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Bottlerocket Wine & Spirit
Category: Food Beer, Wine & Spirits Beer, Wine & Spirits [Edit]
5 W 19th St(between 5th Ave & Avenue Of The Americas)
New York, NY 10011
Neighborhood: Flatiron
(212) 929-2323
- Nearest Transit:
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23 St (N, R)
23 St (F, M)
14 St (F, M)
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 8 pm
Sun 12 pm - 6 pm
- Price Range:
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$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
Schumer's Wines and Liquors has been in business for over 30 years at this location, specializing in the great vineyards of California, France,… read more »
56 reviews for Bottlerocket Wine & Spirit
Review Highlights
"The tasting notes are super helpful too."
(in 8 reviews)
"...those that think they know wine pairing are put at ease."
(in 12 reviews)
"This place is my favorite wine store in NYC."
(in 4 reviews)
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56 reviews in English
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Review from Sandra M.
Jersey City, NJ
1/16/2012
There's a certain rating that I won't go below (91) and if I look for a reasonably-priced bottle, there's a 99.9% chance I will want to buy a whole case. The only negative about this place being in the city is that prices are inherently higher. Regardless, you probably can still find something within your price range.
I love their organization of their web site and their store. -
Review from Annette M.
New York, NY
11/21/2011 2 Check-ins Here
You know what I really like? Best Cellars. You know what I really don't like? The fact that they can't get their act together and open a store somewhere other than uptown.
Enter Bottlerocket.
I randomly wandered past this little gem of a vino shop a few months ago and have been a fan ever since. There's a huge variety of wines, including pricewise. I love the fact that there are little cards that give you the quick rundown on all the wines in the store as well as the displays with recommendations by food type. If you need a little additional help, the staff is always friendly and knowledgeable.
I haven't tried the delivery service yet, but it free for fairly large area. Bonus: sign up for emails and get 10% off your first purchase! -
Review from Lisa G.
New York, NY
9/26/2011
A wine shop like this typically makes me want to forgo grape altogether and reach for agave [Patron!]
Kitsch and silly - not usually words I want associated with wine.
But they had a little wine tasting class led by super-cute, award-winning, Alexander LaPratt so off it was to gimmicksville.
I learned:
Wines can be described as smelling "slutty" or like a "sweaty horse", and they can taste of diesel and fear.
Also, a lineup of Austria (Wachau), France (Alsace), France (Meursault), Lebanon (Bekaa Valley) and France (Northern Rhone) not only makes for a decent wine tasting, its also a nice looking summer travel itinerary... -
Review from Jennifer B.
New York, NY
1/10/2011
This is definitely a wine store for those that want a good bottle of wine without having to sift through a million different bottles. You don't really h have to think in this store. It's almost like a test in the back of a Cosmo magazine. If you like this, then proceed to this section. If not, then go to this section... and so on. All of the different sections are cutely labeled. It makes the selection a bit less overbearing. You can walk into the store and say to yourself, "hey, I need a decent bottle of wine to go with Thai" and bam, smack in front of you is a section for Thai food. The same goes for Bubbly, seafood and meat.
The staff was super friendly and helpful. They are a bit pricey -- especially when compared to online prices (a $6 markup on a bottle that should be less than $20?).
If in the area, I would definitely return. Make sure you take advantage of the new customer 10% off deal. -
Review from Liz P.
7/28/2010
Part of me wishes they were a chain (so that I could easily access them from wherever I may be) but the other part of me is so thankful they are not since they're kinda hidden away in Chelsea.
Reasons I love Bottlerocket:
1. Friendly, helpful, knowledgeable staff
2. Great selection of wines
3. Reasonably priced
4. They wrap it up if you mention its a gift
5. They deliver locally
6. Their just so effin' great - go visit!Listed in: Don't drink too much....
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Review from Elise A.
New York, NY
Updated - 8/30/2010
I hosted a wine tasting party at my apartment and walked into the store basically clueless about what to pair my dishes with. The owner walked through the store and each course and helped me pick the perfect wines. He's so incredibly friendly and upbeat. He also made a point to use words like, "has a little more oomph" instead of saying "full-bodied" etc. just in case I didn't know what he was talking about. I even made copies of the tasting notes for each wine to give out to guests. Perfect! Wow I love this place.
