current selections. And the fine food store attached to it means that any visit can get expensive.

Its 10 mins walk south of downtown and 5 past the rail line.




Entrance not easy to see




You enter through a fine food store. Hard to walk past the cheeses and pates!




Lots and lots of selection, from most parts of the world. Emphasis on quality, but some New World quaffers..




Always have Rockford (Basket Case and the Grenache, usually)

 

[RooFlyer]

Re: Good or better wine shops, wine bars and wine experiences in out-of-the way place

CALGARY, Alberta, Canada

CO-OP Winestore

Location: 1113 11 Avenue SW, Calgary (underneath a large apartment block) and opposite the Co-op grocery store; lots of off street parking. About 10 mins drive from downtown.

Web site: Co-op Wines Spirits Beer (the chain)

Good for: Wines from around the world, especially Australian and new world. Always have an Eastern European selection. Big beer and spirit selection.

Also: Co-op grocery story opposite, across the parking lot. One stop shopping.

Comment: In Australia we'd call this just a well stocked bottle shop, but those sorts of things are rare here. This is a stand-out.


Its just SW out of downtown




Easy to find, lots of parking (big grocery store opposite)





Typical bottle shop lay-out




HUGE Australian selection,




... including Grange! 2005 C$408 (about A$500, when you add the taxes on). 2007, C$440 (A$534 after tax)

 

[RooFlyer]

Re: Good or better wine shops, wine bars and wine experiences in out-of-the way place

PORTO, Portugal

TAYLOR FLADGATE port lodge tour

Location: Rua do Choupelo nº 250, 4400-088 Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto, Portugal

Web site: Taylor's Port Cellars Porto, Portugal - Taylor's

Good for: Learning about the making of Port and for tasting some good ones. You get the tour (lots of barrels!), a sit down in the lounge with good explanation of what to look for in various ports, tasting a few different port styles and overall a nice experience. 5 Euros.

Also: There's a restaurant and a gift shop. Didn't do the restaurant, but bought some stuff in the other . Bit of a walk up the hill. Don't try to drive and park.

 

[burmans]

Re: Good or better wine shops, wine bars and wine experiences in out-of-the way place

Excellent thread and will see what I can dig up. Not so sure I would define a "good" wine shop in a foreign country by the ability to buy Australian wine though!

 

[drron]

Re: Good or better wine shops, wine bars and wine experiences in out-of-the way place

Well you have won me-I see Best's Great Western just getting into the shot.
Sentimental value.

 

[RooFlyer]

Re: Good or better wine shops, wine bars and wine experiences in out-of-the way place

Excellent thread and will see what I can dig up. Not so sure I would define a "good" wine shop in a foreign country by the ability to buy Australian wine though!

Oh, I totally agree. Never buy the stuff when I'm away. Just that that Co-op does have such an extraordinary range for Cow-town, Canada.

 

[Buzzard]

Re: Good or better wine shops, wine bars and wine experiences in out-of-the way place

Looking at #2, ~AUD100 for a 2009 BP is not a bad price I'd say.

 

[Canny man]

Re: Good or better wine shops, wine bars and wine experiences in out-of-the way place

I'll suggest Bocanariz in Bario Lasitaria Santiago Bocanáriz Bienvenidos a Bocanáriz

They serve a wonderful selection of flights of Chilean wine so you can sample across a good range of whites and reds from good value/interesting to super premium. The atmosphere is great and they serve a great selection of snacks and main dishes to match the wines. I particularly loved a selection of Patagonian cured meats with a set of carmeneres, and salted cod kebebs (pictured).

 

[burmans]

Re: Good or better wine shops, wine bars and wine experiences in out-of-the way place

When in Croatia, despite having a thriving wine industry we found it hard to find places to actually find much to buy and as importantly to get much information about the wine. This place D'vino Wine Bar Dubrovnik, did wine tasting, was a very cute bar in its own right and the after deciding on your preference you could buy yourself. Probably cheaper places to buy around but this was a very nice end to end experience and just off the main drag so quite a peaceful experience too. Rates highly on TA also.

And yes, Croatia has some very nice wines, after you go here you will know much better what to look out for.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Re: Good or better wine shops, wine bars and wine experiences in out-of-the way place

If staying in New Orleans and looking for a great wine selection I recommend a visit to Rouse's Market on the Cnr of Baronne & Girod Streets. Outstanding selection of quality wines at supermarket style prices. Was there in June this year and bought a bottle of something everyday to take out to BYO places or back home to drink.

Also a great selection of craft beers to be had here.

 

[RooFlyer]

Re: Good or better wine shops, wine bars and wine experiences in out-of-the way place

Near STELLENBOSCH, South Africa

LE PIQUE NIQUE

Location: Boschendal Wine Estate, Pniel Road, Groote Drakenstein, Franschook, RSA

Web site: Cape Winelands Picnic | Le Pique Nique | Boschendal

Good for: A summers afternoon lazing on the lawns, stuffing yourself.

I did this some years ago so hope the overall experience hasn't changed. You get a very nice basket of gourmet goodies, buy your wine, then find a spot to sit within the estate lawns +/- shade +/- tables and start [-]pigging out[/-] savouring it all ! I think many of the wine estates do it now - I remember another very,very long lunch at Vergelegen (and a prize to whoever can pronounce that properly ) Picnic At Vergelegen - Vergelegen Estate - Somerset West, Winelands, South Africa

I see the price currently is 175 Rand - about A$20!! (food only).

There are restaurants on the estate as well, and again, many of the estates do it superbly.