Great wine selection and service. I went to the cashier directly for some recs. I got one bottle at a good price and I was on my way. It was a local wine and paired well with my goodies from across the street. read more

Liberty Wine Merchants - people walking under a sign - Wineries Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I have been to this store several times and have never received friendly or helpful service. I've never been asked if I needed help; the staff simply don't seem to care. I saw a young male employee turn away from an obviously physically challenged elderly customer who was having difficulty opening the heavy exit/entry door. This store has a monopoly, being the only wine store on Granville Island, the owners should be grateful for all of the walk in business by tourists - instead they act like they deserve it. They should pay a visit it any BC government liquor store, and experience what great customer service looks like. read more

Tight little space crowded with bottles. Don't move or turn your body too quickly, you may knock something over. For such a tiny shop there are wines from lands near and far. Lots of European labels. I was seeking local BC wines. Surprisingly few on display. I'm from Sonoma California and a rather provincial wine snob, I know well what grows in my backyard. Which is dozens of varietals made by hundreds of wineries from tiny one man operations to mega corporations. My impression here at Liberty is that BC made wines are rather expensive compared even to the boutique wines of Sonoma California. Are the prices elevated at Liberty due to Canada tax levels or just owner mark up? After browsing 10 minutes and being discouraged by $45 - $60 price tags for what I consider $25 wines I exited without purchasing. read more

Selection was great but they need to make sure their bottles are priced correctly. Took a bottle of Fleurie to the counter that was labelled $39 only to get charged $49 for it. When I asked about the price difference I was told "the bottle was labelled wrong. $49 is the correct price." That's a bad look. If it's a $10 difference just own the mistake and honor the price on the bottle. Otherwise it feels like you're just making up a price based on however you're feeling that day. read more

Visited Granville Island today and stopped in at Liberty Wine Merchants to pick up a bottle. There were a lot to choose from and after feeling overwhelmed, decided to gamble on one of the "cheap" bottles near the register. We were trying to decide which one when we noticed the man behind the counter grab a bottle off the shelf and ring it up. We asked him which bottle to get and he said the one he just rang up for us. So we purchased it on his recommendation and took it home to enjoy later on our last night of vacation. Immediately after opening the wine, we could tell something was off. It clearly was not stored properly as there was sediment in the neck of the bottle. The wine itself was completely intolerable/unpalatable. It was essentially vinegar in a bottle. The entire bottle immediately went down the sink. The bottle we were duped into purchasing was a Migjorn by Daniel Belda. It may have won a silver medal back on 2011, but in 2018 it was clearly a dud and should not have even been available for purchase. We feel we were completely taken advantage of by the employee who was just looking to pawn some sh*tty wine on some unsuspecting tourists. Well, we may have purchased a crap bottle of wine, but Liberty, you have earned yourself a crap review. FYI, we won't be back. read more

Liberty Wine Merchants - a bottle of wine on a stove - Wineries Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Wonderful place to explore a wide selection of wines from around the world - great variety and lots of local choices too

This very convenient wine shop is right across from the Public Market on Granville Island making it the perfect place to grab a bottle to accompany any delights that fill your shopping bags. It is a compact wine shop with a world-wide selection of bottles. There is a small refrigerated section on the back wall near the tills where you can grab a bottle of chilled white or some bubbly. The staff is very knowledgeable and eager to help you choose the right wine. Liberty also hosts some wine tasting events and has a wine school for those who take Happy Hour seriously. This is a great place to go for a bottle for a special occasion. But for people on a budget, there are few wines below the $20 mark. read more

Liberty Wine Merchants - Wineries Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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My partner and I (a black woman) were looking to buy a bottle of wine to pair with the amazing cheeses and olives we purchased in the Granville Public Market. As we perused down each aisle searching for a full-bodied red wine not one employee asked us if we needed help. The wine shop wasn't terribly busy but we couldn't help but notice the number of employees who went out of their way to greet and assist white patrons. No one approached us. At one point I tried to signal a white employee for help after he assisted a white patron. He looked directly at me, and we locked eyes for a few seconds. Instead of helping us, he quickly looked away and went on his merry way. Ironically, he walked around the store yelling "can I help anyone," but he didn't want to help someone who looked like me. Needless to say, we didn't get our wine from this shop and definitely would not recommend it. read more

Was ready to spend good money on good wine for some friends as a thank you gift. Ask this older guy for some assistance today, and he was absolutely no help. Ended up buying a few bottles with familiar names... thanks...not really. Also carry some Caymus! Canada ROTD #1. read more

