Visited Astor Wines on Sunday, and was dismayed to discover the floor to be uncomfortably warm. I was in shirtsleeves and was sweating. I’d guesstimate 80 degrees. If that’s an isolated occurrence it wouldn’t be an issue, but you always wonder if you happened to catch them on their warmest afternoon of the year or if there’s a pattern.
It’s more a place that locals swing by to get something for supper. Although a good location, I don’t consider it in the same niche as the more than plenty other great nyc retailers. I used to live by there, and hardly ever bought anything beyond the quirky dessert wine or cotes du rhone.
Interesting observation. I had an issue with cooked Champagne that I bought from them not too long ago. My first bottle was so obviously heat damaged that I tried to return my second unopened bottle for a refund. The management flat out refused to take the second bottle back and was quite rude about it. The manager actually accused me of causing the heat damage. Since that day I have shifted my business to other more friendly NYC wine shops that actually appreciate my business like Crush and Flatiron.
I don’t think that’s an entirely fair characterization, as they have as many SKUs as any retailer in the city and they’re strong in certain areas (best selection of Portuguese wine in the city, best brandy selection). But wine pricing, especially for good bottles, is high. And the temp in the store over the weekend freaked me out.
Yes, I’ve found it warm there sometimes, but I’ve never had a problem with anything I’ve bought there.
Arv - I’d really disagree with your characterization. They’re very good on Piedmont, German and off-beat small Californian producers, Loires, as well as Portuguese, as David said. The refrigerated room also has a lot of interesting stuff. They had some magnificent Salomon rieslings from the early and mid-90s a few years back.
The selection isn’t quite as good as it was when Greg dal Piaz was one of the buyers, but it’s still an important resource.
When I lived nearby, it was often a stop on my weekend walk around the neighborhood, picking up meat, cheeses, and other staples.
They had these wooden bins of close out wines. I would pick up one or two, along with some Chianti and California red zinfandel. (Red zinfandel, as it was called, so as to not be confused with white zinfandel, which was popular at the time.)
I picked up many a Pouilly-Fuissé or Mâcon-Villages on the cheap. Had no idea what I was drinking as it was all new to me and I was so busy with work that I had no time to learn more about those wines.
Purpose this post serves = Zero.
I’m a little surprised - maybe it was just warm in comparison to the outside temp? The one thing they have, which their older store did not, is decent temps. They’re partly underground in a building with thick, heavy stone walls and a brick ceiling. Even in the summer it’s rarely all that warm in there, esp compared to many shops.
disagree - I now know what “shirtsleeves” means.
Thanks Matt. Feel free to buy from the store that keeps its wines at a balmy 80.
me too!
Apologies.
You are sure of the temperature in the store? I thought I read where you guessed the temp…
My bad.
Outside temp on Sat might have hit 68 briefly, started the day in the high 40s. Doubt the store had either heat or AC on, I know I’m leaving both off in my house right now, no need to pay the utilities! So how does it get to 80? You sure you weren’t running a high fever?
How recently did they move? When I used to visit NYC frequently and was more of an avid wine buyer Astor always had a reputation for a warm sales floor so I never visited.
I used to find some good wines but the selection seemed to have dropped.
Issue for me was not the selection, but the sales people:
I wanted to buy a case of wine to ship out of state over the phone.
It was a good price for a producer I like and a good vintage.
I first talked to a sales person who was not sure about the shipping.
Then I ask to talk to his manager, who flat rude said it was not possible, and after little verbal exchange hang up on me.
Well, I know that my business won’t go there any more as I have plenty of other friendly choices in NYC.
I’ve never noticed any major issues with the store temperature, and certainly not with wines I’ve bought from them. HVAC problems aren’t unusual for NY retail space, even wine stores, so it may just have been a bad day. As others have pointed out, their selection is good, though not as good as it used to be. I do like the fact that the wines in their refrigerated room are there based on what type of wine it is, not based on what the wine’s price is.
It’s hard to imagine that their wines would fare worse than nearby Warehouse Wines and Spirits, which is always uncomfortably warm, and where many wines sit upright on the shelf for eons.
Warehouse was indeed pretty bad. That would not be a place to buy multiple bottles without taste tasting a sacrificial sample bottle first.
Maybe Astor is more interesting for those who like the niches it may now specialize in. I did mention they had some quirky dessert wines once upon a time.
If I was still living in the city, between all the really great stores there that deliver, and the national internet ones, I’m not sure why I’d mess around with some of these places.
EDIT: upon further reflection, my initial off the cuff comment was unfair.
Our office building with lights, people, and computers will easily add 10 degrees on spring day. More in the winter.
In the summer it’s air conditioned so it’s cool. (Those thick walls are because it’s a masonry structure; no steel frame!) The times I’ve found it warm are in the winter.
~10-12 years ago.