Happy 2nd anniversary New District store

Creating a vibrant wine culture in Canada is a painstaking process. It is happening glass by glass, or in some cases brick by brick. New District is an unusual B.C. liquor retailer in that it set out to be a disruptive force in the “direct to consumer” (or “DTC” in wine industry parlance) by creating an online-only store. Unfortunately for the owners, and wine consumers in general, the online-only liquor business ran afoul of our province’s byzantine regulations. So it was back to the drawing board, and New District opened a bricks and mortar business to complement its online offering. More costs, yes, but having a store located at 5650 Dunbar Street in Vancouver would appear to have helped them build a faithful clientele.

Having one of the most ebullient individuals as the “face” of New District cannot hurt either. Sommelier and wine educator DJ Kearney has developed the store’s wine program, and when she is in the store DJ is a fantastic guide who can find the perfect wine selection for you. It should be noted that New District also has a superior collection of unique craft beer and spirits, as well as refrigerated products.

New District recently celebrated its second anniversary as a bricks and mortar business, and we attended its “open house”. DJ pointed us in the direction of several new discoveries, including a crisp and fruitful Albariño wine from Uruguay. Be sure to make New District one of your wine shopping experiences, and definitely check out their online store at https://newdistrict.ca/store.