Probably not the place to come to find a bargain, but definitely a great place to come to find a good wine, or even a great wine, that's been well cared for, and will be explained to you by enthusiastic staff who know their products, their industry, and their stock. The prices aren't exorbitant, they're just not bargain basement. The stock is a good mix of North American and overseas selection, with a nice emphasis on west coast choices. Glad this place is here. read more

Everytime I come to Canada, I always stop by Liberty Wine Merchants. They have a great selection in their little shop and I always find an interesting and wonderful tasting wine that you don't see in the States. They also have a wine cooler if you are looking to drink a white or champagne right away. The staff is very helpful and will recommend wines to you to try out. I would not have found some of my new favorite wines if they hadn't told me about them! I also really like their house brand waiter's double-stop wine opener. It is under $10 and has rubber grip on the handle for comfort. I've been through a lot of waiter corkscrews that don't work very well, and this has been my favorite so far. read more

Being a regular patron of Liberty Wine Merchants on Granville Island, I have to say, I am shocked to read some of the recent reviews of this particular store. This store has been one of my "go to" stores for unique wines both from boutique BC wineries, as well as many international wineries. They carry a very wide selection which I appreciate as I attend numerous dinner parties and various functions in the Foodie world and am always in need of a wine for every occasion. In fact, Liberty carries some of my "go to" wines that I can ONLY find at this particular store. Those ones just happen to be from Chile and Italy so I appreciate the fact they always have an abundant and diverse international selection. The staff are all very friendly, well-versed in their trade, and always willing to lend their knowledge on what are the best wine pairings for any dish, or for any occasion. I have been shopping at this store for the past 5+ years as quite simply, they never disappoint. I will continue to enjoy shopping here and I recommend anyone looking to find some unique wines in a friendly, knowledgeable atmosphere, to shop here as well. read more

Despite the prices, Liberty has a darn good selection of tasty vintages, especially on the high end. This location has some incredible Bordeaux 1st growths, including Petrus. While slightly, and by slightly I mean extremely, out of my price range, it's still kinda cool to see a $1500 bottle in the case. They do still have wines I'm open to, especially from BC - the real ones from BC, not the ones with grapes bought elsewhere and bottled here and then labeled British Columbia wine. Luckily, there are new labeling laws to help us consumers choose those that are authentically from our province. Not only do they have a good selection from decent to the worlds best, but the staff are very helpful and happy to sell me what I want. When I ask for a bottle within a certain price range exhibiting certain characteristics, the knowledgeable sales clerks direct me to exactly what I'm looking for without trying to upsell - much appreciated. While I prefer Marquis on Davie, when I'm on Granville Island shopping for Sunday dinner ingredients and need some wine, Liberty hits the spot. read more

Free wine tasting!! I see a trend... I really like these guys as I can find a few bottles that sell out fast (Kettle Valley pinot gris) and others that are simply hard to find (Languedoc reds!). This time we also got a yummy tasting of 2 wines, 3 cheese and 2 breads! Hello! Only bad thing is I've usually got bags from the market when I come in and apparently have an inclination to follow in my mother's steps and be a bit of a bull in a china shop. The aisles are very narrow so I often come close to spilling a weeks worth of wine in about 5sec. I'm talented like that. Otherwise, great place to find the rarer wines that aren't found at the Liquor Store. read more

Pretty small space, good selection. Very knowledgeable staff, great selection of wines from the Alsace. Open later than the market so you can buy the fresh dinner then the wine. read more

As if I need another excuse to spend even more cash while at Granville Island, but here we are, Liberty Wine Merchants. We meet again. I need me a wine to go with this stinky cheese and cured meat I just bought from Oyama, or these fresh oysters from the Lobster Man, or even these fresh veggies that will eventually be made into a delicious salad - and bygad, these Merchants are here to help with just that. I have yet to have the pleasure of making it to one of the wine tastings, but the knowledgable staff here always ensure that I know which wine will pair best with which dish I intend on making. Word to the wise though, as Melissa E pointed out, the aisles are *narrow* up in this hizzy. Big bags and clumsy peeps like me aren't always the best combination. I've learned to keep said bags at the counter while I squeeze through the tiny store. I suggest you do too. So for keeping my mouth moist while I munch on meat, 4 stars, Liberty Wine Merchants. Four stars for you. read more

