Ben Plisky-Somers — Opening Bossanova, Ontario’s First Wine & Beer Shop

In this episode, I sit down with Ben Plisky-Somers, co-founder of Bossanova Wine and Beer in Toronto’s Roncesvalles neighborhood. Founded during the pandemic, Bossanova was Ontario’s first shop created specifically to retail both wine and beer.We talk about his path into wine, the challenges of running an independent shop in Ontario, and how Bossanova builds community through a thoughtful and welcoming approach to wine and beer. We also touch on rising costs, LCBO pricing, and the team’s latest project—Bar Bossanova.Whether you’re curious about independent wine retail or how a small business can carve out its place in Toronto’s wine scene, this episode has plenty of insight.Ben Plisky-Somers — Opening Bossanova, Ontario’s First Wine & Beer Shop02:13 Ben’s Journey into Wine06:30 Learning Through WSET09:45 Falling in Love with Sherry12:24 Starting Bossanova Wine & Beer17:13 Community Support in Roncesvalles20:29 Curating Wines for the Neighborhood27:04 Rising Costs and Fair Pricing27:49 Building a Beer Program29:47 Selecting Quality Wines & Beers30:47 Natural vs. Conventional Wines34:46 Connecting with Customers38:25 Tariffs and LCBO Pricing40:40 Opening Bar Bossanova42:34 Exploring UK Wines49:36 What’s Next for Bossanova51:25 Final Thoughts & FarewellIf you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe. It really helps. Champagne: Cork Pop and Pour by ultradust -- https://freesound.org/s/166923/ -- License: Attribution 4.0