Over a camp fire one night, a close-knit family talked about how much fun it would be to open a business together. With five siblings and five different career paths, it seemed like nothing more than a dream that the family would ever have a chance to collaborate on anything. That was until one night when the conversation re-opened at the family dinner table. A business plan took shape and the family enlisted local wine guru Tom Firth and craft beer enthusiast Patrick Schnarr for some expert advice. The result was the opening of the 5 Vines Wine, Beer and Spirits store, which opened in Victoria Park last month.
What sets this store apart from other wine and beer stores in Calgary? A big inspiration for the store was the love of celebrating life’s moments with delicious food, beer and wine, which is why Tasting Tuesdays was started. Every Tuesday night, 5 Vines selects wine to be paired with a delicious variety of food from the Sunterra market next door. 5 Vines is also passionate about craft beer and local breweries, which is why they have six craft beers on tap and a beer fridge that houses roughly 150 varieties of craft beer. Customers can also take advantage of the chalkboard wall that is full of helpful beer and wine suggestions. According to Daniel Buchanan, the idea is for 5 Vines to be to customers what Cheers was for Norm; a place “where everybody knows your name.”
To ensure customers are leaving with the freshest beer possible, a growler bar was installed at the shop. Customers have the opportunity to sample a variety of local, international and seasonal craft beers, which they can then take home. The growlers come in 32 or 64-ounce jugs that can be brought back to the shop for a refill. The staff at 5 Vines recommend growlers as the perfect pairing for game day, poker night or a little something different at family dinner.
What does the staff at 5 Vines recommend for a food and wine pairing? Coming from a ranching background, the obvious choice is homegrown steak with a nice Argentinean Malbec or a rich full-bodied Italian variety. However, for beer lovers, the Rogue Brutal IPA or local Tool Shed Red Rage are also suggested as dynamite pairings for Alberta beef.
If you need an excuse to check out 5 Vines, the shop has a special on Valentine’s Day featuring beer and wine bouquets and they promise lots of shenanigans to come with St. Patrick’s Day fast approaching.
#LYNL | (Live Your Notable Life)
Want more updates on the most Notable things happening so you know before your colleagues do? Get our exclusive newsletter here and follow us on Twitter for all the latest.
Top photo courtesy 5 Vines