Photo by Rashmi Sutton
The Hill has no shortage of good quality wine stores. Many of them are wonderful and a few are renowned for their selection and service beyond the confines of Ward 6.
But a new Barracks Row spot, DCanter – A Wine Boutique, which opened on July 16 in the old Backstage costume shop space, offers a spin on wine procurement that is distinct from others in the neighborhood.
Specializing in small producers, the store maintains a spare, linear layout, organizing wines from the lightest white to the deepest, tannin-rich red. The bright and spacious tasting room also houses a collection-worthy assortment of pricier, even more exclusive vintages.
Owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Michael and Michelle Warner – Hill residents since 2006 – DCanter also aspires to be an educational resource for established wine-lovers and would-be oenophiles.
“The population on the Hill is so naturally curious,” Michael said, explaining DCanter’s emphasis on wine education. Classes are slated to start later this month, with a calendar to be posted on the store’s website. Frequent wine and beer tastings are already underway.
DCanter represents a culmination of the Warners’ long-shared interest in discovering and enjoying wine. Both spent time abroad during college in wine-producing regions – she in Tuscany; he in southern Germany – and knew early in their relationship they wanted to take this joint passion to the next level.
Michael, who holds a certification in wine education from the Society of Wine Educators, said opening DCanter on the Hill was a logical fit for the couple.
“We wanted to be a part of the community other than just homeowners,” he said.
Although DCanter stocks about 300 wines and 60 to 80 craft beers, skimming labels wasn’t overwhelming thanks to their smart organization. I found the boutique’s focused selection to be a boon; it was easy to sift through all those shades of white and red without the clutter of extraneous bottles.
Because each wine and beer has been hand-picked, the DCanter staff is knowledgeable about its inventory and ready to make suggestions. While the average price of a bottle here costs considerably more than my cheap Trader Joe’s standby, many items hover around the $15-20 mark, on par with other area shops and similar to the grocery store’s mid-shelf.
The boutique is planning to split shelf space evenly between a stable inventory of “go to” wines and brews, and a rotation of seasonal offerings, giving customers the chance to revisit favorites and explore new finds. And if you register your contact information with DCanter, the store will keep track of your purchases, a handy feature for folks like me who can recall the pretty blue label on that tasty sauvignon blanc from months back, but not its name.
My first – and second! – purchase was a yummy, effervescent 2012 Conde Villar rose vinho verde, the first of its kind I’d ever seen. With these balmy nights numbered, I’ll be back to DCanter in no time, eager to scoop up another crisp summer sipper.
I think this is what all small specialty wineries should be doing to leverage foot traffic away from supermarkets. That and online, because local productions aren’t generally sold in large quantities. I also like that DCanter has a tasting room with some of the more prominent Bordeaux. It’s not just local producers.