Buying wine in New York City is more difficult than I would have guessed when I first arrived here because you soon realize that you can generally either buy good wine or cheap wine, not both. Well, I'm here to help change that with a few recommendations.
Let's start with my regular go-to for a case of wine (at a great price).
Astor Wines & Spirits (Astor Place, New York)
Astor Wines & Spirits is your go-to if you've got some time to wander the aisles and look for the perfect bottle. Unlike many of the other liquor stores you've seen across the city, Astor is big and filled to the brim with a vast range of wines and spirits.
If you know your wines (and spirits) then the range will be sure to please, and you won't have any trouble finding what you're looking for.
For those who don't know what they're looking for though, that's where they shine on two fronts:
First off, the staff at Astor Wines are incredibly well informed and they will help you IMMENSELY. Don't be afraid to say “I want a cheap bottle of red wine that will be tasty with cheese” because they will honestly love to help you find something good. They are knowledgeable and very friendly, so be sure to give back the same respect when you visit!
Most importantly though (and the main reason for writing this) is because of their “Top 12 Mixed Case” which is:
Get an incredible case of wine for $174.99! The Top 12 Mixed Case contains a dozen of our favorite wines of the month, hand-picked by our expert buyers. It's the best monthly wine case deal you can find with red, white, and sparkling wines you'll actually love. Get your wine case delivered or order for pick-up at our Manhattan store.
This works out to ~$14.50/bottle which is BANANAS good value for good wine. I mean that too, the wine might be on the cheaper end, but due to the hand-picked selection, you're getting great wines for cheap prices.
Honestly, we've now done this for years and they've always been filled with really good wines. They're not all going to be mind-blowing, but they're consistently “good” which is more than you can ask for from some other purchases. You also get to try wines that you may never have tried before, which is a great way to expand your wine-horizons!
Best thing: Delivered to your door in NYC for free. The. Best.
For all you Australians: Think of this as your Dan Murphy's of Manhattan. I miss Dan's.
Convive Wines (East Village, New York)
If you're in the East Village and you're looking for something slightly more boutique, then Convive Wines is your go-to.
Run by some awesome people, they have an incredible knowledge of wine and can point you in the right direction, even if you say things like “I'm having chicken, I don't know what else is with it”.
The best bit is that they keep a record of everything you buy, and you can walk in and tell them that you “liked that last one you had and want something that works the same way for beef”.
You can find them on 12th and Avenue A (196 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009) with the big red “C” on the window!
ENJOY YOUR WINES!
