A new spirits purveyor injects a little Italian sass into the local wine scene.

Shopping in British Columbia’s state-owned liquor stores can evoke images of 1981 Warsaw with their uniform selections and uniform pricing. Thankfully private merchant Metro Liquor is seeking to evoke more Florentine charm with its location in the new Tuscany Village residential development. The space was designed by the late Vancouver designer Rob Kay and features northern-Italian woodwork with a drop-down cathedral ceiling—a perfect setting for the store’s large concentration of Italian varietals. In addition there will be weekend in-store tastings and a resident sommelier.—Shelora Sheldan