Wine finally comes to Vancouver grocery shelves — our first impressions

After years of debate, policy hurdles, and more than a few false starts, wine has finally arrived on grocery store shelves in the City of Vancouver. On a recent weekend afternoon, Stacey and I made our first visit to the new wine department at the Save-On-Foods at Cambie and West 7th Avenue to see what this long-anticipated moment actually looks like in practice.

First impressions: space, selection, and support

The first thing that struck us was the sheer scale of the offering. The wine department features a voluminous selection of BCVQA-certified wines, with representation from wine regions across the province — very much reminiscent of the dedicated BCVQA stores many of us have relied on for years.

Despite visiting on a weekend afternoon, the department wasn’t overly busy. Staff were approachable, knowledgeable, and happy to answer questions, offer suggestions, and help guide selections based on our tastes. This didn’t feel like wine awkwardly squeezed into a grocery aisle — it felt intentional, curated, and well supported.

We were also pleased to see that some wines on the shelves were Save-On-Foods exclusives, which adds an extra reason to browse rather than just grab a familiar label and move on.

What we brought home

We left with four bottles — conveniently qualifying for the 10% discount on four-bottle purchases — and made use of the handy four-bottle carrying bag available for purchase. Here’s what caught our attention:

  • 2024 Phoenix Sauvignon Blanc – Cascadia Collection from Corcelettes

Crafted in Corcelettes’ BC cellar, with grapes thoughtfully sourced from farmers in Washington’s Wahluke Slope AVA. A great example of cross-border sourcing handled with care and transparency.

Vibrant and aromatic, with notes of tropical fruit, white pear, citrus, and green apple. A refreshing wine with a creamy texture, crisp finish, and lingering fruit-forward flavour.

Medium-to-full bodied, showing aromas and flavours of blackberries, Bing cherries, milk chocolate, and savoury, spicy notes — a crowd-pleasing red with depth.

  • IMBZZL, a new label from the makers of Laughing Stock, released by Arterra Wines Canada through BC Liquor Stores and Save-On-Foods.

It was interesting to see this newer brand positioned alongside long-established BC producers — another sign of how the category is evolving.

Why this matters

Standing in the aisle, it was hard not to reflect on how long it took to get here. Wine on grocery shelves in Vancouver faced significant pushback from various interest groups over the years, even as similar models became commonplace elsewhere in the province. The arrival in Vancouver followed a motion I tabled at city council in 2023, which received unanimous support. Seeing a large, well-curated selection of BC wine integrated into an everyday shopping experience felt less like a disruption — and more like a long-overdue normalization.

Most importantly, this model puts BC wine where people already are. It lowers barriers, increases visibility for local producers, and invites discovery from shoppers who might not otherwise make a special trip to a standalone wine store.

We’ll be back

For us, this won’t be a novelty visit. The Cambie Save-On-Foods wine department is somewhere we fully expect to shop regularly — not instead of specialty wine stores, but alongside them. Much like the BCVQA shops we loved back in the day, it offers depth, choice, and a strong sense of place — now paired with the convenience of a grocery run.

We’ll be watching closely to see how this model evolves, how selections change over time, and how BC wineries continue to be showcased. But as first impressions go, this was a strong and encouraging start.

More tastings to come. 🍷

Authors

  • Mike Klassen is a Vancouver city councillor, communications professional, and long-time advocate for British Columbia’s wine industry. He co‑founded BC Wine Lover in 2007 with his wife Stacey, sharing stories from their travels through the province’s wine regions and spotlighting the people and places that make B.C. wine distinctive.

    In 2015, Mike led the BC Wine Appellation Task Group, guiding a province‑wide consultation that produced recommendations—later endorsed by industry plebiscite—that strengthened B.C.’s appellation standards and helped establish today’s sub‑GIs.

    His writing has appeared in the Vancouver Sun, Huffington Post, and Daily Hive, blending history, policy insight, and personal experience. Alongside his work on Vancouver City Council, Mike continues to explore vineyards across the province, champion local producers, and celebrate the evolving culture of B.C. wine.

  • Stacey Fruin is a passionate B.C. wine explorer, road‑trip enthusiast, and co‑founder of BC Wine Lover. A devoted cyclist and proud booster of the province’s wine community, she has tackled major charity rides including the Ride to Conquer Cancer and the Bicycle Trek for Life. When she’s not discovering new wineries or planning her next culinary creation, Stacey can be found enjoying life in Vancouver with her husband Mike and daughter Sophie. Beyond her wine adventures, she is also the co‑author of the leading guide to basic B.C. company law.