Chorney-Booth: Raise a glass at these Calgary wine bars

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Calgary is renowned for its fabulous cocktail bars, with spots like Proof, Shelter and Paper Lantern gaining national and even international recognition among the who’s who in the bar industry. But not everyone likes an elaborate, hard liquor-based drink. There are plenty of pubs and breweries for those who lean towards beer, and now wine drinkers have a growing number of wine bars to choose from.

What exactly is a wine bar? Obviously, they serve wine, often offering a rotating selection so regulars always have something new to sample. The idea here isn’t just to drink wine — though that’s certainly acceptable — but also to try new wines, either new-to-you grape varietals or new wines to the local market. A good wine bar should be staffed by true wine lovers who can easily explain the selections to customers, preferably in plain terms without any snootiness.

As with any drinking establishment in Alberta, wine bars are required to serve food, though many do not have full kitchens. This is partially so the proprietors can focus on their passion for wine without their attention being diverted, but many intentionally skip cooking any food on the premises so that aromas from the kitchen don’t overpower the wine.

Wine bars are prevalent throughout Europe and in Quebec, but are historically more of a rarity here in Calgary. Here are a few places to try out:

Unfiltered Wine Bar
The newest kids on the block, Unfiltered is a passion project helmed by Haafiz and Nina Hasham, who left corporate careers to fulfil their wine bar dreams. Inspired by wine bar experiences during European travels, the couple wanted a place in Calgary where they could enjoy high-quality wines and simple food pairings in a relaxed environment free of any intimidation. The room is minimalist and clean, with every element designed to help guests focus on wine and conversation.

“We want to be able to describe the wine to people in layman’s terms,” Haafiz says. “That’s the fun part about it.”

The Hashams work with a small group of wine distributors to come up with an ever-changing wine list with selections available by the glass or bottle. Customers looking for some adventure can try a flight or, during the last hour of service, roll the dice on a blind pour at a discounted price. Unfiltered also offers a small food menu of bar bites (there’s no kitchen, to prevent those wine-interfering smells) with dishes created by chef Cole Glendinning from the neighbouring Best of Kin Brewing.

1020 14th St. S.W., 403-991-9463, winebarunfiltered.com

Avitus Wine Bar
This cozy wine bar, located in the Marda Loop strip that is quickly becoming one of the hippest restaurant rows in the city, is intended to be a community meeting place rather than a destination, but it’s still more than worth travelling to if you live elsewhere in the city. Like Unfiltered, the staff is friendly and easygoing, and the wine constantly rotates so regulars can make discoveries (with staff guidance if needed). The emphasis here is on French wine, with about a dozen different bottles available by the glass. Select French ciders, beer, and wine-worthy snacks are also available.

1934 34th Ave. S.W., @avituswinebar.yyc on Instagram

Cavernus
More of a wine club” than a traditional wine bar, Cavernus features banks of climate-controlled lockers for members to store their bespoke wine collections as well as a publicly accessible lounge for wine lovers with or without a club membership. Anyone can order from the lounge’s well-curated, by-the-glass or by-the-bottle menus, with interesting flights also available for curious drinkers. With Murrieta’s located above the basement lounge, Cavernus has easy access to a full restaurant kitchen, which produces hot and cold snacks to pair with the wine.

#100, 137 8th Ave. S.W., 825-413-8365, cavernus.ca

Winebar Kensington
This long-running wine bar is an institution in Kensington and continues to be a great place to grab a glass of wine (or a premium bottle from the cellar) and a savoury bite to eat. The food selections are a bit more robust than most wine bars, with a good selection of charcuterie and cheese, as well as a full menu of both small and larger plates, should you want to extend your wine tasting into a full meal.

1131 Kensington Rd. N.W., 403-457-1144, winebarkensington.com

Other options
There are, of course, plenty of other spots ready to serve thirsty people in search of a glass or bottle of wine. The fun and eclectic Missy’s (348A 14th Ave. S.W.) doesn’t exactly position itself as a wine bar per se, but has a truly gob-smacking wine list full of treasures. Bubble-lovers also have some great options with the Untitled Champagne Lounge (#104, 620 8th Ave. S.W.), which is exactly what it sounds like, as well as Moonlight and Eli (627 1st Ave. N.E.) and its sister Varbar (2915 Richmond Rd. S.W.), both of which specialize in champagne and fondue.

Elizabeth Chorney-Booth can be reached at elizabooth@gmail.com. Follow her on Instagram at @elizabooth or sign up for her newsletter at hungrycalgary.substack.com.