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Village VQA Wines
Category: Food Beer, Wine & Spirits Beer, Wine & Spirits [Edit]
1811 1st Ave WVancouver, BC V6J 5B8
Neighbourhood: Kitsilano
(604) 732-8827
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 10 am - 10 pm
Sun 11 am - 9 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
12 reviews for Village VQA Wines
Review Highlights
"This shop does wine tastings every Saturday from 2-5 pm."
(in 4 reviews)
"Friendly and helpful staff in a store full of wine."
(in 6 reviews)
"However, the staff is knowledgeable and friendly."
(in 4 reviews)
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12 reviews in English
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Review from Robin M.
2/9/2012
I totally just thought this was your average everyday wine store. Nat the case, nat at all. This joint is full -- stacked full -- jacked with the best of the baddest-ass BC wine selection in Vancouver. This carefully compiled compendium of the nectar of the gads tickles a fancy that you might not even know existed.
Plus: it falls under my 'robin shops local' mission.
Plus: BC wine is pretty bomb. Complex, rich, light when it needs to be, it's really hit its stride in the past couple of years.
PLUS: bottles are hella cheaper here than most private (and all government) stores (you're welcome)
P L U S: the staff have some kind of freakishly precise and accurate mental catalog of all BC wines and will recommend something entirely surprising to suit my pretty little palette.
When I wanna get all silly when wandering the mean streets of Kits, this is a damn fine way to get there. A damn fine one, indeed. -
Review from Emily-Anne P.
Vancouver, BC
9/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Village Wines
I've stopped in here a few times to grab a bottle of wine on my way to dinner etc and I can't emphasize enough how amazing the staff are. They don't always approach to ask if you need anything but when you do ask or look confused they are happy to give advice on parings, wines, comparable wines, etc. They have a really good selection of BC wines and they aren't that much more expensive than your typical private liquor store.
Check it.Comment from Bruce C. of Village VQA Wines 11/23/2011
Hi Emily-Anne Thanks for your kind review. Just wanted to… More » -
Review from Kimberley B.
Vancouver, BC
9/2/2010 ROTD 10/31/2010
Let me tell you about Village Wines. It is the best. I wish I knew the name of the manager because he is a delight, a total expert but without any snobbery. I openly confess my non knowledge of wine and he happily asks me helpful questions that lead to my perfect bottle(s). They don't jack up the prices like cold beer and wine stores. He never judges me if he sees me more than once in a day and he's always cheerful and ready to help.
There are wine tastings every Saturday, featuring delicious local wines that I might otherwise not have tried. This is the best wine store I have ever been to and I've been to my fair share.
If you can't decide on a wine, the staff is happy to give you a taster and they don't pressure you to buy it if the wine isn't to your refined palette.
Added feature: they sell picnic backpacks! I now own two.Listed in: My life would suck without:
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Review from Johnny W.
5/9/2010
Not about to forgo a chance to pick up some local dessert wines during our trip, we stopped here on the way back to Seattle on the suggestion of several local BC Yelpers. The folks working here were friendly, the service was great, and they were all pretty knowledgeable about the wines they carried - let them know what you like and what you're looking for, and they'll give you some pretty solid suggestions.
There's the usual premium stuff here, but there's also a good selection of value-priced wines. I left with three bottles of late harvest wines, and a bottle of icewine, all for about $100, which, yes, was a bit more than I intended to pick up, but it was hard to resist!
One of the neat things they do is a weekly Saturday wine tasting from 2-5pm, for the low low price of free! The themes change weekly, and can be seen here: http://www.villagevqaw... -
Review from Craig C.
Vancouver, BC
12/1/2010
I live in the hood and I thank my lucky stars to have this place just up the street...can you tell I love wine...well I love to drink great wine but I need some help sometimes.
These guys all know their stuff and they have never not given good recommendations to me. Friendly and helpful staff in a store full of wine...if only I could move in. -
Review from Minda w.
4/28/2010
Perfect place for the wine noon and the seasoned wine veteran. Everyone was very knowledgeable about the wines and gave many recommendations based on like and budget. It won't cost you an arm and a leg to get something here. All in all my friend walked out with four bottles of late harvest/ice wine, possibly just a few more than he intended on getting. =P Sigh...I wish I could've gotten some too. Darn baggage fees!
The free wine tastings from 2-5p every Saturday allow you to try out new stuff without getting stuck with the bottle. Each week is a different theme. We tried Therapy Wine's Freudian sip (cute name!), a pleasant surprise. Now, I'll have to look for this wine in the States =P -
Review from Andie A.