PS - Wines are also reasonably priced with plenty in the $10 range.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/23/2010
Bottlerocket is INCREDIBLE. Yes, the yelling caps were necessary.
I first came here a couple years… Read more »
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Review from justin g.
11/23/2010
Best Manhattan wine store I've been to as of yet.
Was walking through the neighborhood and stopped in randomly. Wasn't planning to buy anything but left with two bottles of wine and a bottle of rye whisky. The owner is really great and knows his product. I was most surprised by the price, because when I walked in I superficially thought "this place is too put-together and 'designed' to be cheap", but the prices are very reasonable. And yeah, they deliver, which I might be taking advantage of very soon. Plus they have monthly wine clubs where you can pay $35, $75, or $150 and get some wines hand-picked for you.
I can't say unequivocally that they're the best because I don't feel like I have that kind of knowledge of wine/liquor stores, but Bottlerocket definitely makes it difficult for me to dislike them -- they just seem to be doing things right. -
Review from Michael D.
Jackson Heights, NY
5/19/2008
This place rocks.
You could refer to this shop as a boutique. Their selection is not huge, but the wines are carefully curated. The prices are fare and the staff are very knowledgeable.
The wines all have there ratings from the various magazines listed along side them and you are provided with notes on the wines you purchase.
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Review from Jesse R.
4/22/2011
Came here recently for a wine-tasting with a date, and had a pretty fun time. The course was "southern hemisphere wines," and we sampled 6 different wines, both reds and whites, from South America, South Africa and Australia/NZ. Most we tasted were in the $15-$20 range, although the last taste was more high-end at $64 - a nice treat. Very knowledgeable and friendly staff, although after the third glass the crowd tends to get a little unruly, but that's probably expected. The store, and its website, is uniquely organized by categorizing wines by food pairing, special event, etc. I would definitely return either for another wine course or simply to pick up a new bottle!
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Review from Michael D.
Forest Hills, NY
8/9/2008
If you were to take a web site and make it 3-dimensional, you'd end up with a store like Bottlerocket.
Bright, colorful, attractively laid out, informative descriptions for every wine and spirit in the store...Yes, indeed, not just wine, but sake, bourbon, gin and other spirits, too. Good range of prices, from the below-$10-bottle, to outrageously expensive ones.
Atypical (but cool) way of organizing the selection -- by food pairing instead of wine region.
Good recommendation from staff person (a Riesling for a homemade Thai dinner a friend was cooking).
My first visit, but won't be the last! -
Review from Melissa Z.
New York, NY
8/11/2009
This place will change the way you think about wine shops. There are floating stations that include categories like "Gifts for the boss, an old friend, Unsure", or if you want a wine that goes with chicken, fish, or dessert. Instead of separating wines by geographical region, you can find the straightforward perfect wine pairing for the occasion instead of having to decipher wine terminology before you enter.
They have free tastings thurs, fri, and sat. plus a lot of other events going on all the time. If there were anything I'd want to see more of, it's simply a wider selection. There weren't that many dessert wines, but that's a minor gripe.
They really do make choosing wine a breeze, not to mention the staff is knowledgeable and helpful. Oh, and did I mention a lot of the wines are unbelievably affordable? $8-15 wine that doesn't suck!
[[ Psst, dum dums by the register. My inner sweetaholic is satiated. ]]Listed in: Reasons I'm glad I don't work…
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Review from camilla c.
New York, NY
12/3/2006
If I were to ever open up my own wine shop, Bottlerocket would come very close to what I would want. The place offers so much: great displays (simple, clean, not cluttered), a modern / young / hip feel to the place, a great selection with alot of wines at good prices (alot of stuff for below $15), excellent merchandising that makes it super easy to find the appropriate wine to pair with different types of food, and it's even got a good website and some cool store events to take advantage of. I just went to a wine & chocolate pairing tasting which featured the excellent chocolates of Michel Cuizel (my fave! the best!). Despite my hangover, I still enjoyed the pairing and had some yummy red wine to go along with some amazing chocolate. There's another event coming up with Danny Meyer as well.
