Best Wine Shops In NYC

You're on your way to a coworker's holiday party off a G-train stop you'd never heard of after clicking "maybe" on the Facebook invite. But (gasp!) you suddenly realize you forgot to take a drink offering. Instead of showing up empty-handed in your ugly sweater, detour to one of these tried-and-true wine shops before you arrive.

Know what you like but can't exactly put a name on it? In Bed-Stuy, Bed-Vyne Wine & Spirits lets your palate do the talking. The tidy, tiny shop is chock-full of wines organized by how they taste, not where they're made.

The quintessential neighborhood shop relocated this year—but only two blocks from its original address. It leans toward hard-to-find varieties. That sounds like it'd be synonymous with high priced, but Smith & Vine is beloved for The Table, a selection of wines all under $14 each.

With a heavy focus on organic, biodynamic and natural wines, Dandelion Wine has been something of a beloved staple for more than a decade. A mix of New World wines and classics from France and Italy run as low as $10 a bottle. 

You'll need some cheese with your wine, so stop at upmarket grocery Greene Grape, which has a designated staff for cheese and charcuterie. It's operated by the same people who run Greene Grape Wine & Spirits, where you'll find classic wines from both local producers and old-world makers.

If it's fine to buy a bottle because it looks nice, then it's fine to visit Leon & Son for the same reason. But you're in luck, because the edgy shop backs up its looks with quality wines.

Wino(t) on Franklin Avenue was a first for Crown Heights: a nook for unpretentious wine fans with an appreciation for niche varieties. It's tiny but manages to supply a wide range of pours—from sparkling Swiss cider to Italian reds.

Go here because the knowledgeable owners stock wines they actually like—not just those the wine critics praise.

The owners also opened up shop in Manhattan, but their original Williamsburg shop, Uva Wines & Spirits, has a choice location—a prime corner on Bedford—making it an easy stop for old-world wines.

Keith Flanagan is a Brooklyn-based food and travel writer—he's never met a pastry he didn't eat. Follow his every meal on Instagram at @keithflanny.