2 weeks Ago By Elizabeth Chorney-Booth
Many Calgary wine lovers were disappointed when The Cellar — the much-beloved wine store on 8th Avenue in the brick and sandstone heritage building also home to Murrieta’s – closed in early 2024. The shop, with its cave-like atmosphere and hidden nooks and crannies, was the perfect place to house a treasure trove of premium bottles. A year after that fixture in the wine scene closed, a new chapter is beginning with Cavernus, a new wine club and lounge located in the old Cellar space.
When most of us hear the term “wine club,” we probably think of subscription services involving a case of wine showing up at our front doors every couple of months or so. The new Cavernus Wine Club and Lounge is a different kind of beast, mimicking private members-only wine clubs found in other cities, particularly those in Toronto. These spaces traditionally provide a place for well-to-do wine lovers to store their wine collections and also pop them open to enjoy with fellow aficionados.
It’s a concept that wine lovers and corporate types have been looking for in Calgary for years, but current regulations prevent similar operations from opening in Alberta. The owners behind Cavernus had experienced wine club life in Toronto and wanted to be able to enjoy fine wine in a luxurious setting here in Calgary. After tweaking the concept to adhere to provincial rules, Cavernus opened its doors in February as a public wine bar and lounge with a strong membership element.
Here’s how it works: members can buy into a lounge-only tier that includes priority access to events and tastings or go a step further and take the wine storage option. Local regulations don’t allow members to simply haul wine in from their home cellars to store and drink at the club, so they must purchase directly through the club, which has full access to all the wines any liquor store or restaurant would. Club manager Susan Bloor – who also worked at The Cellar for over a decade – acts as a curator, filling each member’s locker with suitable wines.
When they visit the lounge, members can select one of their personal wines and a server will happily bring it out and start pouring. “I’m a personal shopper for our members,” Bloor says. “Part of the onboarding process is that they come in, meet with me, and we go through their likes and dislikes.
Then I procure a collection for them that curates their own wine list.” To comply with regulations, Cavernus needs to have a publicly accessible component, which is a win-win for wine-curious Calgarians who might not be ready to go all in with a membership. While much of the large multi-room lounge is reserved for members, non-members are welcome to come in and enjoy the plush seating and chill atmosphere.
Bloor keeps several wines available by the glass or the bottle for non-members or those who don’t want to dip into their lockers, but the real draw is a series of ever-changing flights, consisting of three 2.5-ounce pours with the option of adding food items like cheese as a pairing. The wines can be poured blindly, giving drinkers a chance to put their palates to the test and try to figure out what they’re drinking for a fun and interactive experience.
Of course, food is also part of the equation. Most of the offerings fall into the most official of all wine bar foods, charcuterie, with well-crafted boards stacked with Canadian cheese and cured meats ($25 to $55). Other wine-friendly bites include truffle Parmesan popcorn ($9), Greek marinated olives $4/$9), juicy meatballs with housemate focaccia ($17) and spinach and artichoke dip served with baguette ($15).
The club sources food from Murrieta’s upstairs for special events requiring more substantial meals. Bloor has plans for events like winemaker visits, tastings, and dinners as the club grows and hopefully becomes a hub for Calgary’s wine industry. Cavernus is located at #100, 137 8th Ave.
S.W. and is open weekdays from 11 a.
m. onward and on Saturdays from 4 p.m.
to 11 p.m. The club is closed on Sundays.
For more information or to book a table, visit cavernus.ca. *** In other restaurant news, details for the Terroir Symposium, taking place May 3 to 4 have been firmed up.
This year’s theme is “Innovation, Evolution, and Regeneration,” with an additional focus on Filipino cuisine for some of the food service portions of the programming. If you haven’t been, Terroir is a gathering of food and drink professionals as well as food-curious members of the public, featuring a series of workshops, panel discussions and good things to eat. Saturday’s events – including a full day of learning and an evening celebration of the flavours of the Philippines – will take place at the Southern Alberta Pioneers Building, with Sunday’s symposium at Platform Calgary.
Terroir also hosts a series of ticketed dinners at restaurants including Primary Colours, Hawthorn, River Café and Rouge. For tickets and more information visit terroirsymposium.com.
Elizabeth Chorney-Booth can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Instagram at @elizabooth or sign up for her newsletter at hungrycalgary.
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