Wineism, Albion: When one of Australia’s best sommeliers pivots from composing wine lists to opening his own bottle shop, you best believe the wine community takes notice. Award-winning somme Ian Trinkle opened Wineism at Albion Fine Trades in late-2021 alongside wife Liz and long-time family friend Aaron Mullan. Together, the trio has crafted a first-of-its-kind boutique wine space housing a hand-picked selection of vino from around the world. Within the space you will find upward of 700 wines – from the serious classics to the smashable newcomers – with a ‘Sips of the Day’ list giving guests the chance to sample a selection of wines from the bottle or Coravin, which they can then purchase to take home.

Half Moon Wine Store, South Brisbane and Wilston: Another newcomer on the scene, Half Moon Wine Store subverts the traditional bottle-shop look with its utilitarian South Brisbane location (it’s sun-soaked Wilston shop has a brighter, but still minimal scheme). Owners Jordan Shertock and Alex Farquhar look to spotlight flavourful, ethical, sustainable, organic and small-scale makers, championing producers, suppliers and importers that aren’t heavily represented in town. Glugable bottles and high-end, splash-out-worthy sips share shelf space, with Jordan and Alex’s curatorial eye bringing together old-world and new-age vino in one space.

Craft Wine Store, Red Hill and Coorparoo: Brisbane wine drinkers have a lot to thank Tony and Tanya Harper for. The tandem are the brains behind Craft Wine Store – a two-location operation held in high esteem for its commitment to sourcing terrific thirst-quenching tipples. New stock is constantly arriving at both stores, including numerous Brisbane firsts and labels exclusive to Craft. Knowledgeable staff are on hand to guide curious customers through the extensive range of minimal-intervention wines and small-grower champagnes, with tastings giving regulars a cheeky preview of some hand-selected faves.

Cru Bar & Cellar, Fortitude Valley: Many of you will know Cru Bar as the perpetually pumping eatery on James Street’s glamorous thoroughfare, but, tucked away behind the action, sits a cellar component that is best described as a plonk-lovers paradise. Here, a crack team of aproned staff help novices and savvy sippers find their ideal drop from Cru’s vast selection of hand-picked highlights, which include globally recognised makers and buzzy new-world standouts.

Barrels & Stills, Woolloongabba: This Woolloongabba gem is a wine bar and lifestyle store rolled into one. Beyond the pantry goods, homewares and books, Barrels & Stills stocks a choice selection of wines, including reds, whites and bubbles, as well as rosé (including its own award-winning variety), orange wine, sake and fortified wines. Are you a lover of lo-fi drops or international imports? The knowledgable team will likely be able to sell you something you’ll like. The Barrels & Stills bar lounge is a great spot to savour your selection with a bite from its guest chef menu.

My Beer Dealer, Petrie Terrace, Clayfield and Morningside: Matt Emmerson and Antoinette Pollock of Brewski fame entered the bottle-shop scene in 2018, giving booze lovers a chance to buy some of the Brewski team’s favourite drops to take home. Naturally craft beer was a major focus of Matt and Ant’s offering, but My Beer Dealer’s ever-growing wine selection is nothing to sniff at. Both locations offer a killer range of lo-fi, funky and traditional wines, with a ‘just in’ selection spotlighting plenty of must-try bottles worth nabbing every week.

Ardo’s, Newstead: Part wine bar, part takeaway wine shop, the City Winery crew’s Newstead outpost, Ardo’s, is a great spot to pick up something special. In addition to showcasing City Winery’s own Gerler range, the shelves are stocked with vino from stellar producers like Arfion, Basket Range, Defialy, Tom Shobbrook, Unico Zelo and Witches Falls. In the corner of a space sits a set of taps, which gives clientele the chance to minimise wastage by buying a branded vessel and filling it with a rotating selection of season-appropriate wines.

Embassy Cellars, Paddington and Toowong: The crew behind this Given Terrace vino vendor aim to make it a reliable local for the community to call upon when they’re in need of something to sip. The selection at Embassy Cellars is vast, offering everything from trend-setting biodynamic and organic drops to heralded French champagnes.

Wine Experience, Rosalie: This purveyor of wine has been in operation since 2004, making it one of the longest-running boutique wine shops in Brisbane. With that tenure comes experience – experience sourcing, curating and, well, selling excellent wine. Visiting this venue is like stepping into your own private cellar, with wooden furnishings, polished concrete floors and subdued lighting giving it a sense of hallowed elegance. The Wine Experience team sources drops from leading wineries across Australia and the globe, with varieties, regions and price point all considered and accounted for across the selection.

Dark Red, Fortitude Valley: Another wine resource that doubles as a drink-in wine bar, Dark Red in Bakery Lane is a hidden gem chock-full of sensational bottles to savour on site or to take home. Of Dark Red’s selection, the vast majority are Italian vineyard imports, with bold barolos, choice chianti, primo pecorino and medium-bodied montepulciano all visible on the shelves. There’s also a small amount of easy-drinking home-grown vino from the likes of  VHS Wines, Delinquente Wine Co., Architects of Wine and Adlib Wine.

Arcade Wine, Ashgrove: Part bottle shop, part wine bar, Arcade Wine off Waterworks Road is a hidden gem hailed by westside wine lovers as an exceptional resource. Niche bottles are a specialty, from light-bodies whites and vino from volcanic vineyards to bold, full-bodied reds and effervescent sparkling. If it comes from Arcade Wine, it’s likely to be a great pick.

The Wine Emporium, Newstead: Nestled in the heart of the Gasworks precinct is a highly regarded retailer that stocks everything from vintage champagnes to drops more suited to a low-key weekday dinner. Every staff member is a fount of knowledge when it comes to wine, with The Wine Emporium facilitating regular wine appreciation events perfect for oenophiles looking to immerse themselves deeper into the realm of viticulture and winemaking.

The Woods Bottle Shop Neighbourhood Provisions, Mitchelton: The Woods’ bottle shop and providore is the perfect spot to visit if you’re after something adventurous. The vendor’s overseers Steve Powell and Timmy Hughes savvily curate an ever-changing, handpicked selection of lines and labels. The resulting array boasts a broad cross-section of libations to choose from, spotlighting finger-on-the-pulse newness and timeless classics.

Malt Traders, Market Street, Heritage Lanes and South Bank: With three locations to visit (including two in The City), Malt Traders is one of the most convenient emporiums around. In addition to a stack of independent spirts and craft beers, shelf and fridge space is given over to vino from independent Queensland wineries, funky Italian varieties, old-school wines from Tasmania, new-wave pet-nats and plenty of organic and biodynamic plonk.

Brewtide Cellars, Albion: Tucked away behind Brewtide’s taproom within Craft’d Grounds, Brewtide’s cellar is a treasure trove of libations. In addition to catering to the take-home crowd, thirsty patrons will be stoked to know that the venue licensed to allow for on-site consumption of wine and beer bought from the cellar with a corkage fee. So, with a wine wall stocking 95 varieties from forward-thinking makers, you’ve got some decisions to make!

Honourable mentions: There are oodles of wine specialists in Brisbane worth seeking out. If you haven’t found a spot you like, be sure to also check out La Valle, James St. Bottleshop, Teneriffe Wine + Beer in Teneriffe and Flask Bottle Shop & Cellars in Boondall.