Best new wine shop in the west metro - Wine Republic - 2015 Best of MN

This Excelsior outlet is like a cozy, vinous version of Whole Foods, with a heavy focus on "green" wines. No, not vinho verde, but bottles from across the globe with grapes grown under sustainable, organic or biodynamic standards. This shiny-as-a-new-penny but cozy-as-an-old-shoe store has a beautifully chosen inventory at friendly prices, especially for its tony Lake Minnetonka environs. Affable owners R.J. and Patti Judalena also require clean and green provenances for their beer, cider and spirits. 287 Water St., Excelsior; 952-283-1058; www.therealwinerepublic.com