Nightlife Guide to Clubs, Bars & Lounges - Joonbug
–E. Hemmingway
When it comes to fine wine there’s a lot to know and understand. Lucy had to do a lot more than simply stomp on grapes in a bucket to create a magnificent bottle of wine. There’s the type of grape, regional diversity, barrel type, and many other factors that go into creating a complex fine wine. Thankfully, New York City has a great selection of wine shops with owners who are passionate about the products they sell. Wine shop owners are in the business to expand and improve wine culture while increasing the number of dedicated winos. Need a nice bottle of wine for date night or want to expand your own wine cellar? Check out these NYC wine shops:
Crush Wine Co. (153 West 57th Street) employs a group of experts, who you can think of as your own personal sommelier assistants, who are committed to helping you discover your new favorite wine. Learn about new and different wines in their elegant, yet inviting, tasting room or take part in one of their informative classes. Crush Wine Co. has the most extensive selection of high-quality wines from around the world, all at competitive market prices. Their diverse selection of wines includes only those that meet their standards. Many of their wines are handcrafted by independent vineyards with a yearly production of less than 5,000 cases per year.
Vintry Fine Wines (230 Murray Street) recently opened in February offering a selection that is beyond the every day. Located in Battery City Park this new wine shop is sleek and well-lighted with an eye-level display of 2,500 bottles of wine and 85 selections of champagne. Vintry Fine Wines specializes in California cult wines and French first growths from vintages in the ‘60s. The Rare Cellar Collection, on sale in the store, is from the private cellar of Harry Poulakakos, wine aficionado and owner of Harry’s Cafe & Steak. Harry's son, Peter, is an owner of the shop while his father acts as a store consultant.
Gnarly Vines (350 Myrtle Avenue) is named for exactly the kind of wine the owners like to drink. The most complex, intense, and memorable wines are yielded from the gnarled vines that grow in uninhabitable spaces. Their first and foremost concern when you walk into their wine shop is not what an expert has said but rather wanting costumers to trust their pallet. Gnarly Vines have an adventurous and open-minded approach to selling wines and celebrate the diversity that wines can offer. Even though a lot of quality wines are being produced, Gnarly Vines only sells wines from small production, handcrafted vineyards who share a concern for the sustainability of the Earth.
Nancy’s Wines for Food (313 Columbus Avenue) is part of the AOC Fine Wine network of small wine boutiques that specialize in artisanal, mostly organic wines. Nancy’s carries about 700 bottles in the small two-room shop, where whites can be found in the front and reds in the back. This cozy wine shop shows its loyalty to smaller name varieties and has a wide selection of seasonal vintages available. Nancy’s and the AOC Fine Wine network offers in-store tastings, wine dinners, informative wine classes, and a Wine of the Month Club.
Alphabet City Wine Co. (100 Avenue C) sells “wine to the people” in their laid back, unpretentious wine shop on the Lower East Side. These wine merchants go out of their way to find wine “gems” at a price range between $10 and $20, so no matter your budget, you can enjoy a contemplative bottle of wine with your friends and family. They offer wines that are in a higher price bracket but pride themselves in allowing costumers to appreciate great wines at even greater prices. Always willing to start a passionate, friendly discussion about wine the guys at Alphabet City Wine Co. are willing and able to help with your wine purchase.
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