Vine Arts: Calgary’s Most Creative Wine and Spirits

For Calgary young professionals who love good wine and spirits, Vine Arts has created quite the buzz. Having just opened its doors in early March, they already have a loyal following of the city’s movers and shakers.

Located on 1 St. in Victoria Park, the concept is a little different from what you may be used to in a wine and spirits store. Clearly oriented towards a diverse crowd, it is meant to be fun and approachable while still meeting the expectations of those who love wine. They are self-proclaimed as Calgary’s most creative wine shop with good reason.

The space, designed by a local designer who has made a mark designing some of the most notable restaurants in the city, is a fun and energized space enveloped by dark woods and shelves stocked full of some of the best wines available. The walls boast circus motif murals courtesy of a local artist.

It is evident that owners Jesse Wills and Jeff Jamieson though both experts in their field –  don’t take themselves or wine too seriously. Whether by price point or by how the wines are categorized, Vine Arts is meant to be approachable to the average YP.

Jesse and Jeff both agree that a great bottle of wine does not have to break the bank and they have a wide range of wines that can suit every budget. They also recognize that categorizing wines by region can at times be intimidating, so they went against the norm and have categorized according to style. This includes everything from Smooth and Sexy to Spicy, Earthy and Funky. This way, you can choose from a variety of wines from around the world if you know what flavours you like.

The shop kind of feels like your new favourite hang-out and thus it should be. Pop by on your way home to grab a bottle to enjoy with dinner or stay a while, visit with the staff, and check out the selection of wines open at their tasting counter.

Interested in something a little different for a night out? Vine Arts boasts a tasting room at the front of the shop that hosts private and public tasting events. Again, these are meant to be fun and not pretentious. The room boasts an impressive table; the top is a deconstructed whiskey barrel and the legs are the base of an ancient billiards table that seats up to 16 people. We definitely suggest booking a tasting for your next special or corporate event.

You can find Vine Arts on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date with tastings and events.