Photo courtesy of DCANTER
DCANTER will open this week in Old Town Alexandria.
DCanter, a woman-owned wine shop, will celebrate its grand opening Saturday, April 4 in Old Town Alexandria, on the ground floor of CityHouse Old Town. This is the second location for the wine boutique, founded in 2013, which also counts a location on Capitol Hill.
Located at 1101 King St., Suite 112, the shop will host an open-house style tasting from noon to 4 p.m., Saturday, welcoming the Alexandria community to discover DCanter and experience its wines and services. The shop will have a series of activities and giveaways throughout the day to engage with the community.
As the co-founder and CEO of DCanter, a pioneering, Michelle Lim Warner is "transforming the way people discover and enjoy wine. Through her vision, DCanter’s boutique, online shop, and personalized wine concierge service have made wine shopping more accessible, joyful and human," the company notes.
Before entering the wine world, she built a distinguished career in public service, serving as a division director at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center during the Obama Administration. There, she led teams that improved healthcare delivery for millions of Americans and managed over $100 million in federal innovation investments.
The new shop in Alexandria builds on DCanter’s long-standing Capitol Hill presence while extending its neighborhood-focused wine lifestyle to a community that "feels like home," the owners said in a press release.
“Old Town immediately reminded us of Capitol Hill,” said Lim Warner.
“It’s a true neighborhood—walkable, community-driven, and full of people who care about supporting local businesses. We’ve also been delivering wines to Alexandria customers through our Concierge service for years, so opening here feels like a natural next step".
In addition to retail wine offerings, DCanter Alexandria will reflect the brand’s broader wine lifestyle focus. Guests will have access to the same experiences offered at the Capitol Hill shop, including wine education classes, casual tastings, in-shop events, and curated global wine tours. The shop will also feature Concierge by DCanter, the company’s personalized wine service that pairs customers with a sommelier who hand-selects wines based on taste preferences, budget, and everyday moments.
The Alexandria location will also carry a curated selection of gourmet food items as well, inspired by the wine regions DCanter works with—easy, delicious pairings designed to make enjoying wine at home feel effortless and special.
“At its core, DCanter is about helping people feel comfortable and confident with wine,” added Lim Warner.
“We want this shop to feel like a neighborhood place where you can ask questions, discover something new, and leave with bottles you’re genuinely excited to open.”
DCanter prides itself in offering sustainable and organic wines from small producers from around the world. The shop will also offer Virginia wines including:
Thibaut-Janisson Blanc de Blancs NV was born from a long friendship that began in a Grand Cru village in the Champagne region of France and continues today in Blue Ridge Mountains of Charlottesville, Virginia.
Linden Vineyards Claret 2021: The 2021 Claret shows pungent aromas of red currants and red raspberries, along with fresh thyme, mint and tarragon. Maybe a bit of roasted red pepper in the background. The wine is medium bodied. There is a perky and lively finish with a refreshing acidity.
Slater Run wines including Steel Chardonnay 2024; Roots 2021; Pet Nat Rosé Brut 2025 and RocketFish 2023.
Lightwell Survey's The Weird Ones are Wolves 2023: A blend of 80% Cabernet Franc, 15% Riesling, 3% Petit Manseng, and 2% Vidal Blanc.
