DCANTER wine shop uncorks grand opening in Old Town

DCANTER, a boutique wine retailer based on Capitol Hill, opened Tuesday at 1101 King Street, Suite 112, with a preview event attended by dozens of guests, including representatives from the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, and Councilman Canek Aguirre.

Founders Michelle Lim Warner and Michael Warner addressed the crowd, reflecting on more than a decade of building the business before bringing it to Alexandria.

"Thirteen years ago, when we had our first store on Capitol Hill, we envisioned a place where community can gather — a space where people can really come and get to know each other and share in their curiosity and perhaps love of wine," Michelle said.

She described DCANTER's origins as coming from the perspective of wine consumers rather than wine industry insiders — a vantage point she said shaped the shop's identity. "Being an outsider in the business has really helped us create something unique and different in the wine industry," she said. "On the face of it, DCANTER looks like a wine store, and it is. But hopefully the experience you have is that it's centered around exploration, discovery, and joy."

Michelle also spoke to her motivation to build an inclusive space. "As a woman and a person of color in this industry, I wanted a place that felt welcoming and inviting — for people who felt overwhelmed by wine options and didn't necessarily know what they were looking for."

Michael Warner thanked the shop's investors — Brad, Steven, Joelle and Bruce — as well as store manager JP and team member Gael, whom he credited with driving the project forward through months of preparation. He also recognized designer T. Swaran for transforming what he described as "a cold concrete shell" into the finished retail space. General contractor Paul and real estate partners Adrian Donnelly and Mark, of American Realty, were also acknowledged for their roles in building out the location.

DCANTER specializes in organic and sustainably farmed wines from small producers worldwide. In addition to in-store shopping, the retailer offers a personalized wine concierge service, classes, private tastings, and global wine tours. The shop has been recognized as the best place to buy wine in Washington, D.C., and is listed among the top 100 wine retailers in the United States. The Alexandria location is now open daily during regular store hours.

A public grand opening celebration is planned for Saturday, April 4, from noon to 4 p.m. The event will feature an open-house style wine tasting, a Golden Cork hunt with prizes, and a gift for the first 100 customers. The entrance is on N. Henry Street.

Readers can RSVP and sign up for updates through DCANTER's mailing list here.

DCANTER Alexandria is located at 1101 King Street, Suite 112, Alexandria, VA 22314, with the entrance on N. Henry Street. The Capitol Hill location is at 545 8th St. SE, Washington, D.C. Both stores are open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. More information is available at dcanterwines.com.