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Kitsilano Wine Cellar
Category: Food Beer, Wine & Spirits Beer, Wine & Spirits [Edit]
2239 W 4th AveVancouver, BC V6K 4S2
Neighbourhood: Kitsilano
(604) 736-7660
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 10 am - 10 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
14 reviews for Kitsilano Wine Cellar
14 reviews in English
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Review from Sarah A.
9/21/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I frequent this shop more than I should (my wallet is always quite a bit lighter when I leave). Partly because it is a lot closer to me than the government store and partly because it is a great wine store. Prices are steeper than at a government store, but the selection is much larger than at most BC Liquor Stores I have frequented. They have everything and I do mean everything. I always find the wine I am looking for here as the selection is fantastic. The BC selection is very healthy. I also appreciate the "budget" section at the front of the store (wines under $15 and under $30). And they have a great cider selection as well.
Staff here are friendly and knowledgeable about the wines they carry. Also, they always ID me. Which is starting to be flattering, really. -
Review from Betty L.
2/6/2011 ROTD 5/11/2011
One of my favorite wine stores in Vancouver. For such a small store, they manage to have a good selection of wines. One thing I don't like is the lighting of the store, it's so dim I have a hard time finding wines on my own.
The staff are quite informative and friendly. However when I asked one of them to recommend a rose for me, it wasn't that good. The flavours and aromas of the wine was very limited and the finish was short. It's good they have a wide range of prices and good selection to choose from.
A good choice for people who aren't fans of BCLDB. No wonder they're expanding their business. -
Review from Kreag S.
Vancouver, BC
10/11/2008
This would not be my top pick for a wine shop in Vancouver...the selection is fine but a bit limited compared to some others..the service was adequate..the gentlemen that helped me seemed like the typical pretentious Kits type..like his Superior wine knowledge was so vast and fantastic that I should be blessed by his presence..ummm..not so much...
I may give them another try...but like a cheap white wine...they have left a bad dry bitter taste in my mouth...Listed in: Just Skip It, Liquor? I hardly know her!
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Review from Chloë E.
Vancouver, BC
12/26/2008 1 photo
On my last visit here I found the service brisk and terse.
Sure there was a snaking line leading from the cash (the only one that was open despite there being two registers). The two gents on cash and wrap duties had me leaving there within 30 seconds. Whether I wanted to or not. I was shooed away with looks as I paused to return my wallet to my purse. Just a little too coldly hurried.
The selection is okay and I found what I was looking for. The chilled wine section is varied: perfect if you're dropping by en route to a dinner party. Nothing special and fine to stop by if you're walking past. I won't make any special trips to visit though. -
Review from Ysabelle R.
Vancouver, BC
6/20/2010
I usually stop by here on my way home to pick up a bottle of red. The prices are fair, the selection is generous, and the staff is always knowledgeable, very friendly and very attentive.
There aren't many wines here that you won't find at a BCL, but since there isn't a BCL within walking distance of the Vine area, Kits Wine Cellar is the next best option. Their wines are organized by location: BC, New Zealand, Australia, South America, France, Italy, Germany and the Mediterranean. They also have a good selection of ports and sparkling wines. The lowest price we've seen is $12/bottle, and the highest, well... over $500 at one point. There's a good range here.
We go here to find new wines, not pick up old favourites. In my experience Kits Wine Cellar tends to have a rotating inventory, and very few wines that we find here and enjoy are available a month later (such as Prospect Winery's Rock Wren). As such, it's a great place to discover new wines, but not necessarily the best place to pick up your usual bottle unless you know it's one of the ones they always carry.
Good staff, good location, fair prices.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Sheila W.
BC
11/20/2008
Choosing wine can be overwhelming - even if you know what you like. I have experienced exceptional service at this store. You don't usually spend too long in there before someone asks to help you. And if you know what you're looking for they make things so easy.
For example, I went in and said "I need gift for my Dad and my uncle. I want to spend under $25 for a red wine for my uncle and around $50 for Dad. My Dad likes meaty reds and it would be great to get him something he can't find in the liquor store."
The salesman was so great. He immediately had suggestions and pointed out a few different wines that he knew and enjoyed. He spent time with me to help me choose a special wine that would suit my Dad. I've had similar service when I went in to buy a wine to take to a dinner party. Just tell them what's for dinner and how much you want to spend. They know the rest.
If you're more of an experiential shopper, they do weekly wine tastings in the shop Thursdays from 5:30 to 7pm. They do tastings by theme and often crack some pretty expensive bottles. So it's a great time to taste some wines that might be out of your price range.Listed in: Cheers to wine
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Review from Cheri L.
