Wine Gallery 108

Explore the endless stories of specialty bottles of wine chosen with artistic flair at Wine Gallery 108, an Old Town wine shop that exudes creativity, warmth, and hospitality. Owner Lisa Katic comes from a family with Croatian heritage, bringing Alexandria a passion for global wine cultures, food, and art to her retail shop. Step inside and you’ll find an artful array of vino, gourmet snacks, and wine accessories in an inviting space decorated with her own colorful, abstract paintings. Lisa herself is an artist who sees the world through multicolored lenses, bringing a careful artistic eye to the curated bottles inside.

This isn’t just a place for pricey bottles of wine – it’s for everyone who loves and appreciates good wine. “Customers love the approachability of it,” says Katic. “We have great wine at every price point.”

Her expertise stems from an impressive background working in hospitality, restaurant work, hotels and clubs, professions that supported her college education, and built up a fulfilling 20-year career in nutrition communications and policy. During this time, a quiet passion for wine followed her throughout her travels. Exploring vineyards and wine cultures across the globe inspired her to dabble in wine endeavors, a passion that only deepened over time, and inspired the creation of Wine Gallery 108, a boutique wine shop in Alexandria. Before opening the shop, Lisa battled a challenging illness, one that fueled an unexpected love for painting. In a full circle moment, her passions for art, wine and nutrition blend to form the creative identity of the shop.

Wander inside Wine Gallery 108 and you will see creativity thrive. Peruse through an array of flavorful bottles of wine, elegantly sitting upon its shelves like living pieces of art. The carefully-curated selection spans over 500 labels, with an emphasis on small vintners who grow grapes in an eco-friendly way. “What has kept me coming back to wine is that it is a living breathing entity,” says Katic. “It has its own little mystery, you can get such different expressions in every glass of wine.”

At Wine Gallery 108, the team helping you select your bottle are all credentialed wine professionals, which is a rare staffing achievement. Katic and her team love helping shoppers figure out what to pour to pair with dinner, or even devise a quick, impromptu meal entirely from items in the shop. “In an era of algorithmic recommendations and impersonal transactions, there is something truly valuable about walking into a shop where people know your name and genuinely care about your experience,” Katic says.

Winemaker events, collaborations with other local Old Town businesses, a wine club and tastings (think Sparkling Wine Saturday) round out the shop’s convivial feel. Even the name, Wine Gallery 108, feels like kismet. Having lived in Old Town for 20 years, Katic knew she wanted to open her shop here. “Old Town is so vibrant,” she says. “I just love the walkability, I love the river.” The name drew its inspiration from its former address on 108 North Patrick Street. It’s a number that has spiritual significance for Hindus and Buddhists. And as it turns out, Katic didn’t need to change the name when she picked out a new location for the shop in 2022, which just so happens to be located on 108 North St. Asaph Street.

Wine Gallery 108 is located at 108 N St Asaph St. in Alexandria.