There is no need to be intimidated by purchasing wine at Liberty Wine Merchants. The staff have dedicated much of their lives to the gaining of wine knowledge so you can be sure that they will answer any questions you may have, regardless of how silly you think you sound. I spotted Liberty Wines while perusing Granville Island and I was overcome by a craving for a lovely rose'. At first, I took a gander around the store and later decided on asking for assistance. My understanding and knowledge of wine is tolerable but it is nowhere near the genius of the the staff here, so why not take advantage? A friendly gentleman assisted me in finding a chilled bottle of rose', created locally and within my budget. He was even kind enough to offer me a sample of a French rose' but in finding out that it had been opened too many days ago, he decided that it was not good enough for me. How nice of him to test it out for me! When I arrived home, I toasted up some French bread and poured myself a glass of Wild Goose Blanc y Noirs rose. I could get used to this! read more

Friendly, knowledgable staff- quick to offer suggestions. Prices to suit the needs of all wine lover: low-high. Good selection, convenient location. read more

+: Great selection of wines you won't find at BC Liquor or other small wine shops. Knowledgeable staff. Wine tastings and other events. Conveniently located where I'm already picking up some fresh produce, terrine, and seafood from other vendors around Granville Island. -: Expensive in comparison with other places. Some of the staff aren't very friendly. Shop feels small with narrow spaces to navigate with bags of the goods I have already bought. read more

Happened to wander into Liberty while visiting Vancouver over August long weekend. I had been searching unsuccessfully for a favourite wine...La Frenz Viogner...which I had tasted in a restaurant in Nelson 5 years ago. I was delighted to speak with a professional, polite, knowledgeable...and handsome...young man who knew exactly what I was looking for. Sadly, the La Frenz was out of stock, but he recommended a Waptit viogner that is wonderful! A visit to Liberty will most definitely be in order on my next trip to Vancouver. read more

While visiting Granville Island I stumbled upon Liberty Wine Merchants so I thought I would see if they had any icewine in stock. They had a handful of brands available including the more well known Iniskillian (sp?). The lady behind the counter came over when she saw me browsing and gave me a recommendation on another brand I had not heard of before. I ended up buying a little bit of everything and was very happy with my purchases. read more

Small-ish shop packed with wines. Service slightly snobby but knowledgeable just the same. Prices inflated just a touch. Happy with the recommended wines we purchased. read more

Just got back from Liberty Wine on Granville Island. I'm there at least once a week and that's got everything to do with the selection, warm welcome and service available at this store. There are two outlets on my doorstep that would be easier to visit but it's always worth the trip to see Pierre and team on the Island. I heard about a bad review today and couldn't believe it...someone was really having a bad day I think...and I don't mean LGI! It's a small store but it's crammed full with product. Kind of reminds me of the quaint little shops in Europe where any number of great finds can be discovered. I particularly like the Spanish and French bottles that can be had for under $20...so many tasty treats and I haven't found a bad one yet. I always rely on the team onsite for new suggestions...they never steer me wrong. I am greeted by name and provided that I don't show up on a busy weekend afternoon there are always great knowledgable staff on hand who will spend loads of time with you whatever your budget. Don't miss this gem on your next trip to Granville Island...it's a keeper! read more

It feels like they have everything with several that are hard to find anywhere else. If you are into wines, this place is worth a visit.

I have to write a review after a very bad experience. At the Granville Island location we were not greeted when we came in nor asked if we could be helped as we looked around the store. When I went to the front to ask were the Chilean wine was, I was told "by the Chilean flag". Sorry, did not bone up on my flags before going in, my fault. When I got close to the Chilean section the man (with the short white hair and beard) said in a condescending tone "right about your head". When I went back to the front to tell him I did not appreciate his condescending manner and was going to leave, all I got was a "good-by sir" before he looked back at his cash register, which I feel if he continue with the same attitude toward customers will soon be empty. There is just too much competition out there to treat customers with anything less than respect. Harold read more

They have many other branches, however, came here to get some ideas as over the weekend one of my friends in Delta was throwing a lunch party and I was going to bring a bottle of wine, however, the type that I sourced on line they didn't carry and not knowing much about wines myself didn't feel comfortable choosing a substitute. They guy at the til was busy with another customer, therefore, due to time I just sourced out my options at the time and got something else. Lots of selections and a well organized store. read more

