Wine purchase near Canada Place

We will be staying at the PanPacific and plan to purchase a couple of bottles of wine to bring aboard the ship. Is there stores within walking distance of Canada Place where you can purchase wine?

Thank you

Out the front door of the Pan ===bare left to the corner with the light.

Go Left down two blocks & cross street at light.

Govt Liquor store with pretty good selection is in basement of building coming up on your right as you continue a bit further in the next block.

Watch out for sticker shock :D we got lots of tax.

Thank you!

Just a footnote to the sage advice offered above, as July 9th is a Monday, you will need to hold off on your purchases until 10 am Monday morning as most BC Liquor Stores are closed on Sunday's. You will find often find private liquor stores open on a Sunday but their prices are often higher than those of the government stores.:(

We will be staying at the PanPacific and plan to purchase a couple of bottles of wine to bring aboard the ship. Is there stores within walking distance of Canada Place where you can purchase wine?

Thank you

While it's not walking distance, the Signature BC Liquor Store at Oakridge (the largest store/selection in the province) is open on Sundays, and 10-12 minutes away on Skytrain.

Grab any southbound Canada Line train, get off at Oakridge, cross 41st street, and it's another 1/2 block walk. A $2.50 skytrain ticket would likely get you there and back as they're good for 90 minutes (so unless you spent 75 minutes in the store....)

No need to take transit, there is a new BC Liquor - Signature Store at Alberni and Bute Sts. which is quite walkable from almost anywhere in the downtown area. While not as large as the Oakridge store, it like the Oakridge store is open on Sundays and Holidays 11 am til 6 pm.:)

Actually it is not truly a new store - it just moved to the end of the block because it's old site is getting ready to be knocked down for another condo project - and the old one was also opened on Sundays.

Cheers

Dennis

It relocated from Thurlow & Alberni to Alberni and Bute, but having leased a number of stores to the LDB over the years....trust me it is all new and very, very expensive to fit out.:rolleyes:

We will be staying at the PanPacific and plan to purchase a couple of bottles of wine to bring aboard the ship. Is there stores within walking distance of Canada Place where you can purchase wine?

Thank you

I work for the liqour board and if you are looking for "popular" wines, The store at Harbour Center around the corner will be fine. The Signature store at Bute will also carry more high end product and Cambie will carry almost everything sold by the board.

Expect to pay almost double for US wines and 25-50% more for others. The good thing is only 10 cents deposit is added to the sticker price unlike the US where all taxes are applied. I suggest a nice BC Okanagan VQA wine like the red Osoyoos Larose Le Petales for $25

http://www.mattersoftaste.com/product/343103

or white Blasted Church Hatfield's Fuse for $18

http://www.mattersoftaste.com/product/734475

Yellow Tail is $13 :( "stay away"

I'm from the Uk. What is a sticker?? We will be staying at Blue Horizon Hotel prior to boarding. Where is the best place for us?

All the above sounds very confusing? Will it be cheaper to buy on board? I like a good but inexpensive bottle of red wine (I know that sounds contradictory:o). Where would the best place be for us?

Thanks

Sticker is our way of showing the price of the product on the bottle.

Cheers

Dennis

I'm from the Uk. What is a sticker?? We will be staying at Blue Horizon Hotel prior to boarding. Where is the best place for us?

 

All the above sounds very confusing? Will it be cheaper to buy on board? I like a good but inexpensive bottle of red wine (I know that sounds contradictory:o). Where would the best place be for us?

 

Thanks

The prices I quoted are in Cdn $ so that $25 Le Petale is $16 british pounds.

Walk east on Robson st. till Bute st (1-2 blocks) turn left on Bute (towards water) for 2 blocks to Alberni st.

Wine on board is going to be $25+ a bottle for "average" wine that retails in Vancouver for $10-$15 a bottle.

http://www.princess.com/learn/onboard/gifts_services/cellars_culinarydelights/princess_cellars/index.jsp

Your best bet would be to buy 2 bottles at Heathrow duty free and bring them in your luggage. I once paid at Heathrow, $10pd of a bottle of Faustino Gran Reserva that we sell for $38cdn.

I could make better suggestions is I knew what you currently drink & or price threshold. The wines I suggested are quality wines that would hold it's own against anything in the world but is local to our province. You would surely pay more for them elsewhere in the world.

