Wise Child Wine Store

Wise Child by James Whineray and Lucy Byrnes is an unconventional prospect because it only sells Australian minimal-intervention and natural wines: wines made using organically grown grapes that have been fermented using natural yeasts and with a mimimum of additions at the winery.

The store’s small but weighty selection covers the country, from well-loved Margaret River chardonnay to lesser-known Georgian varieties grown in the Yarra Valley.

Some wines are limited edition and hard to get hold of. Producers such as Yume Wine and Basket Range Wine that have previously had little or no representation in WA are particularly sought after. Styles such as pet-nats (an abbreviation of petillant naturel, naturally sparkling wines) are popular. Australian craft beers such as Two Metres Tall (Tasmania) and Rock Ridge Brewing Co (Busselton) are also sold.

Wise Child also remains true to its origins as a corner store and stocks everyday provisions including milk, olive oil, newspapers and Bread in Common bread.

The space is beautiful and light-filled starring timber floorboards, industrial shelving and landscape prints. There’s nothing dingy or dodgy abut this bottle-o.

Whineray and Byrnes host tastings, and the underground cellar is used for wine related events.