In this episode, I sit down with
Celia Mendez, founder of Toronto's newest wine bar and bottle shop, Canary Counter. Celia shares her journey into the world of wine — from growing up in a small mountain village in Tenerife, surrounded by her family’s vineyards, to studying and working across Barcelona, Bordeaux, Austria, and Burgundy. We explore the volcanic landscapes and unique grape varieties of the Canaries, her family’s winemaking traditions, and how those roots inspired the opening of her new wine shop,
Canary Counter, on Harbord Street. Celia reflects on choosing wines that express their landscape, heritage, and makers, and on building a space that brings her community together through discovery. This episode is a deep dive into volcanic wines, place-driven winemaking, and the passion behind one of Toronto’s most exciting new wine bars.
Celia Méndez — From Tenerife to Canary Counter, Toronto’s Newest Wine Bar
00:34 Meet Celia Mendez: From Canary Islands to Toronto
01:45 Celia's Childhood in the Canary Islands
06:19 The Unique Wines of the Canary Islands
13:12 Celia's Journey in the Wine Industry
24:13 Opening Canary Counter: A Dream Realized
25:34 Pursuing the Dream of a Portfolio Manager
26:20 Writing the Business Plan
27:27 Facing Financial Setbacks
29:34 Opening Canary Counter
30:01 Curating Unique Wine Selections
33:26 Community Engagement and Market Research
37:04 Lessons from Bossanova
46:20 The Future of Canary Counter
52:05 Final Thoughts and Podcast Conclusion
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Champagne: Cork Pop and Pour by ultradust -- https://freesound.org/s/166923/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
Episode 7