Shop Local: A Look Back

With summer here and many of us out and around the city enjoying the season, we wanted to take a second look at some of the fantastic local businesses in our community. Here are the ones we have featured so far. Click through to meet the owners and find out more about why I shop local.

Crave Kitchen + wine bar
Chef Jonathan Thauberger is a big believer in good quality food and supports local producers.

Hip2Knit
Hip2Knit offers knitters a place to get together, and share their knowledge and experience with one another.

Pawsitively Purrfect
Anything you need for your pet, can be found at Pawsitively Purrfect at a competitive price with unbeatable service.

Bib & Tucker Clothing
You won’t leave with something that doesn’t look absolutely great on you.

Brenda Klarer, RMT & Bowen Therapy
I encourage you to give Brenda a call if you are experiencing pain or mobility issues. She can help!

Tasha's Day Spa
Everything hair and nails, the entire staff at Tasha’s has a commitment to great customer service.

Serendipity Gluten Free Catering
Serendipity offers a daily luncheon menu as well as baking, featuring soup and more. It's all absolutely delicious!

Sara Lindsay The Makeup Store
Whenever I have a special occasion, Sara is my go-to gal and The Makeup Store luxury products are unbelievable.

Originally published in The Wine Cellar, July 2016.

Moving BLOW OUT Sale!

We're moving! On August 2, you will find us at 2300 Dewdney Avenue. To accommodate the move, we will be closed from July 24 - August 2. But we don't want to pack!!

You're the winner with our Moving Blow Out Sale, now until July 23 at 5:30pm. Drop on down to 1646 Albert Street and help us get ready to move with discounts up to 50% OFF!!

15% OFF all in stock Wine & Beer Kits
15% OFF all in stock Equipment & Supplies (not including bottles, labels & shrink caps)

25% OFF all in stock Le Creuset
25% OFF all in stock Giftware

40% OFF all in stock Napkins

50% OFF all in stock Glassware

We also have a 50% off bin that is FULL of all kinds of interesting things. Be sure and check it out when you are in store.


We hope to see you there!

Construction is on time! A moving update.

We are delighted to say that construction of our new digs is on schedule and progressing nicely. There has been a lot of activity and we are getting excited to show you all around the new place. Keep your fingers crossed for us!

The Wine Cellar is going to be

closed from July 24 – August 2

to accommodate the move.

We will reopen at 10:00 a.m. on August 2, 2016 at 2300 Dewdney Avenue. Come and check out our new digs on August 2nd! We'd love to see you there!

Shop Local: Feeling beautiful with Sara Lindsay!

With wedding season getting into full swing now, I thought it would be a perfect time to feature one of my favourite shops: Sara Lindsay The Makeup Store, located at 3420 Hill Avenue, phone 306-347-7829. I first met Sara in 2012 when she had a small studio on Dewdney Avenue and she did my make-up for our daughter’s wedding. Although I will confess to being a little intimidated by her credentials when I first arrived, she immediately put me at ease with her friendly manner. I was so impressed by her professionalism and friendliness, not to mention the awesome job she did on my face, that I never forgot her. So, of course when she opened her shop on Hill Avenue a couple of years ago, I became a customer and now think of her as a friend. Whenever I have a special occasion, she’s my go-to gal. When I was recently nominated for a YWCA Women of Distinction award, Sara did my make-up for the Awards Gala and made me feel very beautiful. But Sara Lindsay The Makeup Store offers more than getting your makeup done! Sara offers makeup lessons as well for people of all ages. They also offer esthetics and lash extensions, and sell several lines of luxury cosmetics and hair products. Believe me, it’s beautiful stuff. For more information, you can find Sara Lindsay The Makeup Store online at:

Website  | Facebook  | Twitter  |  Instagram

Originally published in The Wine Cellar, June 2016.

Summer Fun with Niagara Mist

Niagara Mist has come out with 4 summer fun drink and dessert recipes to give you new ideas for enjoying your wine. We have shared them on Sarah's recipe blog to make is easy for you to find and try them anytime this summer.

Lemonade  |  Vanilla Mist Iced Tea  |  Misty Freeze  |  Fruity Winesicles

But the recipes are just the start of the fun. With 14 different Niagara Mist flavours to choose from, the possibilities are endless! Try your own twists on the recipes and send us your Niagara Mist Twist! If you happen upon a great combination, we would love to share it.

We will continue to share these recipes throughout June in celebration of summer and as if that wasn't enough, in honour of summer fun, ALL Niagara Mist kits are $5 OFF for the month of June! Come on in and let's get your summer fun started!

We have a building permit! A moving update.

Great news everyone! We have a Building Permit! Finally the construction plans can move full steam ahead.

We are so excited about this because it means we are on our way to being moved into our new location. One of the biggest reasons we are moving is to be able to serve you better. We will have more production capacity to make more of your wine!

Now that we are under construction, we will be sharing lots of pictures. Watch our progress on our blog, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Coming Soon! We're Moving this Summer!

Same great service, same great people, same great product!

Awesome NEW location!

2300 Dewdney Avenue

(corner of Dewdney & Lorne St.)

Shop Local: Serendipity, YUM!

Many of you know that I have Celiac Disease. It is a real challenge at times finding food that is gluten free and tastes delicious. Meet Kathryn Santha of Serendipity Gluten Free Catering.

The first time I ever tasted the deliciousness that is Serendipity’s baking was at Tasha’s Day Spa’s grand reopening where Tasha was serving mini cupcakes from Serendipity. When I bit into the cupcake, I almost spit it back out. Not because it was not tasty, but BECAUSE it was soooo tasty. I thought for sure that this could not be a gluten free cupcake and that I was about to get very sick. Not so. It was completely gluten free AND delicious. I could not believe what I was tasting!

Kathryn began her business as a catering business four years ago and opened her bakery at 910 11th Avenue on October 15. You can read more about her serendipitous path to where she is today on her website. She has quite a story. Serendipity is truly a family owned business. Kathryn’s mother, Tara, helps with the baking and cooking and her dad does the deliveries and maintenance.

Serendipity offers a daily luncheon menu as well as baking, featuring delicious soup and other things. You can also find their products at Café Drip, Dad’s Organic Market, The Diplomat and Rochdale Roca House. I really encourage you to check them out, even if you are not on a gluten free diet, because Serendipity offers delicious food which just happens to be gluten free.

Find them online: Website  | Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

Originally published in The Wine Cellar May 2016.