Champane's Wine Cellars

jrallen34

Illinois

3.1/5  rDev -28.2%
quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 2 | $

In town visiting, this place was the highest rated so I thought I'd give it a try to pick up some nice Michigan locals. This place is huge, wharehouse like, interesting atmosphere with stuff animals, I liked the lions...The beer section is decent about 6 rows of beer. Most of the rows are consumed with 6 packs, wish there was some more individual bottles. The only real indivduals were most of the Belgians. Decent selection of foreign and domestic. Its mostly chalk craft beers that you would find at any decent beer bar. So disappointing I didn't see anything I couldn't get at 50 other places. Contrary to another reviewer you cannot break up 6 packs here. The biggest disappointment by far was the secletion of Michigan beers. No bells or Founders I couldn't get anywhere. They had a few short's beers, but again nothing past the main staples. Very disappoinging. Prices were decent about the only good thing I'd say...With so many awesome brew pubs around no need to go to this place.

05-31-2010 22:34:38 | More by jrallen34

Frozensoul327

Michigan

3.15/5  rDev -27.1%
quality: 3 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3 | $$

Ive been to Champane's Wine Cellar & International Marketplace a few times, and always kind of been underwhelmed by the selection. If you're into wine, it's the place to go, but the beer selection, as fair is it may be, is very overshadowed at this establishment. There's a fair selection of Michigan micros, and a few regional micros, with a plethora of macro brews that are highly touted via POS displays and sale signs. Some of the micros seemed neglected (dust, and even some rust on a few bottle tops) and didn't seem like they were recieving proper attention. I was asked if I needed help by a kind and friendly employee, who unfortunately didn't know much about the beer selection, but was nice enough to try to help. Prices were reasonable, if you're looking for a sale on AB, SABMiller or Coors products, otherwise it's nominal for the micros and imports. It's noted that Kuhnhenn is right up the road, yet this place offered none of their bottlings. Hmmmm. You can stop if you're in the area, but if you miss it, don't lose any sleep.

01-01-2007 04:16:36 | More by Frozensoul327

sinstaineddemon

Connecticut

3.25/5  rDev -24.8%
quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 2 | $$

a very nicely presented store. well kept and neat. but the majority is devoted to wine, a HUGE wine section. the beer selection is small, mostly MIchigan area micros. picked up a sixer of Founders Breakfast Stout, as i was near broke, i didnt spring for the GLBC Nosferatu that i wanted, but the founders was worth it. a nice store the help in the beer section was good, but the front end help needed some work. and what is it with Michigan beer stores and not allowing you to split up sixers, what the hell! oh well, worth a visit anytime, even out of your way

12-29-2006 06:30:03 | More by sinstaineddemon

kels

Virginia

3.85/5  rDev -10.9%
quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | $$

Stopped into Champane's after a visit to Kuhnhenn's recently.

Quality: Sometimes I feel it's hard to rate quality in a store. The quality of the beer labels they carried was good, and everything I've opened from the store so far has been fresh, so I would say that's pretty decent quality.

Service: Service was okay. No one really ever approached me as I did laps around the beer aisles, but being left alone to do my own digging doesn't bother me. The lady at the checkout was nice and cheerful.

Selection: The selection was solid, but honestly didn't blow me away. There's a greater selection of Bells and Founders beers at my local store in Cincinnati, Ohio. However, there was a pretty good selection of local and Michigan breweries like Ann Arbor, MCBW, Michigan Brewing Co and Jolly Pumpkin. They also had a pretty good selection of imports and a decent selection of other domestic craft beers. The best part about this place was price. We pay $16.99 a four pack for Founders Breakfast Stout down here - it was $9.99 at Champane's.

