As we near the summer travel season anyone heading west through Colorado to the National Parks in Utah be aware that Utah is highly regulated and all wine is sold through state owned stores. There is one in Moab and they all basically suck. Expensive and lack of choice. Good luck finding wine near Zion, Bryce, Escalante, etc. It’s a wine wasteland.
So with that being said right off I-70 about 30 minutes from the Utah border is one of Colorado’s wine regions, The Grand Valley. 31 wineries to fill your camper and your belly. Known for crisp, dry Rieslings and earthy Bordeaux varietals, especially Cab Franc.
If you are looking for old world, one of the best shops in Western Colorado is Redlands Liquors in Grand Junction.
Kakheti region in the country of Georgia
Corporation Kindzmarauli
Address: WRX7+284, Chavchavadze street, Kvareli
Phone: +995 511 14 44 00
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In Delray, Florida near Boca Raton, etc: The Wine Wave on Atlantic.
In Hawaii on the Big Island, a great new store that opened this week in Waikoloa Village: Tuesdays.
I moved away from Ann Arbor a while ago, but in the past, Village Corner, and York Food and Drink (formerly Morgan and York, and Big Ten before that) were exceptional.
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Specs on Smith downtown is still the best place to go in Houston.
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Update for Houston because I think Spec’s is terrible in just about every way, but they have absolutely huge selection so worth checking out
Houston Wine Merchant - classics abound; pricing not great
Vinology - small shop but nice selection
13 Celsius - more a wine bar but long list and you can buy retail
Light Years - natty leaning shop
Heights Grocer
VinSanto (very new) in Memorial area
and I almost forgot, the OG classic Party Pantry…
Was asked recently about Portland Maine by Lettie Teague, so here it goes:
Browne Trading Company - On Commercial Street. Located in and owned by the retail arm of America’s most renowned fishmonger. Upscale, with usually some wines with bottle age available.
Old Port Wine Merchant - 100 yards away, not as upscale but an eclectic and interesting selection.
And on the geekier side:
Grippy Tannins - On the far side of Franklin Street from downtown in a reviving neighborhood, with a limited but carefully chosen selection and rotating offerings of wines btg and bt1/2g accompanied by cheese and charcuterie.
Maine & Loire - On Washington Avenue in another gentrifying neighborhood around Munjoy Hill. Emphasis on natural wines.
Among the supermarkets, Whole Foods has the biggest department. The Hannaford chain stores have a wood-box display area that the local wholesalers can fill with more interesting stuff than the usual set.
Dan Kravitz
Saw some other Orange County / Southern California recs, but The Original Wine Club is a great little spot just off the 55 in Santa Ana. Really knowledgeable staff, cool tasting area with Napa Tech dispensers sampling rotating wines, and a great selection.
Just outside Santa Fe New Mexico is a shop called Kokoman. We still find rare wines at great prices. Roulot, Piuze, Older Drouhin They aren’t always there but it’s a great find when they are!! Lots of great Italians just everything. and the wine staff is fantastic and down to earth.
Wow, I used to stop in there 40 years ago, and any time I would go by when I’ve been in the area.
great place great staff!!!
I guess I should update this.
The Spirit Shoppe is under new owners and isn’t what it used to be.
Nejaime’s Wine & Liquor has split. The store on Route 7 / 444 Pittsfield Road in Lenox, MA 01240 is now Spirited. This is Jim Nejaime’s store and the best in the Berkshires.
Also, Empire Wine near Albany has good prices and a decent selection:
Bump… any recommendations for wine/spirits shops in London?
In the Raleigh-Durham, NC area I recommend:
Wine Solutions
200 Trans Air Dr # 200
Morrisville, NC 27560
(919) 867-1879
info@winesolutions.com
I’m not affiliated - although I probably paid their utility bills last year.
I agree RE: Wine Solutions. I didn’t spend as much with them as it sounds like James did, but only because I didn’t learn about them until November '23. Knowledgeable and can get almost anything distributed in NC within a few days.
56 Degree Wine
16 Mine Brook Road
Bernardsville, NJ 07924
Joe brings in amazing stuff from tons of small producers. Most interesting shop in North/Central Jersey. Good prices too!
In Providence Gasbarros on Atwells street is a great shop. It is family owned and has a great selection of Italian and california wines. They also have a large temperature controlled wine room. The owner and staff are very friendly and knowledgeable and each time I have been they have taken the time to walk around and talk through various bottles and make recommendations. A must stop when we are in the area.
Any recommendations for Fort Collins, CO or nearby? We just relocated here, and while we’ve really cut back on wine purchases, we do need to buy some while waiting for our wine to be delivered. Thanks!
In the Leesburg, VA area, I only shop at Gvino Enoteca @ 203 Harrison St SE, #10, Leesburg, VA 20175. Giacomo is a genuine person.
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Will have to check them out. Thanks for sharing.