A good wine shop does more than just sell a buzz in a bottle. They know the grapes, the land, the stories. Sure, they know their merlot from their Mourvedre but, perhaps more importantly, they know their customers. They host tastings and foster connections with their community. They can recommend the perfect red for a classy dinner party, a refreshing porch pounder for sunny patio days or just your next all-around favorite sip.
While you can buy wine at your favorite grocery store, there’s something unique about going to a speciality shop. Whether you’re looking for a huge selection or quality over quantity, you can count on these shops for solid bottles of vino. Below, some of our favorite shops for buying reds, whites and rosés in Boulder County.
Boulder Wine Merchant
Boulder’s only master sommelier-run shop, Boulder Wine Merchant is a wine lover’s playground. Whether you’re looking to spend $10 or blow your bonus, they’ll make sure you’re happy with your purchase. The shop is especially known for its burgundy selection, as owner Brett Zimmerman is a major fan and even hosts the annual Boulder Burgundy Festival each fall. Thirsty for more knowledge? The shop puts out a monthly newsletter highlighting expert pairings, historical tidbits and bottle recommendations. Or go hands-on each Wednesday when the shop hosts complimentary tastings. 2690 Broadway, Boulder; boulderwine.com
Pettyjohn’s Liquor and Wine
Originally founded in 1969, Pettyjohn’s offers a wide selection of wines (as well as beer and liquor). They host a wine-of-the-month club and their staff is incredibly knowledgeable. One of their most beloved traditions are their Friday night wine tastings, which take place from 5 to 7 pm. And if you can’t make it one week, don’t worry: The team posts highly detailed tasting notes and other information on Instagram. 613 S Broadway, Boulder; pettyjohns.com
West End Wine, Spirit & Beer
In true Boulder fashion, this Pearl Street shop favors organic and natural wines, making it a go-to favorite for local oenophiles. While the boutique shop may be only 700 square feet, the wines they carry come from all over the world, and they’re constantly bringing in new arrivals all the time. 777 Pearl St., Boulder; westendwineboulder.com
The Park Wine & Spirits
There are a lot of good things about this neighborhood shop, but we’re kind of partial to the thrice-a-week free tastings. Yes, The Park hosts free tastings of wines, beers, and booze every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. And if you find something you like—and, of course, you’re going to find something you like—they’ll deliver it right to your door. 11410 Via Varra, Broomfield; theparkwineandspirits.com
B Town Wine + Spirits
Strike up a conversation about chardonnay with a B Town staffer and you might just be there a while. The team is passionate about their hand-picked, small-batch wines, which means you’re likely to leave with something you’ve never heard of but that you end up loving. Highlighting organic and sustainable wines, there’s something for every budget at B Town, from the sale rack to the collector level. 5360 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder; btownwineandspirits.com
PJ’s Wine & Spirits
The staff at PJ’s is so helpful that if you can’t find what you need—which would be rare, because they have a large, top-notch selection—they’ll get it for you. While the beer and spirits choices are plentiful, too, this Longmont shop is all about the wine, and you can tell by the spot-on recommendations you’ll get from the staff. 665 Frontage Rd., Longmont; pjwinespirits.com
Hazel’s Beverage World
For the biggest selection, Boulderites know to head to Hazel’s. Besides aisles full of pinots, rieslings and cabernets from around the world, they also carry a good selection of local producers, like Boulder’s own Bookcliff Vineyards and Palisade’s Colorado Cellars. And if you’ve got an event that you need to stock, check out Hazel’s party planning resources, where they can help you select what to serve and how much you’ll need. 1955 28th St., Boulder; hazelsboulder.com
Dedalus Wine Shop and Market
For more than a decade, Cured was the spot for specialty foods and wine. So when Cured became Dedalus, fans were a little skeptical. They had no need to be, as Dedalus continues Cured’s mission of bringing Boulder the best charcuterie and cheeses, only with more of an emphasis—and that same small-batch philosophy—on wine. Besides being your one-stop shop for snazzy wines and tasty eats, Dedalus also hosts weekly wine tastings and monthly classes. 1825 Pearl St., Boulder; dedaluswine.com/pages/Dedalus-boulder
Superior Liquor
Three reasons to explore Superior Liquor’s loaded shelves: 1. The prices are among the lowest around, with frequent sales scoring you deals that are hard to beat. 2. This place is huge, meaning more reds, whites, pinks and even other wine colors you didn’t know existed. 3. Free wine tastings on Saturday afternoons, and come on, is there a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than at a free wine tasting? 100 Superior Plaza Way, Superior; superiorliquor.com
