Downtown Fine Spirits & Wines

Category:	Liquor Store
Address:	103 S Wahsatch Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, USA
Phone:	+1 719-475-8115
Site:	dtnfspiritsandwines.com
Rating:	4.8
Working:	9:30AM–10PM 9:30AM–10PM 9:30AM–10PM 9:30AM–10PM 9:30AM–11PM 9:30AM–11PM 9:30AM–9PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 5

Melanie Moorehead

I wish to preface this by saying that my first shopping experience with this wine shop was pleasant. Also, I have never before returned a bottle of wine in my entire life and Im 73. However, an $8 bottle of wine I bought at Downtown Fine Spirits & Wines leaked wine onto my kitchen counter before I had even opened it. The odd thing was this brand (Two Sisters) had a screw top not a cork. I usually buy my wine at Trader Joes and have never gotten wine there that didnt have a cork. My experience in life is that screw tops are used only for $2-$3 wines. Even "Two Buck Chuck" at Trader Joes has a cork. I was removing the covering, expecting to discover a cork, when some of the wine leaked out onto my kitchen counter - I hadnt even unscrewed it yet! Concerned that the quality of the wine itself would be compromised because it had leaked before even being opened, I did not go further in opening it so of course didnt use the wine. As I walked to the parking lot entrance to the store to return the wine, the owner was standing outside by the door and said in a not particularly welcoming voice, "What are you returning?" I gave him the bottle and he inverted it and no wine came out. He asked if I wanted to exchange it and I said, "No, Id just like my money back for now" and he said they did not do refunds. He then said, "You ripped it," as if my trying to open the bottle indicated some fault on my part, not a problem with the product i.e., that the packaging could be flawed. Obviously he could not re-sell the wine but it didnt seem to cross his mind that there could have been a problem with seal on the wine bottle. At the counter the woman there who had overheard the conversation with the owner said to me, "Well, you probably loosened the cap," (thats why it leaked of course). In other words, I was not aware that the leakage was somehow my fault! I showed her that the cap was completely tight and unscrewed. While I appreciate that they gave me a "gift" certificate instead of nothing at all, their customer return policy is far removed from the friendly Trader Joes policy of cheerfulness and no-questions-asked returns. Instead, the upshot of this experience was that the fact the wine had leaked out was somehow my fault (you ripped it, you probably loosened the cap). No recognition of the possibility that the product itself could be flawed was offered. There was no apology and no recognition that my experience might be worth looking into with the supplier. And of course no consideration was expressed to me for my inconvenience in having to return the product.The number one rule in marketing is that the customer have a good emotional experience. This is as important as the quality of the product itself. Maybe the owner was having a bad Monday morning but he and his staff seem to have forgotten this rule. I wont be shopping at this wine shop again but will wait until I have a reason to go to Denver and will stock up on wine from Trader Joes until such time as Colorado votes for a change in its liquor licensing so that customers can purchase wine at more than one venue in the entire state and maybe even in grocery stores, shock shock. It was quite surprising to me, as a Californian who moved here last year, to discover Colorados odd laws regarding alcohol purchasing. Going through this experience with Downtown Fine Wine Spirits & Wines will have me sending up a silent cheer if this loosening of Colorados restrictive liquor laws goes into effect. P.S. As is notable, there still is no recognition by the owner in his response that the issue is ultimately not the money but the attitude towards me as the customer. It’s not helpful to advise me on the superiority of screw tops on wine when the quality of the screw top/seal on the wine I bought was faulty, nor should it be about the negative impact on his business if competition occurs due to changes in the liquor laws. The response is still all about himself, not me as a customer, aka "my dear Melanie" alas how patronizing!! Just reaffirms my wish not to do business here.

C Wilson

I was one of the first to find this store when it first opened. If you can pay top-shelf price, I suppose it would be very difficult to go wrong no matter where you shop. However, for my price range ($10-12 average), I found the wines to be somewhat lacking and inconsistent, never finding that one or two that I would return for again and again (after many bottles tried ;-). The big disappointment, however, was when I purchased a wine that the owner hadnt even tried. I found it undrinkably bad (and thats saying something), and returned it to the store. I was neither refunded my money or comped another wine. I was told they would talk to the distributor (?) and call me. The owner never called. I have not been back to the store because they simply dont take care of the customer after a bad experience, especially a customer that had been a dependable customer. So disappointing.

Tracy Dodson

The review by C. Wilson is just silly and completely incorrect. The owner of this store (Gregor) is one of the most attentive managers ever. When I show up, he comes to find me so he can help me find the best fit for what I am wanting to spend. He often points me to cheaper options that are better products. He stocks so much stuff! Far more than these old pictures show. He knows his stuff and serve everyone with excellence. There was even a time I showed up "after" closing. As he was coming out, he stopped and said to come in. He turned on light after light to get me clear to the back of the store...just to buy one single bottle of wine. He works hard to meet and/or beat other stores prices in town. Amazing place! Best liquor store in Colorado Springs!

Macarius Katreeb

This is hands down THE best liquor store in town (yes, even over Coaltrain)! Its single best feature (among many great ones) is its owner (though the rest of the staff is great too)! He always knows and is prepared to rattle off his best deals! Not only does he have an expansive selection of wines and liquors, but he knows his stuff! If you are shopping anywhere else in the springs for your alcohol, you are going to the wrong place! I second everything Tracey says below me, and all reading this should know that C. Wilson simply has to be elaborate spam, because this place is rated 5 stars by everyone else, with good reason! I cant say enough how much I love this place!

Bob P

Unbelievable selection! Its like one of those haunted houses that never seems to end -- except instead of scary halloween gimmicks, Gregor has an endless liquor selection. And instead of a staff of volunteer ghouls, Gregor has the nicest coworkers. Maybe Christmas themed similes would have been more appropriate (e.g. Gregor has the most liberal nice list ever and youre on it; Gregor scrooged his suppliers into some awesome deals and his elves are delighted to pass the savings on to you) but the idea is the same. Definitely one of the most amazing and appreciated additions to the downtown Colorado Springs area in recent years!!