City Wine

I love this place. The owner is very knowledgeable, the selection is fantastic, and the prices are very reasonable.

I was early to my nail appointment, and after going to the same salon for the last 6 months, I realized this gem existed! The kind gentleman inside was playing his guitar, the perfect music for wine shopping. They have a great selection of wines from many regions — some even from my beloved Paso Robles. It was fun to talk wine with him (I’m sorry — I already forgot your name!). There are also thoughtful notes for each bottle of wine — notes and other fun facts. I am going to go here every time I get my nails done now!

Where to start?
In town for business, I found myself needing a bottle of wine to unwind one evening. A quick Google search let me know that City Wine was conveniently located just a few blocks from my hotel. How I wish I had just used room service or had simply drank the complimentary bottle of mouthwash.
After a brief cab ride to the actual store (which is conveniently located in a strip mall adjacent to the «check cashing» spot — and mere steps away from the neighborhood Midas shop), I opened the doors into what should have been a wine lover’s oasis. Unfortunately, I was met by a short, bald man, whose eyes seemed to peel away my clothing in the creepiest way possible. As a New Yorker, I should have known immediately to turn around and walk away. However, as this was Denver, I naively pushed forward.
This would be but the first drip in what would become a waterfall of City Wine horrors. The aforementioned short, portly man, identifying himself as «Kirk,» and offered assistance — seemingly indicating that this would be a normal retail visit. Reality however, would quickly prove differently. Already feeling partially undressed by the piercing, creepy eyes of «Kirk,» I made my way down one of City Wine’s aisles — each one complete with stained carpeting underfoot, sparsely stocked wicker & wire at-​home wine racks (each «conveniently» adorned with the most nonsensical, meandering rantings of a pretentious lunatic).
While the selection at City Wine is above average, and the pricing is very approachable, pricing and selection simply do not trump feeling like you are being sexually accosted every time you turn your back while perusing the «store.»
How I wish there had been another customer or two to take «Kirk’s» attention away from my every step, but perhaps residents of Denver have experienced «Kirk’s» particular brand of customer service and as such, there was nary a soul to be found. Imagine my surprise when «Kirk» himself addressed this very fact, saying something to effect of «I’m thinking of selling the store, no one comes in here. You are the first person I’ve seen in hours.» (Mind you, as he uncomfortably pressed his front against the sales counter). Wanting nothing more than to turn around, walk out the door and forget that I ever came into this abomination of a wine shop, Kirk then proceeded, without any prompting from me, to gauge my interest in his obscure and oddly placed guitar collection (odd if you think the walls of a wine shop are a confusing place for such a collection). Having little to no interest in such affairs and wanting to leave with a bottle of wine and what clothing «Kirk» had not virtually removed from my person, I quickly paid and attempted a polite exit. He would have nothing of the sort. It was then that «Kirk» overly enthusiastically begged me to join him at City Wine that Saturday for a function involving a harp band… and cookies.
Run, don’t walk, away from this place, and if you dare enter, wear an overcoat, a scarf, a sleeping bag… Better yet, just don’t go here.

cool boutique wine shop with a very unique selection — not your run-​of-​the-​mill wines. I actually stopped in because someone said they had a great beer selection, but SO wrong on that one. Maybe 15 beers?
Anyway — nice folks, would go back, very small overall selection.

This is a great little boutique wine and spirit store. Not to be missed The owner Kirk is extremely knowledgeable and he has excellent taste. My good friend Greg Greenwood turned my girlfriend and I to this place some time ago and I’ve never been let down. They do wine tastings and classes which we really enjoyed.
Cheers…

Citywine is the wine buyers ultimate browsing experience. Every wine has a hand written label detailing the owner’s knowledgeable comments so you can learn a lot without monopolizing the staff’s time, not that they aren’t happy to add more information. Think wines from all over the world, and from vineyards that are too small to be of interest to the bigger outlets, but have a unique character. A great place to while away a weekend afternoon.

Love this place! They have a pretty solid selection and the staff is incredibly helpful. They have always recommended great wines and actually explain why they are great choices.
Also if you live in the Talevera apartments you get an additional 10% off! Will definitely be going here a lot for my wine.

This store changed ownership in February and Kirk is running the show now. His selection is very good, especially in European wines. He brings a few wines in from France that I’ve never seen anywhere else. The only thing I hate about the store is the location. Colorado Blvd. is the worst! But still, I usually find something good, once I’m there.

I am from Southern California, and this is where I shop when I come to Denver. Always helpful, and great suggestions always. I’ll call wanting «something», could be a white Rhone, something from Alsace, or big red from California. I swing by, pick up my stash, and I’m on my way. Never had time to shop there, just talked via email & phone and they have never disappointed. KJ even responded to one of my emails when he was in France!

I live on the east coast and wanted to send a friend of mine in Denver a birthday gift. I was planning on sending a bottle of St Germain, and emailed City Wine to see if I could arrange this through them. They do not carry St Germain but suggested an alternative — Thatchers Elderflower liqueur. I decided to go for that, and they helped arrange the delivery. I was very pleased with the entire experience! Great customer service.

City Wine is where I buy all my wines. The staff treats me as we should all expect to be treated. They use my name, email or phone me depending on what my schedule is like and what I need. They help me locate wines I’ve tried elsewhere and go out of their way to recommend wines they know I like or want me to try. The staff ships gifts for me and from time to time, will trade wines with me as long as the deal works for all of us. I recommend City Wine to friends, family and clients. They know their stuff and unlike so many businesses today, they actually display passion and provide excellent service.
Ron Guillot

This is a great little boutique. The owner is extremely knowledgeable and he has excellent taste. I’ve never left with something that I didn’t like, and their selection is great whether you’re looking for a casual table wine or something more extravagant. They do wine tastings on the weekends, and the owners skip town for a few weeks every year to go find new wines in Europe. Didn’t know that? Ask, because they are great to chit chat with while you’re making your selections and always willing to help you out with your selection if you need it.

This is a great wine store for those lookign for cult wines and little known wines. They do have some good, aged wines for you to purchase, in case you don’t feel like aging your prized French or Italian wines for 20 years in your cellar. The owner is very knowledgable when it comes to wine, and oftentimes they’ll offer wine tastings on Saturdays for wines that are on sale.

I’m thinking of upgrading this place to a full 5 stars, but need more time to check out the store. What I do have enough experience to rate is the owner. Her wine abilities and her generousity are a definite full 5 stars. Jennifer, said owner, is wine-​brilliant. She recently donated the wine to a charity fundraiser my wife and I hosted (110+ of our bestest friends (?!) came on over last weekend to benefit the Hotel de Paris in Georgetown). She picked and provided the wine pairings and they were not only delish, but incredibly reasonably priced at her store.
She turned us on to a gris de gris rosé that was dry (hate those sweet ones), totally spring perfect, and with just the softest hint of strawberry at the very end. A cab franc she brought over to match some patés was perfect, and a total steal of a price. Finally, her white bordeaux was also the exact wine for what was served and a steal of a deal.
Ya know, I used to go to Argonauts and Applejacks, but I’m now a huge fan of City Wine and will love to support one of the little, but powerful (ly) good wine stores in our town, as opposed to always just defaulting to the dept store-​like mega-​shops.

this wonderful little wine store has everything the oenophile could ever want, plus great service and a highly knowledgeable proprietor.
we sojourned there today for their christmas champagne tasting — a veritable tour de france — and all i can say is how utterly great the afternoon became after a few glasses of their excellent bubbly.
when you go, ask for jennifer; she is wonderfully attentive, smart, (dare i say attractive and charming?) and has personally pedaled through france to find the very best vintages.
santé!