We are proud to share that Wine Dispensary has been recognized with two Wine-Searcher Retailer Awards for 2025/26, earning a Silver Medal for European List and a Silver Medal for Overall List in Denver.

These awards are given by Wine-Searcher, the industry’s leading global source for wine, beer, and spirits retail listings. Rather than reflecting a single tasting or moment in time, they evaluate retailers over a full year, measuring depth of selection, quality, consistency of availability, and accuracy of pricing and listings against other independent stores in the same market.

What makes this recognition especially meaningful is how quickly it arrived.

Our current ownership and leadership team took over Wine Dispensary in January of 2025. Since then, our focus has been steady and intentional: preserve the strengths that made this shop a destination, while sharpening our buying, inventory, and selection to better reflect how our customers actually drink and explore wine and spirits today.

What the Wine-Searcher Awards Represent

Wine-Searcher’s Retailer Awards are built on data, not hype. To qualify, a store must maintain a strong, consistently updated price list over a 12-month period, meet minimum quality thresholds based on aggregated critic scores, and compete against other eligible retailers in the same city.

Winning medals for both European List and Overall List signals that our selection is not only broad, but well-curated, reliable, and aligned with what customers seek across regions and styles.

Listening More Closely to Our Customers

One of the ways we’ve strengthened our buying decisions is through the use of Somm Says™ wine tasting game technology, which helps us better understand our customers’ preferences and sense of value. Rather than relying solely on industry trends or past assumptions, we are able to see patterns in how our customers taste, what resonates with them, and how preferences evolve over time.

This insight supports the work of our buying team, led by Jessica Barrand (WSET Level 3 in Wine & Spirits), whose approach is grounded in structure, balance, and regional expression, alongside Jennifer Maglieri (Professional Bartender), who brings a practical, contemporary perspective shaped by how people enjoy spirits and cocktails in real-world settings.

By combining professional judgment with clearer visibility into customer preferences, we are able to adapt our selections more thoughtfully. It allows us to refine categories, deepen areas of genuine interest, and stay responsive to market demand without losing focus on quality or integrity.

Looking Ahead

These awards are a meaningful affirmation of the direction we’re heading, but they’re not an endpoint. They reflect the daily work of a committed team, the trust of our customers, and a shared belief that a great wine shop should be both knowledgeable and responsive.

We’re grateful for the support we’ve received during this new chapter and excited to continue building a selection that feels relevant, dependable, and worth exploring.

Thank you for being part of it.