Denver Wine Merchant

08/25/2026

I look forward to fall in Colorado: spooky season and cozy wine.

And drinking Northern Rhône Syrah hits different once the temperature drops below 80°. 🩸🍷🍂🍁

Sleep all day. Party all night. Never grow old. Never die.

And drink Cornas once the temperature drops below 80°. 🩸🍷

08/20/2026

🇫🇷 TOMORROW! FREE FRIDAY TASTING: REALLY OLD VOUVRAY🇫🇷

This is a really rare opportunity to taste properly mature Chenin Blanc.

TOMORROW • Friday, August 21 • 3–7pm
Denver Wine Merchant
FREE. No reservation. Just come sip old wine. 👵

Our French friend Didier lives here in Denver and has somehow managed to bring a pretty wild collection of old French wine to Colorado.

Tomorrow we’re tasting five vintages from the ’70s and ’80s Clos Dubois Vouvray, a tiny ONE-ACRE walled vineyard that has historically been considered one of the great sites of Vouvray.

👵 1988 Vouvray Sec
👵 1985 Vouvray Demi-Sec
👵 1982 Vouvray Demi-Sec
👵 1979 Vouvray Sec
👵 1976 Vouvray Demi-Sec

And for something youthful, we’ll also open a very young 18-year-old Cabernet Franc:

👶 2008 Domaine des Fontenys Bourgueil Vieilles Vignes

There will also be special pricing if you want to take any of these old ladies home. 👵

Quantities are very limited!

08/19/2026

🇦🇹🍷 We’re hosting two upcoming classes on Austrian wine!

We’ll be exploring the entire country of Austria with and taste 8 wines from benchmark producers along the way.

The tasting will feature 6 whites and 2 reds from the major regions and producers to know in this small yet diverse wine country.

We’ll have light snacks, visual guides and of course Steven’s incredible knowledge to guide you through the tasting.

As of right now, we have 1 ticket remaining for the September 2 class. Grab it now on our website under the Events page or on the front page of our site.

This is a part of our month of Austrian Wine! Stay tuned for in-store tastings and special wine club updates.

08/17/2026

Our little shop, Denver Wine Merchant, turned 6 last week! 🥂

We opened our dream shop in 2020, during a time of immense uncertainty. We were living in Jersey City, New Jersey, where our lives had been turned upside down—not only by the pandemic, but by my diagnosis with ALS.

So, naturally, we decided it was the perfect time to move across the country and open a wine shop. 🤓

There was already so much uncertainty in our lives that we figured we might as well embrace it. We loved Colorado, we had always dreamed of opening our own shop, and we knew exactly the kind of wine store we wanted to create.

We wanted to be the opposite of a boring big-box wine store. We wanted a place where every bottle was there for a reason: it’s truly great wine. After spending years working as sommeliers on restaurant floors, we wanted to take everything we had learned (and everything we loved about wine) and create our own unique little wine paradise.

And we did exactly that.

Six years later, we’re all still here! And I think it’s safe to say we’re thriving 💅🏼

The little shop we created has become more than we ever imagined. It’s become part of Denver’s wine community, a place that has employed some truly amazing people, and a very small space somehow jam-packed with an absurd amount of awesome wine.

🩷 None of it would exist without all of you. 🩷

That’s why every year for our anniversary, we like to pull out some of our favorite bottles and share them with you ✨for free✨.

And this isn’t your regular Friday tasting. We open epic s**t.

It’s our way of saying thank you for shopping with us, drinking with us, coming to our classes and events, trusting us to pick your wine, and allowing us to keep doing this little dream job six years later.

Thank you for giving our little wine shop a home in Denver. ❤️

Here’s to 6 years of Denver Wine Merchant 💐 and hopefully many more

08/17/2026

08/05/2026

We’re hiring! ✨

We’re looking for someone who is passionate about wine, hospitality, and attention to detail to join our little team at Denver Wine Merchant.

Restaurant wine service, retail wine, or sommelier experience is preferred, but above all we’re looking for someone who loves taking care of people and is excited about all things wine.

Email your résumé to [email protected]. We look forward to meeting you!

08/01/2026

Emidio Pepe (1932–2026) 🥀🇮🇹🍷

One of the ultimate winemaking legends in history.

We met Emidio years ago while working as sommeliers/wine directors in Manhattan. Pictured is Sally with Emidio and Steven with his wine team at Felidia. Even without a shared language, it was obvious we were in the presence of someone extraordinary.

He permanently elevated the reputation of an entire region and two native grape varieties through conviction, patience, and an unwavering belief that the great wine is primarily made in the vineyard. At the time, no one thought Montepulciano could be compelling enough for anything beyond a simple table wine.

When pretty much every other winery was transitioning to modernization (stainless stress, massive scale production, new French oak, chemicals in the vineyards and winery, cultured yeast, etc). He essentially did the opposite. Emidio spent 60 years working the old way while enhancing it: the less you interfere, the more clearly the vineyard shines through.

The result are wines that are really unlike any other: hauntingly complex, pure, alive, profound, textured wines capable of evolving for decades.

Rest in peace to one of Italy’s true legends. His daughters and granddaughters have continued the philosophy of creating beautiful, authentic wines.

Available in the shop today:

1983 Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d’Abruzzo (1 bottle)
2021 Emidio Pepe Pecorino Colli Aprutini IGT (6 bottles)
2021 Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d’Abruzzo “Branella” (6 bottles)

07/23/2026

I love a good ritual 🔮🍷 set good intentions

Our mission is simple: we offer the best wines for the most competitive price possible.

We continue to strive for excellence and offer exceptional service, classes, events and more to complement our selection.

We’re so much more than just a store that sells wine. We are real people who love wine and love sharing it.

07/19/2026

💫 Sally is 39 today 💫

Birthdays have a way of making me reflect. I still remember my 8th birthday where I had a pool party, got a Barbie and ate my mom’s famous fried chicken.

It occurred to me that I may be living a life unlike anyone else’s. As far as I know, I’m the only woman (in history) with ALS who was diagnosed, then went on to open a wine shop 🌟 and is still helping run it seven years later.

👉 None of it would have been possible without Steven 👈

He was my partner before ALS, and when our lives changed in 2019, he stayed by my side. He committed himself to making sure we would keep living a life full of purpose, joy, and badassery.

ALS has taken my ability to walk, speak, and my independence, but it hasn’t taken away my love for wine, learning, or experiencing new things. Somehow, despite everything, my life is still filled with beauty.

Most people don’t see what Steven does each day. He runs Denver Wine Merchant, he is a full time caregiver AND works a second job on weekends so we can afford caregiving and keep moving forward. He carries more than anyone should have to, and he does it with extraordinary strength.

This past year, having a caregiver has changed our lives. It has given me more independence and given Steven something he rarely gets: a chance to breathe.

If you’d like to celebrate my birthday, the greatest gift would be helping us continue to afford that support. If you’re able, please consider donating or sharing my GoFundMe through the link in our bio.

To everyone who has taken the time to read this, supported our business, shared a kind word, or simply followed along 🧡 thank you.