A few things have piqued my interest on the wine-retail front of late.

First off, I finally made the pilgrimage to the New District wine store over at West 41st Avenue and Dunbar Street a few weeks back. I was going to refer to it as newish, but upon calling the shop and speaking with assistant manager Martin Farrell, it turns out that I’m somewhat behind the times, as I ended up confirming they’ll be celebrating their first anniversary this May.

Hey, I’m a transit taker who lives in Chinatown, so the deep West Side can be quite the journey!

Well, I’m glad I finally made the trip and I’ll certainly make a point of doing so more often, because I was like a kid in a candy store while perusing the shelves. I had no doubt the international and local selection of wines would be loaded with gems, as local wine personality D J Kearney, who’s also one of the best wine instructors this town has ever seen, holds the role of director of wine there.

She has amassed a treasure trove of labels in the bright and breezy store, along with curating various small packaged collections of two, three, or a half-dozen wines—available in-store or by delivery—with several themes, ranging from the High Roller pack to Perfect Pinots.

Many of the wines I saw on shelves aren’t widely available, so it’s definitely a unique stop for local wine enthusiasts, whether you’re in the neighbourhood, visiting from afar, or logging on to NewDistrict.ca to do your shopping from the couch. The savvy staff are always keen to help guide you as you peruse the shelves; it’s a great place to discover your next favourite bottle.

A few favourites I spotted while strolling the aisles:

Parés Baltà Cava Brut

(Spain, $23.99)

I’ve always adored the freshness of this wine, an organic and biodynamic blend of Xarel.lo, Macabeo, and Parellada, three indigenous Spanish varieties. A zippy sparkler that bursts with lemon, pomelo, and a little young almond, too.

Cave de Lugny Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Cuvée Millésime 2013

(France, $29.99)

A little more of those fresh-baked-bread aromatics waft out of the glass in this Burgundian bubble made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. This comes in at about half the price of the more inexpensive Champagnes in our market, so for similar quality, you can think of it as a two-for-one bargain. That’s something worth a toast!

Anthonij Rupert Cape of Good Hope Chenin Blanc 2015

(South Africa, $29.99)

A fruit basket overflowing with pears, quinces, peaches, and apricots with a drizzle of honey and a handful of lemon basil. This wine is such a charmer and such a pleasure to quaff.

Baron de Ley Rioja Reserva 2010

(Spain, $37.99)

Carrying a nice bit of age on it, this 100 percent Tempranillo has that whole baking rack of spices we expect from our rich Riojas, but the fruit is far from dark and brooding. Bright red berry fruit gives the whole package a nice lift and, served with a chill, it could hit the balcony for a barbecue quite well.

Also on the retail front, Riesling fans should pencil this Saturday (April 15), from 3 to 6 p.m., into their calendars (or tap it into your smartphones), because the B.C. Liquor Store at 39th Avenue and Cambie Street has Wines of Germany pouring a dozen vintages at its tasting bar! Not only that, but the small Asian-influenced bites will be provided by the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver’s YEW Seafood + Bar.

Actually, this Riesling fan is going to recommend you go even if you don’t think you’re a Riesling fan, as there are so many styles of wine the grape can make that I can almost guarantee you’ll be converted—and you’ve got nothing to lose, because the whole thing is free!

Finally, look toward next Thursday (April 20), anytime between 2 and 6 p.m., and hop over to Everything Wine’s North Vancouver location, at 998 Marine Drive. That’s when the folks from the Okanagan Valley’s Niche Wine Company will also be doing a free tasting of some of their current wines. The small-batch winery makes pristine and lively whites and reds, particularly Pinot Noirs that always knock it out of the park.

This is just a small handful of events going on in local wine stores. As we bound into spring, there are always a host of new wine releases coming into town from local wine country or hitting our shores from farther abroad. It’s one of the best times of year to check what’s happening in your favourite wine shop to stay up-to-date with new releases and often meet the folks behind some of our favourite sips.