Wine Shops – treat yourself to some retail therapy!

The odds of going into a wine store for a bottle of wine and actually buying only one bottle of wine is a million to one! Guilty as charged? Well, you’re not alone. A large amount of credit for this goes to the remarkable shopping experience that retail stores are now striving to create, and succeeding too! Before you head out for your next weekend wine shopping spree, here’s what you need to know about Gurgaon’s wine retail scenario…

Picture this.

It’s a balmy evening in the city, the main streets are bustling with passing traffic as you navigate a clear spot to park your car outside the hard-to-miss, glistening facade of a glass-walled store that appears inviting at just about the first glance. You walk into an air-conditioned, well-designed, stylish space where endless sections of meticulously arranged wine bottles look back at you with an enticing gaze. Greeted by an expert in the wine section who understands your preferences, recommends a range of exciting wines to try, and then guides you to make the best selection, you walk out of the store feeling happy and confident about your wine purchase, and hope to be back for a second visit, sooner than you probably think. This isn’t a scene from an advertising commercial, but a real-life, fun and immersive wine buying experience from a new-age retail store!

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For the longest time, liquor shopping in India has been regarded as a mundane, often unpleasant experience, that is avoided especially by women. Many retailers are now attempting to transform this into a lifestyle experiential activity by opening premium walk-in stores, that aims to provide a deeper connection and understanding between the world of wines and spirits, and the consumer, in addition to offering a diverse and wide range of global selections.

“Gurgaon is unique when it comes to establishing some of the most upscale liquor stores that have successfully contributed to elevating the experience of buying wine.”

What is the experience like?

Gurgaon is unique when it comes to establishing some of the most swanky, upscale liquor stores that have successfully contributed to elevating the experience of buying wine for the wine enthusiast. The wine range, a pivotal part of these stores, features wines from famous wine regions of the world such as France, Italy, Chile, Argentina, Germany, Spain, and of course, the best of India as well. Some stores have digital technology integrated into the space, allowing you to seamlessly browse through the store’s inventory, offers and pricing at ease, with just a few swipes. On the shop floor, you’ll also find knowledgeable sommeliers who make the experience thoroughly interactive and informative. If you’ve ever wanted your own personal wine cellar at home, each wine in it confidently purchased by you, it doesn’t get any easier than this!

The Liquor Warehouse, a well-known name in the city, boasts an enviable wine collection. They have a chain of stores in Gurgaon, with the one on MG Road being the busiest and most popular. You’ll find an array of hidden gems in the wine section that are great value for money, like easy-drinking, entry-level Chilean, South African and New Zealand wines (Monte Pacifico, Valdivieso, Vinologist, Brancott Estate, Wolftrap) in the under-INR 1000 and the INR1000 to 3000 bracket. A notch above, discover famed red and white wines from USA, Spain, Italy, France and Germany in the INR3000 to 6000 price range (Cannonball, Decoy, Francois Labet, Familia Torres, Querciabella, Famille Hugel) as well as regional sparkling favourites like Prosecco (Bottega, Perlino, Zonin), Moscato d’Asti (Martini) and Cava (Codorniu) from INR1800 onwards. Find an exclusive range of champagnes upwards of INR6000 for your special occasions, like the Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial (INR6400), Billecart-Salmon Brut (INR10300), Besserat de Bellefon Sec (INR12000) or the Laurent Perrier Rose (INR17000).

Top shelf favourites…

If you’re in the mood to splurge on top-shelf cellar favourites, you’re in for a treat! Look for The Chocolate Block (INR6000), Tignanello by Marchesi Antinori (INR17500), Dom Perignon (INR42000) or their most expensive red wine, the 2016 Napa Valley Dominus (INR62000), one of the finest Bordeaux-style reds made in California by the legendary winemaker, Christian Moueix of Château Petrus fame. The imported wine section is arranged country-wise, making it easier to browse if you’re looking for something specific.

Located adjacent to this section is an entire gallery dedicated to Indian wines from top producers such as Grover, Fratelli, and Sula. Discover the best Indian Reserve red wines with the Fratelli Sette, Grover Chêne Grand Reserve and the Sula Rasa range, all under INR2000. Chandon and Grover Zampa’s range of bubblies in the INR1000 to 3000 range promise to be a great alternative to imported sparkling wines.

G-Town Wines is another game-changing retail brand that offers a fine selection of Indian and imported wines. It began as a woman-friendly store with ample security measures, valet parking options, and an entrance designed to allow female customers to walk directly into the exclusive wine section with a separate billing counter, away from the main section. It now has over 20 stores in prominent locations across the city. They frequently run special offers on the entry-level range of wines at discounted prices. Some exclusive offers include complimentary wine glasses and wine-openers with the bottles. Make sure to check with them about any ongoing offers before making your purchase!

“The imported wine section at the Liquor Warehouse is arranged country-wise, making it easier to browse if you’re looking for something specific.”

Other significant big players

The Liquor Story by G-Town Wines in Sikanderpur, outside the Bristol Hotel boasts a massive range of wines, truly making it a wine lover’s paradise. Expect to find some excellent imported wines at prices marginally lower than other stores. Like the Italian Col Di Sasso at INR1700, South African Nederburg Shiraz at INR2400, Castiglioni Chianti by Frescobaldi at INR2600, German Wachtenburg Riesling at INR3000, the Belleruche Côtes-Du-Rhône at INR2800, the Miraval Rosé at INR5000, and the iconic Penfolds range starting from INR4500. For a slightly off-beat choice of bubbles, try the Grover ‘Auriga’ Brut with gold flakes inside the bottle, at INR1450, or the Moët & Chandon Ice Imperial, a bottle of slightly sweet champagne especially created to be enjoyed over ice, at INR7500.

Another popular retail outlet synonymous to the high-end wine shopping experience is Discovery Wines. Their massive liquor warehouses (L-1s) stock an extensive range of wines, spirits and beers at discounted prices. They have multiple stores in easily accessible locations throughout the city. Their stores also offer kerb-side pickup, which is a great plus if you know exactly what you want to buy ahead of time. Coupled with this and being consistent with a diverse range of wines across different prices in their sprawling walk-in stores, Discovery Wines doesn’t fall short of creating a flawless wine-shopping experience.

Among the leading stores in the city is Lake Forest Wines (LFW), wine importers and retailers who have managed to carve a niche for themselves with their specially curated, premium wine selection that features some of the most coveted wines from every corner of the wine-making world. With their in-house sommelier’s guidance, explore some rare treats from their cellar like the Ruffino Chianti, Robert Mondavi Private Selection Pinot Noir and the Niccolo Santino Luxury Prosecco.

A ‘wine-renaissance’

By redefining the modern wine shop, and creating an experience for consumers through their innovatively designed space and a curated selection of labels, we are witnessing a wine retail renaissance of sorts, with the leading brands being a strong, driving force behind it. As many new brands enter the city’s retail space, we hope they continue to do things differently by creating an unmatched buying experience for Indian wine connoisseurs and enthusiasts.