Grapes of Mirth

The first time I went to this small wine shop in the North Market I was on mission to find a wine I’d sampled as part of a wine flight at the Burgundy Room. I had no idea the wine’s name. All I knew was that it was from France, and it had a slightly salty taste. That’s all I gave the owner Dave to go on. Sure enough he produced the exact wine.
Every time I stop in they seem to have exactly what I’m looking for that day. Ohio wines for holiday hostess gifts? Check. Italian dessert wine Vin Santo for an Italian themed party? Check. Best of all, owner Dave is the kind of knowledgeable and friendly guy who puts wine newbies at ease.
Tip: Every Saturday they do wine tastings for .50 cents a sample, a great way to try before you buy. They also have a nice selection of beers, and do beer tastings every few weeks.

Such helpful staff – really. I went there looking for Belgians and found a great selection. There were trappists, and whites and some delicious lambics. I bought some of each and loved them all. They were moderately priced and I’ve been back for more.
I highly recommend this place for your beer cravings. Will have to go back again to check out the wine selection. I really wasn’t expecting too much since the place is so small but I was pleasanlty surprised.

The owner, Dave, is honest and knowledgeable. The selection, beer and wine, is well chosen and diverse. I would say that I do not always go due to the hours of the market but I try to make it there when I can. Dave is a beer lover so talk and peruse his selection.

I went here today looking for Dogfish Head’s Palo Santo. This occasional brew just went annual last year but I haven’t been able to find it.
Guess who has it?
Grapes of Mirth! Although this is a rarity it was reasonably priced at only $ 15. I probably would have paid $ 50…shhh!
I don’ know how they fit all the awesome alcohol in this tiny north market corner but I will gladly help them empty it.
The owner was so helpful and equally delighted by my delight to find this beer. I had a few questions about the seasonal red and white as well as BK brewery monster ale rarity which he gladly answered without talking down to me.
Great selection, great prices, great people. If the brew exists you will find it here. They should call it Hops out of Hell.

My main qualm with Grapes of Mirth is that it’s situated in the center of the only ramp in the North Market. This seems illogical for those on mid-​party wine runs who already have clumsy feet on flat walkways. Also, the space feels so compact when I’m in there. I’m always worried that I’m going to elbow a shelf and start an awful domino effect. One last (odd) thing, there’s an uncomfortable rumble brewing between the Grapes of Mirth stall and the nearby CaJohn’s stall, so beware of that.
Otherwise, Grapes of Mirth is a wino’s heaven. It’s like a wine cellar without walls. There are racks of wine, mostly reds but also whites. I’m not a wine geek, but I can appreciate the mass quantities contained in this mini spot.
As Randy S mentioned, Grapes of Mirth carries beer too — over 200 varieties of it. I love trying a new beer. I even man-​up by drinking my missteps (and usually my boyfriend’s missteps too); I never let a beer go to waste. Grapes of Mirth is good for searching out unheard of varieties. They carry beer from around the world.
The staff is good at making recommendations. They can recommend a brew based on your tastes, and they can recommend a wine based on what’s for dinner. If they don’t have it in stock but it’s on their distributor’s list, they’ll special order it for you. They also special order vintage wines and guarantee they’ll be in less than a week.
They sell a few accessories like small glass sets and corkscrews. There are frequent wine tastings if you’re into that.

I like to think that I know a little about beer. So naturally I don’t feel that great when I learn that Grapes of Mirth carries about three beers I’ve ever heard of. Expect to find lots of «Doppelbock from Hell» type labels here. It’s enough to make even an adventurous beer drinker nervous.
They carry wine too, as the name implies. However, I know basically nothing about wine so I can’t speak to that.
If you’re looking for a unique brew in Columbus, check out this North Market shop.