Independent Wine Store opened on Point Nepean Road in Rye in June 2013, founded by Angela Strickland after 19 years working in hospitality and seeing a gap for a wine shop with genuine point of difference. Rather than commercial big-name labels, the shop's list leans into small, independent and new-wave producers, sourcing from the Mornington Peninsula alongside the rest of Australia and the world. The shelves hold more than 500 products, including local names such as Foxey's Hangout and Circe, biodynamic champagne from France, and small producers from further afield like McLaren Vale's Brash Higgins. Beer and cider from outfits including Bad Shepherd, Red Hill Brewery and Jetty Road round out the range, giving the store depth beyond wine alone. Beyond retail, Independent Wine Store operates as a drink-in venue, with a by-the-glass list or $20 corkage on any bottle bought in store to enjoy at one of its tables. As there's no kitchen, the food side stays deliberately simple, running to cheese boards, charcuterie platters and tinned fish rather than a full menu, served on a walk-ins-only basis given the venue's size. Independent Wine Store suits wine lovers after considered, small-producer bottles to take home, as well as anyone wanting a relaxed glass or platter in a bright, unpretentious space that avoids the dark-fridge feel of a standard bottle shop.
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