About Us
The Tasting room
Ottawa
Founded in 2018, Buyers+Cellars offers a unique approach to buying, experiencing and enjoying wine. Our aim is to offer affordable luxury, in a relaxed and inviting space, with wine enthusiasts in Ottawa and the surrounding area. Our large and eclectic portfolio of hand-crafted wines have been meticulously selected by our team of professionals. We can’t wait for you to try something new!
Curtis Stephenson
After more than 20 years in the hospitality sector, Curtis embodies the exceptional customer service and professionalism that drive fine dining and enhance guest experiences. He has used his knowledge and skills to develop the next generation of service professionals and in 2016 he helped open one of Canada’s top new restaurants. Curtis brings a passion to his role at Buyers+Cellars and is excited to take our Ottawa Tasting Room guests on an unforgettable journey through the world of wine.
Favourite Movie: Inception
Favourite Wine Experience: Going out with Robbie Nellis for the first time 20 years ago and being reintroduced to Riesling at the bar. And by reintroduced, I mean drinking copious amounts of Riesling directly out of the bottle and shouting, “I LOVE THE RESIDUAL SUGAR!”, above the blaring dj spinning Notorious BIG.
Chef Chris Archer
Chef Chris started his career in the hospitality industry in 1998, ready to jump into a job full of love and creativity. He has played many roles in the back of house, from line cook to head chef, managing kitchens such as Le Hibou, Absinthe and Tennessy Willems. One highlight of his career was cooking for the Queen of England! In his spare time, Chef creates his own beats through his DJ business called BellyFull Sound System.
Favourite Movie: No favourite movie, but my favourite series is, hands down without a doubt the new Battlestar Galactica. Best. Show. Ever.
Favourite Wine Experience: When my friend Zoe and I drank prosecco in Bellagio, Italy while wisteria flowers fell on us from the sky. Pure magic.
Alli Pearce
Alli Pearce has over 20 years’ of hospitality and restaurant experience, having worked in pubs, Relais and Châteaus and everything in between!
Her love of wine originated at The Post Hotel in Lake Louise, Alberta. The cellar there housed more than 45,000 bottles, from familiar, everyday wines to wines recovered from the wreckage of the Titanic.
After years behind the bar, Alli opened up her own restaurant in Stittsville, Ontario with Husband/Chef Kevin Conway called The Jack Ketch which they have since sold due to the pandemic. After wandering the desert and parting the seas, Alli found her way to Buyers and Cellars where she is happy to work with amazing people and proud to bring her love of wine to her customers.
Favourite movie: Black Christmas 1974
Favourite wine memory: I was poured two ounces of 1988 Château Petrus from a very generous table at the Post Hotel. It was then I said to myself “Ohhhhh…I get it now!”
Ani Rajagopalan
Ani’s sense of humour is as dry as the wines he enjoys! Following university studies in the field of Microbiology and research work attempting to ferment coconut water—which left his interest in winemaking piqued—he enrolled in the Vinifera Euromaster winemaking course in Montpellier, France and Geisenheim, Germany. He worked at wineries in Germany and New Zealand before becoming winemaker at KRSMA Estates in India. During his tenure, KRSMA received national and international recognition and awards. Since moving to Canada, he has continued to pursue his passion as Winemaker at Fernwood Estates in Alexandria, Ontario. And as our resident winemaker, Ani’s perspective and storytelling about each wine in our portfolio have been invaluable to our Tasting Room clients and B+C staff alike!
Favourite Film: Shawshank Redemption
Best Wine Memory: Drinking a bottle of sparkling wine—the first wine that I could conceivably say that I made—with my wife (then fiancée) under the stars at the vineyards of KRSMA Estates.
