If you’re like me, you actually don’t really enjoy shopping for wine. The process is a little stressful. Unless I go into the shop knowing exactly what I need to get, I end up browsing the aisles aimlessly feeling like the people who work there think I’m a shoplifter. I’ll pick up an eye catching bottle and read the label then put it down. I’ll go up and down the aisles looking for something familiar, yet know that really I would rather try something new but not know what is good value or good quality. I feel so self conscious and worried I’m not going to make a good choice. Luckily, I found my solution: Liberty Wine Merchants.
Liberty has a handful of locations across the Lower Mainland and opened its latest store in Ladner last September. I didn’t go in right away because at the time I was 30-something weeks pregnant with twins. I suppose I could have browsed but I was so big I assumed I wouldn’t fit between the display cases. In hind sight I was wrong! During my visit, I could easily steer my massive double stroller from the BC VQA shelves in the front to the feature rosé section in the back.
Initially, I was a little intimidated going into the store. Boutique wine stores have a tendency to give off a bit of a pretentious vibe. But once Warren (the store manager) and I started chatting I immediately felt like we shared the same view on wine education. All we want to do is make sure people know enough about wine to enjoy it and even spark a bit of conversation with whomever they’re sharing it with.
No matter where you shop, I encourage you to ask questions. i.e. What’s your top selling wine from France? Why do you think it’s popular? I’m looking for something to serve with pork, what is something under $20 from Argentina that you would recommend? The more you know about the bottle you buy, the more satisfaction you’ll have while drinking it.
All Liberty employees are WSET certified which means they know the nuanced differences between a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand versus Australia. They’re there to show you the weekly $10 value picks for your average Wednesday night dinner but also to help pick the perfect bottle to open on your 20th wedding anniversary the following Saturday. They offer free wine tastings every Friday, which satisfyingly are on special pricing for the duration of the weekend. And for the month of June they’re featuring rosé’s from Provence. As you know, I’m on my summer rosé quest so of course I picked up a bottle which I plan to share this weekend with a girlfriend.
So go wine shopping with confidence. You don’t necessarily have to know what you’re looking for, but at least be willing to have a conversation. Ask questions and be interested in what you’re buying. Who knows, you may find a new favourite wine. Or perhaps a new favourite place to shop!