8/8/2008 1 photo
As I've gotten older, wine cellars and shops have become my candy stores. Since you cannot buy wine or liquor in grocery stores and whatnot in Canada, trips to this spot on 4th are not only pleasant but necessary.
It's been nice sampling the provincial pinots, which I rarely see in the Bay Area, and the bottles I've tried -- including Chilean and local BC reds -- have been quite satisfactory. In general, I'm obsessive about finding decently priced pinots in the $12 to $16 range, but I do like to spend a bit more on $30-45+ bottles, too, which have been very good here.
The people here are approachable and helpful, and when I've asked employees for suggestions, they pick out wines that do the trick.Listed in: Beyond the Bay
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Review from Cameron M.
Toronto, ON
12/30/2008
I'm not a huge wine nut so when I'm in a wine retailer I tend to be looking for a certain bottle or, lets admit it, cheap stuff and want to get in and out quickly.
Kits wine cellar is pretty good for filling these two needs.
For one they have a pretty good selection. While they are definitely put to shame by a lot of the area liquor stores they do have a selection of some of the higher end stuff that I, knowing nothing about wine, assume is impressive. I've gotten some fancier dessert fare here and been pleased.
Also, they dont talk my ear off about wine, which I appreciate. Lots of the little places do, and probably for good reason, but Kits doesn't.
If you're going to a wine cellar looking for a place that loves to chat and help, this might not be what you want. But if you're really just in it for the 'got my wine, in and out' they definitely fit the bill. -
Review from Steve P.
Vancouver, BC
3/21/2011
A great selection! Went in to check out the new store its nice.... but a bit bright and cold, sadly it has lost its "wine cellar" feel, all that nice wood is gone! I was looking for a change in what I usually drink and I was recommended a wine called "Basic" from the back of the store it was awesome! All around its still the same store just a little different looking the staff is still very helpful and knowledgeable.
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Review from Tina H.
6/15/2010
This shop is on 4th and is big, spacious and nice on the inside. Their prices are a bit steep. Service was helpful but not so friendly. A tad pretentious. I got a nice drinkable bottle of wine though I think I paid too much for it compared to other shops. I would rather go to the neighbouring wine shops, and there are a few in the area on 4th at Alma and along Broadway (one at Blenheim and the other at Macdonald). The service is less pretentious and the prices a bit more fair.
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Review from Lee N.
Vancouver, BC
3/24/2010
I have been putting off a review of Kitsilano Wine Cellar because it's a real love/hate relationship I have with them. If I want something specific they often don't have it or anything like it and I'm not talking an obscure Loire chenin here. If I walk in to browse I can happily find 2-3 bottles to take home with me, it's a big store and to totally miss the mark as often as they do for me is odd. Maybe it's the Kitsilano palate.
Listed in: Wine
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Review from Daniel L.
11/24/2009 1 Check-in Here
If you need help with finding a bottle of wine this is the shop. In my opinion some of the most help staff in the city. They really know their wines and are super friendly about it.. Red, White or Champagne they seem to know the taste and region of each and every bottle in the store and are good at suggesting pairings.
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Review from Luisa D.
12/10/2009 6 Check-ins Here
So here's the difference between a good private wine shop and one of the better BCLDB stores. On Monday I ordered 2 cases of wine from the Park Royal BCLDB. On Wednesday I called to make sure it was ready to pick up. I got there and was given a yellow sticky note and told to go to the back warehouse area. Back I went and waited, and waited, and waited. Finally someone acknowledged my presence and got me the wine. Today I called Kits Wine Cellar and asked if they had a case of wine in stock that I needed. They did. I showed up 2 hours later and it was at the service counter with my name on it. Because I ordered a case I got a 10% discount. They even offered to take it out to my car. The staff here are very knowledgeable and they have a solid selection of wines you won't find in the government run stores. They're hopping busy but organised and efficient. Unlike some private stores the space is nicely laid out and I'm not worried my 'bull in a china shop' klutziness will knock over cases of wine. Oh - and unlike BCLDB stores you can actually get a chilled bottle of white wine! Wow - what a concept. KWC is close to so many butchers, grocery stores and fishmongers that it adds the final touch to shopping for dinner ingredients. Cheers!
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Review from J G.
Vancouver, BC
9/10/2008
If you are looking for something special, or even something average in the way of wine, Kitsilano Wine Cellar offers you a choice from wide spectrum of wines. The products they carry come from all over and range in quality from your ordinary (but still good) to the very, very good and then some. They seem to look out for local wines, and the people who work here are very helpful and knowledgeable, and they all seem glad to enable you to navigate your way through their selection.