This is a wonderful location to sell wine. Not a wonderful location to buy wine. That is the difference. I find the staff perfectly friendly - just go and speak to them. They are enthusiastic, but in my experience they have little tasting experience. Enthusiasm, yes. Overall, my wine purchases at Liberty have been extremely poor experiences. As a gross generality, the wines the staff have recommended have had a very thin nose. For less than 1/2 the price, I can find much very more interesting and aromatic wines at the BCLDB, sorry to say. Liberty tends to carry wines not carried by the BCLDB, and of course I understand that completely. But the markup is atrociously high for overall substandard wines. I've found the value to be very poor indeed. I just up-ended two bottles from Liberty, highly recommended by the staff, in the sink tonight, after just 1/4 glass from each - now that's disappointing. They do have a wide selection - too bad the focus is on profit over quality. Most of the pleasure of a good wine, to a trained nose, is in the aroma, not on the palate, though of course a good palate is a bonus. I will avoid their wine like the plague. Too bad. The staff is enthusiastic, and senior staff Pierre is of course knowledgeable, but the younger staff could really do with some proper wine training - after which their noses would rebel at the poor values. It could be a good place. As it is, a tourist trap with fearsomely overpriced wines. read more

I went in here looking for a bottle for my Dad, who knows his wines (I on the other hand do not). I asked for advice on a red to get, and said my dad likes dry reds. The man helping immediately said "well they're all dry." Umm pretty sure that's not true. I also asked how the Brunellos compare to Barolo and he said there is just no comparison because you can't compare a Brunello to a Barolo...not really answering my question at all. He was very rude towards me and even my Mom and sister noticed the same thing. My Dad didn't even like the bottle he recommended. The cork was also really dry and almost split. I paid $62 for the bottle, and according to Vivino, the avg Canadian price is $28. I am never going back to this merchant. read more

Visited the Granville Island location for the first time after attending Liberty's awesome Taste BC event just recently. While the store is as mentioned in a previous review quite compact, the staff are incredibly helpful. I've just gotten into wine recently and have always been intimidated even browsing around at a wine store before, but the staff were really friendly and set me completely at ease and I ended up with a great bottle of white to go with the steak i picked up at the market. Really nice place, and if you ever get the chance definitely check out one of there wine tasting events because i was blown away by Taste BC. read more

Response to Constance J, Dear Constance, The fact that the photos you included were taken on the one day of the year when the staff cleans shelves and reloads for the Christmas Holiday Season, seems unfair. Generally, the shelves are bursting with product. The Liberty Granville Island staff always does their best -they have a smaller store than other Liberty locations and do a great job with excellent selections working within the constraints of limited floor space. This is almost always a busy store, what with the market just a hop away and it seems crowded at times, but there is no way to control the amount of guests in the store at one time. The other locations you mention are much larger and have more free space- hence the ability to keep items in stock. Best sellers are just that: they get shipped once a week, like all liquor deliveries in Vancouver, and they sell out fast. If you want something special ordered, any of the Liberty locations can accommodate you. All you have to do is ask. Regarding your BC wine experience, Granville Island is the #1 most visited tourist attraction in Vancouver (after the airport) and the clientele requests BC wines as take home items. They do have a great selection of wines from other regions and I have always found that if I ask for the manager (Pierre) he really listens as do all the staff there. They really know their stuff.Sometimes I have to be patient, it is a busy sore. I have never been given a bad bottle- ever. Maybe you should go in and talk with them when it isn't too busy. Just sayin. read more

I have shopped here as it was so convenient for me to pick up my groceries in the market and then stop in for some great advice on a wine pairing. The staff has always been friendly and well versed in their wines and selections. I looked forward to trying new, interesting and unique wines every week. Over the last few months, this place has gone downhill. The shelves are beyond bare, the selection has diminished to just a few products and they are always out of stock of what they call their best sellers. If they are your best sellers, then why are you ALWAYS out of stock? Has management thought about simply ordering more? The store is now encased in almost all BC products. I love to support our local economy, but I always looked forward to the unique wines that they used to carry and everytime I visit the store, they push only BC products on me. I wonder sometimes if they make commission off of selling certain wines because the manager is always pushing BC wines on me, even though I tell him that I would like a wine from Italy as an example. I have since started going to the other locations (Commercial Drive and Point Grey) where the selection is more, the shelves are stocked and the managers provide me the service I look for in a fine wine shop. read more

Liberty Wine Merchants - this is what i saw the last time I was there. - Wineries Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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