Canberra Wine andSpirit Merchants

In Canberra's CBD sits a merchant whose focus is unapologetically local: this is where the cool-climate wines of the Canberra Region — the district's shiraz-viognier, its rieslings, its sangiovese — are gathered under one roof in a way no supermarket aisle could manage. The shelves lean into the region's celebrated wineries, the ones that turn up again and again in Halliday's pages, alongside a considered run of French Champagne, craft spirits from nearby distilleries, and beers and ciders from small breweries rather than the usual multinational suspects. It is a shop built on relationships with the makers just up the road in Murrumbateman, Bungendore and the Lake George district, which means the advice on offer comes from people who know these wines by more than their back label. Beyond the everyday browsing there are tastings held on site, a wine club for those who'd rather have the selecting done for them, and a sideline in hampers and gourmet fudge that nods to gifting without overshadowing the main game. It's a destination for anyone wanting to understand what this cool-climate corner of the country does well, poured and bottled by people who clearly think the Canberra Region deserves more attention than it usually gets.