In a tree-lined neighbourhood in Edmonton, at the far end of Whyte Avenue, is Color De Vino. It’s a small, family-owned wine and liquor store. It’s also CKUA’s newest sponsor. Co-owned by Juanita Roos and her daughter Kelsey Roos, Color De Vino has been a presence on Edmonton’s south side for more than a decade, and they take pride in customer service and varied product selection.
“We’ve been at this location for 11 years,” says Kelsey. “We celebrated our tenth anniversary in 2024.”
Kelsey says that she and her mother had worked at a few wine stores together before they opened Color De Vino. She adds, “When I was young, my mom had a restaurant, so food and wine have always been a big part of our life. And we knew we wanted to work together one day. We have a great relationship, so we decided okay, let’s open a wine store!”
When it came time to find a location for that store, it seems the Mill Creek location was meant to be. “We had explored a few locations, and we were driving by,” says Kelsey. They loved the neighbourhood, Googled the address, and found it was for sale!
Now it’s hard to imagine that section of Whyte Avenue without the distinctive retailer. It’s a dark grey stucco building with large windows and a welcoming storefront. The business benefits from walk-in traffic, and also works hard to earn the loyalty of its customers.
“It’s fantastic to be working with my mother, who has such an incredible knowledge of wine and a nature talent for customer service,” says Kelsey. “She gets invited to our customers’ weddings and other important occasions all the time!”
Count some CKUA staffers among the store’s loyal customers. Host Tony King lives near the store and says, “It’s always chock full of neighbours.” He adds, “At Color De Vino, the staff understand that wine is really about people, and they listen to the customer to get a sense of what moves them. Only then do they reveal the magic of the store through their extensive knowledge of the product.”
Alberta Morning host Grant Stovel recently stopped by for one of Color De Vino’s signature events. Every Saturday there’s a “store pour” afternoon, allowing customers to sample a few wines that have been selected by the staff. Stovel says, “Their wines are always super interesting and carefully chosen, so a tasting event is a great way to expand your horizons, in sip-sized instalments. And they sequence the samples to take your palate on a real journey! They really put a lot of care and thought into everything they do.”
Color De Vino has stepped forward to be a CKUA sponsor because of these community relationships, and because the owners love music. Kelsey says, “I’ve come to recognize the voices of the hosts. And I’ve seen the CKUA tent at festivals. Over time, those community connections have just grown.”
CKUA Sales & Partnership Manager Jodi Lucas says, “We’re so pleased to welcome Color De Vino to the CKUA community of like-minded businesses and corporate supporters. Their store is a gem in Edmonton, and their contribution of wine and spirits for events is wonderful. They’re leaders in the community, and we thank them for their generosity.”
Thank you, Color De Vino! Visit their store at 9606 Whyte Avenue, or find them online at colordevino.ca