If you're looking for $20 wines for $10 you won't find them here as liquor is government controlled. Sale items are usually only $.50-$2 off.:(

The Hatfield's Fuse ($18) and the Le Petale ($25) that I suggested would compare to shipborad wines in the $45-$75+ range.:) There's a $15 corkage fee if you take them to the dining room so you're still saving $$$

Thank you. We always like to try something new and especially local to the area, so we may well take you up on your suggestions of wine.

I really appreciate your help

I work for the liqour board and if you are looking for "popular" wines, The store at Harbour Center around the corner will be fine. The Signature store at Bute will also carry more high end product and Cambie will carry almost everything sold by the board.

 

Expect to pay almost double for US wines and 25-50% more for others. The good thing is only 10 cents deposit is added to the sticker price unlike the US where all taxes are applied. I suggest a nice BC Okanagan VQA wine like the red Osoyoos Larose Le Petales for $25

http://www.mattersoftaste.com/product/343103

or white Blasted Church Hatfield's Fuse for $18

http://www.mattersoftaste.com/product/734475

 

Yellow Tail is $13 :( "stay away"

I would like a wine like the Blasted Church (screw tops are good) but slightly sweeter --in the 1/2 range-- like a Pinot Grigio. Any recommendations?

I would like a wine like the Blasted Church (screw tops are good) but slightly sweeter --in the 1/2 range-- like a Pinot Grigio. Any recommendations?

As for white wines, BC makes great Gewurztraminers because of our cooler climate. I would happily suggest any of the following:

See ya Later ranch (1 sweetness)

http://www.mattersoftaste.com/product/868067

Red Rooster (1 sweetness)

http://www.mattersoftaste.com/product/498832

Gray Monk (2 sweetness)

http://www.mattersoftaste.com/product/321588

If you really want sweet, try our Okanagan Ice wines (dessert). They're a great souvenir! not cheap though.

You can get good Pinot Grigios anywhere that's why I recommend the Gewurztraminers.

As for white wines, BC makes great Gewurztraminers because of our cooler climate. I would happily suggest any of the following:

 

See ya Later ranch (1 sweetness)

http://www.mattersoftaste.com/product/868067

Red Rooster (1 sweetness)

http://www.mattersoftaste.com/product/498832

Gray Monk (2 sweetness)

http://www.mattersoftaste.com/product/321588

 

If you really want sweet, try our Okanagan Ice wines (dessert). They're a great souvenir! not cheap though.

You can get good Pinot Grigios anywhere that's why I recommend the Gewurztraminers.

Thanks--they sound lovely.

As for white wines, BC makes great Gewurztraminers because of our cooler climate. I would happily suggest any of the following:

 

See ya Later ranch (1 sweetness)

http://www.mattersoftaste.com/product/868067

Red Rooster (1 sweetness)

http://www.mattersoftaste.com/product/498832

Gray Monk (2 sweetness)

http://www.mattersoftaste.com/product/321588

 

If you really want sweet, try our Okanagan Ice wines (dessert). They're a great souvenir! not cheap though.

You can get good Pinot Grigios anywhere that's why I recommend the Gewurztraminers.

OK - I'm a wine idiot but for everyday generally drink inexpensive Sauvignon Blanc ($10-15) and buy inexpensive Cabernet Sauvignon ($15) for hubby. I've been known to spluge and spend more. I've looked at the Princess wine list that someone posted and can find brands I know that I'll be able to buy onboard for less than $30 or so - no point in carrying on for dinner since I'll have a $15 corkage fee to pay. But for drinking in the cabin are there any local wines you'd recommend for us? Otherwise I'll look for brands I recognize and hope the prices aren't too different from FL.

And does anyone know if Princess enforces the 1 bottle of wine per person for cruises leaving from Vancouver?

Appreciate any suggestions!

Hi: All the recommended wines are "local". They are made in British Columbia (BC). Okanagan is a BC wine grape growing area.

Hi: All the recommended wines are "local". They are made in British Columbia (BC). Okanagan is a BC wine grape growing area.

