Grape witches

Grape Witchesthe Toronto-based importer and seller of international natural wines, is anything but stuffy.

Sometimes it takes a witch to make wine more fun. Part consultancy, part event designers, part mobile party service, part Dionysian coven, Nicole Campbell and Krysta Oben are the Grape Witches , a Toronto-based many-headed hydra of natural wine appreciation and art-party fun. Sprudge co-founder Jordan Michelman caught up with Oben and Campbell during a brief breath from the madness. This interview has been lightly edited and condensed. Hello Grape Witches!

Grape witches

For wine industry veterans Nicole Campbell and Krysta Oben—better known as the biodynamic duo behind Grape Witches —opening an independent bottle shop stocked with organic natural wines was something the pair never dreamed would be possible before the pandemic hit. The long-time friends turned business partners have worked in the wine industry for more than 10 years, Campbell on the importing side and Oben as a wine buyer and restaurant sommelier. In , after sharing a few glasses of vino at the RAW WINE festival in New York, the pair came together with a vision to launch a side-project focused on sharing their mutual love of natural wine. The convivial evenings begin with lighthearted educational sessions that evolve into bacchanalian dance parties with heavy pours and live DJs. After hosting a holiday bottle-shop pop-up at their now permanent home along Dundas West back in December , the pair began toying with the idea of opening their own permanent space. Campbell and Oben went looking for a venue to serve as a multipurpose event space and headquarters for their natural wine agency, Grape Witch Imports , and for hosting community gatherings and wine tastings. When the airy, light-filled pop-up space at Dundas West became available, they felt it was fate. They signed a lease on March 7, , just one week before Toronto went into lockdown. With relaxed restrictions on the sale of alcohol, Campbell and Oben began envisioning a new possibility for their space. In an age of physical distancing and limits on group gatherings, their original concept morphed into Grape Glass , an eclectic bottle shop stocking a tightly curated collection of low-intervention wines. Out back, a secluded sun-drenched patio is an intimate setting where visitors can perch while sipping glasses of Argentinian orange wine. So which wine would a Grape Witch pick if a Grape Witch picked your wine? About Contact Advertise Stockists.

Natural wine started in Europe, so it's no surprise that things tend to skew international, with many exciting and exclusive grape witches on their roster, with orange wine high on the agenda.

If you guessed correctly it would take the end of the world for Ontario to loosen rules around selling alcohol, we owe you a drink purchased from a bottle shop, natch. But long before the pandemic forced a legislative update, the Grape Witches were on a crusade to bring good wine to the masses. After attending Raw Wine Fair in New York and witnessing a rare enthusiasm among novice wine drinkers, they wanted to bottle that passion for great grapes. As their popularity grew, the Grape Witches needed a permanent H. What Campbell and Oben envisaged when they signed the lease in March and what transpired in their first year may have diverged considerably, but it did have some upsides. We are really trying to also support other restaurants and companies by doing collaborations," explains Campbell. Since wine-to-go must be sold with a food item, Grape Glass might offer snacks from Korean restaurant Uncle Mikey's, fish from Portugal — or just chips for those who want to reserve all their money for wine.

Though one of the founding Cava producers, they've si. Though one of the founding Cava producers, they've since started listing their wines under Conca del Riu Anoia, a new appellation with the strictest quality regulations. Pick Up: Free Pickup is available at our shop, any day that we are open. Find our current operating hours here. Our courier delivers between 12 - 5pm Mon-Fri and sends tracking. We do not offer same day delivery on Fridays.

Grape witches

Pick Up: Free Pickup is available at our shop, any day that we are open. Find our current operating hours here. Our courier delivers between 12 - 5pm Mon-Fri and sends tracking. We do not offer same day delivery on Fridays.

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Add a host note with a one-liner of why this bottle matters and you've won guest of the year. November 27, With relaxed restrictions on the sale of alcohol, Campbell and Oben began envisioning a new possibility for their space. From life's little projects to its big questions; the latest in food, style, relationships, work and money, home, wellness, pets and travel delivered directly to your inbox each week. May 11, December 13, So the Grape Witches are now offering virtual tastings. Sometimes it takes a witch to make wine more fun. Since wine-to-go must be sold with a food item, Grape Glass might offer snacks from Korean restaurant Uncle Mikey's, fish from Portugal — or just chips for those who want to reserve all their money for wine. When the airy, light-filled pop-up space at Dundas West became available, they felt it was fate. October 25, So which wine would a Grape Witch pick if a Grape Witch picked your wine? Maybe next time.

Pick Up: Free Pickup is available at our shop, any day that we are open.

Show them to a knowledgeable person in a wine shop or wine bar," she said. We host educational wine events and parties across Canada, championing natural and low intervention wine from around the world. September 7, December 15, Photo by Arden Wray. January 29, Natural wine started in Europe, so it's no surprise that things tend to skew international, with many exciting and exclusive imports on their roster, with orange wine high on the agenda. January 12, There are as many answers to that question as there are situations, for sure. Previous Story Next Story. We have both worked in wine forever—Nicole importing and Krysta as a sommelier—and we wanted to share what we most loved about wine and particularly natural wine with people outside of our industry. Choose from the likes of Off the Beaten Bubbles, or Cozy Sweater Reds, which will change your whole lockdown perspective. Jordan Michelman October 11, Columns. How many people came?