By Lani Gering

Lisa Katic and Wine Gallery 108

We had the pleasure of meeting the “Chief Wine Taster” from Wine Gallery 108 located here in Old Town Alexandria at a wine tasting event at Society Fair last month. We were on the hunt for some subject material for the January Business Profile and she just fell right into place.

Wine Gallery 108 is a rebranding of the former Altura Wine and Gourmet that was in this space and the subject matter of a previous profile in the OTC. Katic purchased the business in mid-2018 after deciding to “follow her dream”. She has definitely put her mark on the shop. She is not only the Chief Wine Taster, she’s an accomplished artist as well.

This shop has a very distinct personality and is a lot bigger inside than one would think. “I take wine seriously but I don’t take myself too seriously,” Lisa says with a grin. You get a feel for what is inside by what is in the front window. Pay close attention to the sign in the display in the exterior photo that is accompanying this column.

Wine Gallery 108 is a boutique market in Old Town Alexandria offering fine wines, craft beer, artisanal foods, local art and handcrafted gifts. The items that she has chosen to accompany and compliment the wine she sells are very unique. It is worth the stop even if you aren’t on the hunt for vino. The art that was on display when I did the interview included many of Katic’s originals as well as the work of other local artists. The whole theme blends together seamlessly.

This is a very interactive place with Friday night Happy Hour from 5-7 pm and Saturday Tastings from 2-5 pm. They also host seasonal events during the year. Your best bet to make sure you don’t miss anything is to sign up for their mailing list on the website.

Katic is also very excited about the Wine Club experience they now offer – Palate 108. Once a month, Lisa uses her 20+ years of industry experience to curate fine, exclusive wines for wine members to explore.

Palate 108 combines the wine club components you’ve come to know – two spectacular wines each month – with the communal experience of an educational pick-up party each month to meet other members and learn about the selections. They currently offering two wine club levels:

Pioneer Level
This level is perfect for the classic wine lover. For $40 a month, get two great wines. They do a mix of themed, new world and old world and more to please a variety of palates. Their first month’s Pioneer level featured Donkey & Goat’s Gadabout, a small batch white blend made at a biodynamic vineyard, and The Poggio Anima Montepulciano 2015, a classic Montepulciano from a single vineyard in Chieti.

Artisanal Level
This level pairs gourmet food with exclusive wine picks, perfect for trying new treats or for the “host with the most” looking for new ideas for their monthly get-together. Their first month’s theme was Italian, featuring a red and white wine from the same region in Italy as our gourmet marinara sauce in their gourmet food section.

Wine Gallery 108

108 North Patrick Street

Old Town Alexandria

WineGallery108.com

703-549-9463