Vancouver, BC
5/4/2010
I feel like I'm cheating on Taylorwood, but I work near Village VQA.
An excellent and wide selection of purely BC wines - ranging in prices. Just picked up a nice Savignon Blanc by Calona for $9.99 and a butter Chard from See ya Later. They have tastings often, every Saturday, but I've been known to stop in on a random day and be served a taste. Staff is really knowledgeable and with a one or two key words - they can make a perfect recommendation. Warm and appreciative. -
Review from Sara M.
8/26/2010
Oh how I miss you dearly Village VQA!
I recently moved to the Drive and if there is one thing that I miss about living in Kits Point, it's this wine store. Well, it and my old roomie of course.
They have a great selection of delicious BC wines at varying price points. There is definitely something for everyone here. I love wine, but am not incredibly wine educated and always found just the right amount of help if I was struggling to make a decision. Everyone that works here is an absolute delight!
On Saturdays they hold a free wine tasting from 2-5pm showcasing a different group of wine. It's such a fun way to spend some Saturday time. Taste some new wines, chat with your neighbourhood neighbours... and take home some treats for later.
I know I will still make the trek here from the Drive, as nothing compares to this wicked store! -
Review from Sheila W.
BC
11/20/2008
Buying BC wines does not demand a trip to the Okanagan Valley (but that's fun too). Village Wines specializes in VQA (Vintner's Quality Association) wines, which are all made from BC-grown grapes. Although some of the best wineries in BC choose not to be a part of the VQA, and are therefore not for sale here, you will still find many delicious things to drink.
If you're not too sure what you like, stop by on a Saturday afternoon. This shop does wine tastings every Saturday from 2-5 pm. They often have the winery owners or winemakers in pouring their own creations, so it's a great chance to ask questions and learn more about what you're drinking and how it was made.
The other bonus of this shop is that the prices are pretty close if not the same as the price you'd pay at the winery. And they sell the tastiest locally made crackers in many different flavours on a shelf near the front window. Expensive, but so worth it.Listed in: Cheers to wine
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Review from Luisa S.
Vancouver, BC
8/27/2008 1 photo
Curious about BC wines? Go no further than Village Wineries. Wedged amongst pizzerias, cafes, restaurants and salons, this is the perfect spot to hone your understanding of wine and sample local flavours (Saturday only).
Though still a total novice when it comes to wine and wine selection, I used to subscribe to the old adage that good wine meant that it came from France, Italy or Germany. It's difficult to divorce that notion considering that wine is so deeply embedded in their tradition--this despite living in an age when wine is produced in far-off lands like Thailand and Laos. Overwhelmed by such varied options can make it difficult to settle on only one, to know what is good, what is bad and what you like. Enter Village Wineries.
Row after row; stack after stack, yet all the labels read of places like Mission Hill and Cedar Creek. Cabernet, sauvignon, pinot noir, et al... it's hard to decide which you prefer. However, the staff is knowledgeable and friendly. Questions are welcomed... anything, really, to help clarify things and develop your appreciation -
Review from Reena M.
5/12/2009
Maybe it's as good as it gets, but I don't have many other wine stores to compare it to. I'm a huge fan mainly because I ran around to a bunch of different wine shops looking for the Domaine du Chaberton 2007 Bacchus and these guys were the only one who had exactly that! I stopped and picked up 4. I would totally go back to check out the other VQA wines. It was a nice store.
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Review from Luisa D.
12/24/2009 8 Check-ins Here
I have to admit that I'm not a huge BC wine connoisseur. I enjoy their whites and some reds but think there's a lot of overpriced, poor quality wine so I often pay for imported. That being said, this store could be the place to turn me around. Any time I go in the staff is so helpful! The other day I went in to get something sparkling and was sold on their least expensive (See Ya Later Ranch) bubbly. For $24 (same price as the LDB) it was a good wine similar to Champagne in flavours. A couple of days later I went it as I wanted an easy sipping white to enjoy while wrapping presents with some girlfriends. The clerk sold me on a bottle of Arrow Leaf Pinot Gris for $15. Also a very good deal! They could have tried to talk me into something pricier but they went with their tried and true faves. I appreciate that. It's a cute little store, they're open holidays (though I'm not sure about Christmas Day), and they're open until 10pm except Sunday which is 9pm.
