Cool Wine

Tucked into the Midcity Arcade off Criterion Street, this is a shop for people who like to poke around before they commit — shelves ranging from Tasmanian reds and whites through to French, Italian, Spanish and further-flung imports, with a steady rotation of natural and organic wines for those drifting from the mainstream. The beer fridge runs deep, sorted alphabetically as if the owners assume you'll want to browse rather than grab and go, alongside ciders, seltzers and a seasonal nod to Oktoberfest. Spirits get equal billing: Tasmanian whisky sits near international bourbon and rye, gin, vermouth, tequila and the odd bottle of umeshu for something different. There's a sake section too, which says something about the range of tastes this place is built to satisfy. Prices stretch from cleanskins and bottles under twenty-five dollars to Bordeaux direct imports and magnums for those with deeper pockets or bigger tables. Tastings can be arranged, whether that's a casual beer session with friends or something more considered led by staff who clearly know their way around a wine list. It's the kind of place that rewards a slow look — not just a supplier of bottles, but a resource for people trying to drink a little more curiously.