5 Wine Shops in LA That Stand Out From the Rest

When it comes to LA’s female- and non-binary-owned wine shops, it’s hard not to feel like the glass is half-full. (Sure—that’s a little cheesy, but step into any of the stores and try not to be in a good mood!) Gone are the days of somber and snooty sommeliers lecturing what makes a good wine; these are outfits that spotlight small, passionate winemakers that make LA’s wine scene friendlier, more colorful and infinitely more delicious. 

Domaine LA

It’s impossible to talk about the women-led wine revolution (or the natural wine revolution) in LA without mentioning Domaine LA , which led the charge when it first opened in 2009. Then came Jill Bernheimer—and her wine wiz team, many of whom have gone on to spearhead other natural wine projects in the city. Domaine is more a journey than a wine shop; blackboards lining the walls direct you to different regions. All bottles are natural but showcase how wide-ranging “natural” is, as you receive an education in wine and learn more about your own tastes. The entire store was designed by Jill’s brother, architect Andrew Bernheimer, with a central space meant to resemble a living room, where customers are invited to sit, chat and geek out over vino. And chatting is a large part of the Domaine experience. “My hope is that when people come here, it will be a conversation,” explains Bernheimer.

Local Insight: Follow @domainela to find out about regular tastings.

Location: Melrose
@domainela

 

Vinovore

What kind of vinovore are you? You might not know, but sommelier Coly Den Haan does. At Silver Lake’s Vinovore—a women-owned natural wine and goods store that features women winemakers from around the world—you’re greeted by a breakdown of your wine spirit animal, ranging from the Pink Pony (for rosé fans) to the tannin-hungry Bronze T-Rex. Each bottle of wine is labeled with what vinovore will love it most. “It demystifies some more unusual wines that you might be afraid to try,” Haan says. “I was hoping to give people the tools to figure out what they like.” Need gift ideas before the holiday (or just want to give yourself a well-deserved treat)? Pre-made gift boxes feature the perfect wine-food-and-read pairings, and a section of the store is devoted entirely to badass female authors. And if you think something is missing from the shelves, Haan wants to know. “I like to think of this as a living place. I always try to stock the things that people are looking for. There’s always a dialogue here,” she says.

Location: Silver Lake
@vinovorela 

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