About Andrew Hilton Wine
Andrew Hilton Wine & Spirits began operations in 1985, as the third privately held independant Wine Merchant in Alberta, a full 7 years before privatization. Born of a partnership between Max & Lorna Baines and Jim and Kate Langston, the first store, located at 1209 - 3 Avenue South was a wholly new vision for Southern Alberta. At the time, wine could only be bought at Government stores, where selection was grim, and customer service and education were non-existent. Carrying only wines (about 400), and having only a small core of wine-enthusiast partners for employees, Andrew Hilton was a world apart from the Government stores, relying wholly on superior selection, and world-class customer service.
The business quickly outgrew our little store, and in 1990, we moved to our current location on the corner of Scenic Drive and 3rd Avenue South. We expanded our selection of wines to over 700 wines and our team expanded to include a growing team of dedicated staff. It was also at this time that Jim & Kate Langston left the store, leaving Max and Lorna Baines as the sole owners of the business.
In 1994, with the introduction of full privatization, we changed from Andrew Hilton Wine Merchants to Andrew Hilton Wine & Spirits, reflecting our new commitment to maintaining the same high standard we had for wines throughout our new portfolio of spirits and beers. Right from the start we have also maintained our position as a leader in Single Malt Scotch Whiskey, carrying every single Single malt available at the time of our opening, all 8 of them. This was also a time of firsts for us, as we were the first store in Alberta to carry and launch several brands, such as Wolf Blass, Macallan, Bartles & Jaymes, and Leasingham Estates.
Since then, we have maintained a steady course of growing (over 1900 wines and nearly 200 single malt whiskies) and changing our inventory, so that we now offer a range of products that would have seemed unthinkable back in 1985. But a few things haven't changed: We still beleive in the value of eduction and customer service, and that enjoying a great wine with great people is one of life's finest joys.
Awards & Recognition:
2008 BBB Business Ethics Award for Small Business
1999 Alberta Liquor Store Association Rural Liquor Store of the Year
1994 Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year
1994 Dalton Jordan Memorial Business Award
1994 Canada Post Business Award of Excellence