More events like this and I'll definitely be frequenting Bottlerocket on a regular basis. Oh, really friendly service too... willing to help in any way they can (last time got some great advice on malbecs). First time customers also get 10% off their initial purchase. Whenever I do get ready to open up a wineshop, I'll definitely be taking some ideas from Bottlerocket.Listed in: my wine list
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Review from Sara Y.
New York, NY
12/5/2007
Took a class at Bottlerocket a few months ago on how to read a New York restaurant wine list. It was excellently run - we tasted seven different wines, all which were a little off the beaten path, and talked about the reasons some of the grapes and territories were good values to order. They also used examples of NYC wine lists to help us make selections.
I love the organization of the store and the helpfulness of the staff. It's my favorite place to buy wine in the city! -
Review from Richard C.
New York, NY
10/16/2006
Ok, ok. I know I just posted about how cool Mr Wright's is and it is believe me - I love that place. However, liquor stores are like buses. You wait around forever to find one you like and then two come along at the same time.
So you have to check out Bottlerocket 'cos it is quite unlike anything you've seen. For a start, they have space. You aren't crammed into small aisles with the creeping fear of sending thousands of quids' worth of vino tumbling each time you take a step back. They have space so that one can actually browse. Then there is the library of wine and food journals at the back with comfy chairs to sit in. And the PC so that you can look up your choices on line prior to purchasing.
But what sets them apart are the cool displays that not only make suggestions for pairing certain wines and spirits with particular foods / cuisines, they also have menus from local take outs too.
So when i fancy sushi, I can phone through my order to the local Japanese restaurant, whilst standing in line to buy my bottle of Wasabe. It's a beautiful thing....
Which leaves me wondering when someone will open a Mr Bottle Wright Rocket and make me truly happy.... -
Review from lora c.
New York, NY
1/7/2010
I didn't know it was possible to have a favorite wine store but lo and behold, Bottlerocket is the perfect place for a wine-ignoramus like me. Selection isn't enormous but it suits me well-enough and the prices are cheap to moderate. Melissa was totally right when she said this place will change the way you think about wine shops. Wines are separated not only by country, but also according to what type of food you will be eating (Take Out, Thai, Fish, etc). There are some throwbag categories such as Gifts or Special Occasion that make it extremely helpful if you are in a rush. They use a rating system that makes it very easy to find a good wine at a good value, but more helpful than anything are the friendly staff who will not hesitate to help you choose a single bottle or mix up a whole case.
But the real reason why Bottlerocket is my favorite wine store are the events. They have wine tastings and events very often and are not stingy with the pours! During the summer, a friend and I were surprised to stumble on a Singles event, complete with wine tasting, a mini mixology lesson, and salsa. Neither of us were single but that didn't stop us from venturing in to continue our buzz from the pitcher of sangria we had just consumed next door. Ultimately, we left plastered (a few St. Germain cocktails, two or three half pours of wine, a shot of liquor or two), giggling with our newly purchased bottles of wine, a corkscrew, plastic cups, and a chilled bottle of champagne (to enjoy with friends on a nearby rooftop). You might call that alcoholism but I call that good service. Definitely a great wineshop if you are in the area! -
Review from Laura R.
Glen Head, NY
11/13/2009
I happened to be looking for a bottle of wine and rushed around the neighborhood for a liquor store and stumbled upon Bottlerocket. What a great find. The minute I walked in, I was greeted and shown around the store for the various types of white wine I was looking for. By joining their mailing list I got the 10% off and its great they offered it to me and I didn't have to find out afterwards that I missed out! I liked they told me up front.
Great store... cute atmosphere... I'll definitely be back. -
Review from Amy L.
New York, NY
4/11/2007
Very, very solid wine store with friendly and accessible owners/staff, and a goal of making wines understandable to the common man. Clean, crisp, modern, spacious interior. Wine is sorted two ways: (1) by region, across the shelves along the walls, and (2) by taste (e.g. fruity) and foods it goes well with (e.g. takeout, pasta, seafood -- with recipes available too!) at little kiosks throughout the store. When you check out, they provide a helpful sheet of "tasting notes" for each bottle you've purchased, which you can go home and, you know, put in your liquor files.
