About the store:
100 wines by david walker is a one of the most unique wine stores you’ll ever come across. At the core of the store are 100 wines that wine-guy David Walker has hand-picked as a snapshot of all regions and prices, carefully displayed around the perimeter of the funky, wide-open space. Each bottle is accompanied by a blurb of tasting notes to help direct the shopper to the vintage of their dreams.

And if you think 100 bottles isn’t nearly enough to keep your tastebuds tickled, think again. The 100 on the shelf are just the best that owner David Walker has tasted recently. At least 30 wines change each week making room for all sorts of newbies to the hot 100.

The not so average wine store, with a built in living room to hang out and relax (entertainment system included), also provides consumers with a twist on the concept of wine storage. The store itself boast’s a 100 locker, locker room for members to store bottles until they are ready for consumption. Members can purchase a locker which comes full of wines of their choice and is replenished on a biweekly time frame (or more readily depending upon your consumption) as part of their membership package.

The store also includes a side classroom called 101, which is home to an art gallery for artists, a venue for hosting larger wine education classes and host location for corporate meeting room space & private events.

About David:

David Walker is widely considered one of Canada’s most enduring wine personalities. While constantly striving for continued knowledge, David exudes a contagious enthusiasm for wine and the families and stories behind the label.  He is always quick to remind us that, “wine is pleasure and I have the greatest job in the world”.

David holds the internationally acclaimed Wine and Spirit Education Trust Diploma and is a certified instructor.  David’s passion for wine and food arose following a professional cycling career where “I was able to travel and taste great wines and food”, but this raw interest was polished by his formal role of Chef and Wine Educator at Canada’s original winery, Inniskillin Wines.  He then went on to work as the General Manager of the upstart boutique winery and restaurant at Peninsula Ridge Estates.

It was after two years of building Peninsula Ridge’s reputation he was recruited by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts for what he describes as “one of the most sought after wine jobs in the world”.  The position was the Wine Director at The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.

This dream position allowed David the opportunity to combine his culinary background, exceptional wine tasting ability, and entrepreneurial business spirit to the hotel’s many restaurants and comprehensive wine program.  During his tenure Wine Spectator Magazine awarded the hotel’s wine program and the fine dining restaurant The Banffshire Club earned the coveted AAA Five Diamond Award and the Mobil 4 star rating to lead all Canadian restaurants.  Not forgetting his roots he then opened the Authentically Local- Canadian Wine Store, which was built to increase the awareness of Canadian wines to the hotel’s team and countless guests. He also directed the Fairmont Banff Springs Annual Festival of Wine and Food which hosted some of the most spectacular wine and food tasting events ever to be held on Canadian soil.

In May of 2008 David launched his newest venture called 100 Wines by David Walker, a retail wine store in Calgary Alberta. In it’s first year he was awarded Retailer of the Year by the South Alberta Retail Association.

David also consults to wineries and clients such as the Royal Canadian Pacific Heritage Train, voted the World’s Best Luxury Train in 2009 and recently presented wine tasting seminars at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.