01-31-2009 16:15:51 | More by kels

FtownThrowDown

Ohio

3.85/5  rDev -10.9%
quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | $$

Very large store with the beer selection in the back left corner. Plenty of spacious shelving with the beer displayed. Plenty of access to these beers and the layout is well done. The pricing is the first thing that caught my eye. Cheaper than all the places I had stopped at all weekend. And a lot cheaper than the prices at my local stores back home. Incredibly cheap glassware selection. Picked up plenty of beer that I can't get locally and even some that I can get locally but was cheaper here. Picked up some more glassware as well.
The help was friendly and courteous. He showed a sincere effort in trying to maintain a good beer destination and was asking our feedback to help him and the store out. Very nice place that would be a regular stop if I lived in the area.

05-21-2009 02:00:16 | More by FtownThrowDown

lilmoxie

Michigan

3.95/5  rDev -8.6%
quality: 5 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5 | $

Incredible pricing especially on seasonals and limited release beers, well actually everything. Things sell out quickly here too.
The only drawback is the only person who seems to care about the beer there is the dude ringing the register. I have seen customers ask questions in the beer department and the reply from the staff was "Sir, I am a wine guy. Not a beer guy". Which made me wonder what he was even doing in the beer department. It was pretty condescending.
But if you know what you are after its a must for stretching your beer dollar.

12-31-2008 23:55:20 | More by lilmoxie

jimbofish

Michigan

4/5  rDev -7.4%
quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | $

Just echoing what others have said... always the lowest prices on micro-brews! Also, I don't think there's a liquor or spirit sold in MI that they don't have and always at the state-allowed minimum price. I particularly appreciate the 1000ml bottles of vermouth that they usually have at bargain prices. Be aware that they charge an extra $.40 if you only buy one bottle of wine with a "2 for $X" price tag.

Their bottle return policy is odd... no loose bottles, no partial carriers. If you bought a six-pack, all six bottles must be returned, with the original carrier. Break one or give one away and, apparently,you'll have to return them elsewhere. Not sure if this is legal, but if it keeps the price low...

According to the sign, they are now open on Sunday!

01-18-2009 07:18:58 | More by jimbofish

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -7.4%
quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

My first and certainly not last visit. On the way from Canada, new Sarnia highway 402, and on the way to Kuhnhenn. A large store, dedicated to wine, however increasingly craft beer is making a show, and the equivalent of 8 rows of beer. Michigan is the main event, and Michael, the manager, will break up any 6-pak. He did this in droves, perhaps with my suggestion, for the Short's 6-seasonal. Prices were decent as hey tend to be all over Michigan, and it is easy to shop here. Several harder to finds were found, like Arbor sours and some Mikkeller that did not come New York State way. Staff is just getting up to speed on micros, and the names are just becoming familiar to them.

12-21-2009 03:55:19 | More by northyorksammy

tallmidget

Michigan

4.05/5  rDev -6.3%
quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | $

Huge store. The prices here can vary a bit depending on what you're getting. Most of their stock you can't get cheaper anywhere else like 6.99 for a six pack of Oberon or Bell's Hell Hath No Fury at 12 dollars for a six pack. However there are a few beers you can actually get cheaper at Cloverleaf Fine Wine in Royal Oak or another store depending on the distributor; it really depends on what you're getting. They have a small cooler near the front with a few singles you can buy that are marked up in price. The service I had from their beer guy was just okay; not incredibly helpful. Overall it's a great store and I highly recommend it if you're in the area.

11-26-2008 16:54:41 | More by tallmidget

MilwaukeeCrusher

Wisconsin

4.1/5  rDev -5.1%
quality: 5 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | $$

This place might have been the best place I've been to as far as the selection of imports. Still I was never approached for help, many micros of Michigan were nowhere to be found (maybe sold out), and the singles selection as far as 12 oz. bottles was limited. Service was virtually non-existent, but I managed around ok. Costs seemed to be ok, if not a little higher than normal but that seems the general rule in Wisconsin cost vs. Michigan cost. If I was in the area, I would definitely go back again for the import selection and hope that the local selection improves.

01-13-2011 22:48:59 | More by MilwaukeeCrusher