Hey Jennifer - I have no idea what sort were recommended the first time (other than one red & one white) and can't remember the last time I had Pinot Grigio so have no way of knowing if what was recommended for you would be to my liking. For all I know Pinot Grigio & Sauvignon Blanc are similar enough that I'll end up with the same or similar recommendations - if so we'll have to meet in the laundry & sip while we wash!:D

Cheryl

Hey Jennifer - I have no idea what sort were recommended the first time (other than one red & one white) and can't remember the last time I had Pinot Grigio so have no way of knowing if what was recommended for you would be to my liking. For all I know Pinot Grigio & Sauvignon Blanc are similar enough that I'll end up with the same or similar recommendations - if so we'll have to meet in the laundry & sip while we wash!:D

Cheryl

Definitely--wine tasting while washing! Bring your own glass:)

OK - I'm a wine idiot but for everyday generally drink inexpensive Sauvignon Blanc ($10-15) and buy inexpensive Cabernet Sauvignon ($15) for hubby. I've been known to spluge and spend more. I've looked at the Princess wine list that someone posted and can find brands I know that I'll be able to buy onboard for less than $30 or so - no point in carrying on for dinner since I'll have a $15 corkage fee to pay. But for drinking in the cabin are there any local wines you'd recommend for us? Otherwise I'll look for brands I recognize and hope the prices aren't too different from FL.

 

And does anyone know if Princess enforces the 1 bottle of wine per person for cruises leaving from Vancouver?

 

Appreciate any suggestions!

If you buy any US or Australian wine you'll be shocked at the price compared to Florida.(doubled) I always go to Total Wine when I'm in Florida, Nevada, or California so I'm familiar with the pricing. (I just got back from Napa last week)

If you're looking for Sauvignon Blanc I would get one from New Zealand as they have had pretty good vintages the last couple of years and are the best price/quality product. Local producers don't do a very good Sauvgnon Blanc.

As for cabs, try:

Inniskillin Reserve

http://www.mattersoftaste.com/product/597070

Peller Private Reserve

http://www.mattersoftaste.com/product/618330

I just took a look at the posted "Princess" wine list and these are what I would consider the best deals: (lowest mark-ups)

Whites:

Pouilly-Fume, Domaine Lebrun.. $30

Chablis, “Les Ecuries” Seigneurie De Tanley.. $32

Laboure-Roi Vallon d’or Pouilly Fuisse,.. $34

Reds:

Wente Southern Hills Cabernet.. $25

Chateauneuf-Du-Pape.. $31:)Never had a CDP that I didn't like!

Stefano Farina Barbaresco.. $38

Stefano Farina Barolo.. $45:) cheaper than in Vancouver

Silverado Cabernet.. $58

Caymus Cabernet.. $85

If you buy any US or Australian wine you'll be shocked at the price compared to Florida.(doubled) I always go to Total Wine when I'm in Florida, Nevada, or California so I'm familiar with the pricing. (I just got back from Napa last week)

 

If you're looking for Sauvignon Blanc I would get one from New Zealand as they have had pretty good vintages the last couple of years and are the best price/quality product. Local producers don't do a very good Sauvgnon Blanc.

 

As for cabs, try:

Inniskillin Reserve

http://www.mattersoftaste.com/product/597070

Peller Private Reserve

http://www.mattersoftaste.com/product/618330

 

I just took a look at the posted "Princess" wine list and these are what I would consider the best deals: (lowest mark-ups)

Whites:

Pouilly-Fume, Domaine Lebrun.. $30

Chablis, “Les Ecuries” Seigneurie De Tanley.. $32

Laboure-Roi Vallon d’or Pouilly Fuisse,.. $34

Reds:

Wente Southern Hills Cabernet.. $25

Chateauneuf-Du-Pape.. $31:)Never had a CDP that I didn't like!

Stefano Farina Barbaresco.. $38

Stefano Farina Barolo.. $45:) cheaper than in Vancouver

Silverado Cabernet.. $58

Caymus Cabernet.. $85

Thanks so much! Always helps to get ideas from someone who knows wine. I often pick New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc so that helps to know they are the better value.

I do love Total Wine for their extensive selection - it almost makes my brain hurt! I really need to make notes about the ones I like or dislike since I rarely remember once I get to the store. They are good about recommending something else to try if I point out ones I already like. And they have much better notes on the shelves than the ABC (liquor store) or Publix (grocery store) for the times I'm too busy to ask for advice.

Thanks for all your replies. Very helpful. Can you get Australian wines in Canada?

Thanks for all your replies. Very helpful. Can you get Australian wines in Canada?

Yes. If you click on one of the URLs of the suggested wines you are at the Liquor Board website. On the upper right is a search function where you can identify country of origin. I enjoy Chilean wines--the low cost Gato Negro Cabernet is quite nice and available in Canada.