Richard’s 30th Anniversary Letter
By Richard Harvey
I’m starting this letter on October 4, 2026, well in advance of the Thanksgiving holiday… But this is a rather more personal giving of thanks to a galaxy of people who have breathed life into a humble project known as Metrovino.
Today is Metrovino’s 30th birthday, and it is a truly astronomic undertaking to give thanks to everyone who has worked so hard, struggled, dreamed and fought to create something that each of us in our own way believes in and has desired into existence. We all wanted a wine merchant who offers honest, well-made, curiosity-provoking, stimulating, and pleasure-giving wines that deviate from the mainstream, quotidian choices offered in any ordinary “liquor store”. We also wanted to achieve this by stripping away the persistent, pernicious, stinking albatross of elitism surrounding wine. Bringing joy and comfortability with wine to the hearts and minds of people is still an elusive goal, but we’ll spend the next decades pursuing that same quest!
To every single soul, living or departed, who ever bought a bottle from Metrovino, thank you!
To those of you who have grown older with the store (and me!) and who have shown up on a regular basis, week after week, year after year, I cannot adequately express my gratitude. Your belief in a local, independently-owned business that now supports nearly a dozen people's livelihoods in an environment that strives to be as ethical as possible demonstrates the inadequacy of these simple, sincere words, but they’ll have to suffice—thank you.
To the talented individuals who have contributed their work to the store over the past 30 years and left their positive imprint on Metrovino, thank you! The greatest of thanks in this regard goes to the current, very talented crew at Metrovino who strive to continue what 30 years of hard but joyously embraced work has built.
The aforementioned galaxy of people who deserve recognition and abundant praise includes those unseen individuals so generous with their time and love (and yes, money). Believers who are not to be seen in the face of the store but who all contributed to Metrovino's successful 30 years — you have my most sincere gratitude and appreciation!
So, continue to be thankful when you celebrate this month. Go further—be appreciative whenever and however life smiles benevolently on you!
This is my personal expression of endless gratitude, on my behalf and that of Metrovino, to all of you for being part of, and supportive of, some of the finest moments of my life. You know who you are, I know who you are, and it’s an honour to serve you and work with you!
THANK YOU! MERCI!
-Richard