Signed up for the 4-session "Explore Wine: Four Week Introductory Series" class. Had our first class yesterday. It was good. They offered a 10% discount on wines to the students throughout the duration of the course. That was nice. Bottlerocket is a good place. Heart. -
Review from Irene F.
10/22/2007
Wow. We had a client shmoozing event here, and it went amazingly well! The different wines were great, and the snacks were wonderful. As we wandered around the store, I loved the way that the wines are set up, with a sense of humor and easy to navigate too!
I'm hoping to organize a Wine 101 class with the fine folks here some time in the coming months as a corporate social event, and I have a feeling it will be a great success! -
Review from Darbi W.
New York, NY
7/10/2007
I love, love, love this store! Wines arranged according to foods and price ranges. Super friendly and knowledgeable staff. A computerized database that allows them to remember all my faves and tasting notes to go with every bottle. And a big floppy happy dog to greet me.
If Bottlerocket were a man, I'd marry him and every day would be March 14th!! -
Review from Jenise C.
Manhattan, NY
5/20/2011
excellent wine shop. staff very friendly and know what how to recommend a wine! Love the doggie too!
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Review from yurina o.
New York, NY
10/10/2008
1. Are you a wine lover?
2. Do you care about best marriage between wine & dishes?
3. But, you are shy to ask it at shop?
If you say YES, you should head for the BOTTLE ROCKETS now!
Great organized shop will welcome to you.
Besides. You will get 10% discount at first shopping ! -
Review from Karen J.
New York, NY
11/21/2007
I love the layout of this store! Nice open, bright space that you feel free to wonder around and not trip over others. The thing that sets this wine store apart is the way they have their wines sectioned off. They have little stations that correspond to different take out entrees and the wines that match. There were even a couple of menus for restaurants close by (great cross marketing). And aren't we all guilty of not cooking and depending on delivery in New York?
I complemented the owner on this concept and he said it seems to work well with folks. Even those that think they know wine pairing are put at ease. Finally, someone figured out how to make it so much simpler! Now, if only I could get him to open a similar store on the UWS life would be good. -
Review from Jonathan H.
New York, NY
10/25/2007
Not sure I need to write a review at this point. Everyone has been spot on about all facets of Bottlerocket. It's fun, informative and carries a great selection from all over the world. One thing that no one mentioned, on a cool note, was that they don't take themselves too seriously. One holiday season they had a rainbow assortment of Mad Dog wines that you could buy as a gift set. It was clever and goofy and gave me a good laugh at the checkout!
Drink up! -
Review from Teisha F.
New York, NY
3/3/2010
Whoa people what's with the stars?? It's just a bit much in the enthusiasm factor, it's not the end all or be all of wine shops. At least not until it sets up a direct spout into my apartment. I do like that they deliver and the layout is very user friendly and makes shopping not so much over the top with crazy selections, only 365 wines preselected and organized. Very good to excellent selection of wines including some of my favorite bio-dynamic wineries especially in Europe. The owner/manager knows his wine makers which definitely impressed me because I'm not just about the winery but more into the genus behind the wine and vines.
I did ask a question about finding Europe cult wines similar to California cult wines and I got an extremely blank stare and then I was directed to the owner/manager not sure what he was but very knowledgeable threw out some names of not so much "cult" but very expensive, yes of course they are amazing but I'm looking for excellent wines without the name prestige but more on the value of the wine and maybe even some undiscovered gems....
He did take the time to point me in the right direction, I ended up with 3 wines and the 10% discount for signing up on the newsletter, each one also came with a great description of varietal, wine maker and tasting notes. Not bad....5 stars ummm not quite but definitely A-Ok in my book. -
Review from Scott H.
9/4/2009
This place is my favorite wine store in NYC. In a city full of wine stores, there are so many choices. As you might see in my list of reviews, I do enjoy a glass of wine from time to time. And its best if it comes from Bottlerocket. You walk in this place and feel immediately welcomed. They have tastings in the front during most busy periods, and they have a beautiful communal table in the back for classes and social gatherings. I think I will check out their next singles night, too.
The employees are wonderful. Nicole is my gal and she remembers me and we talk about wines and traveling, two of my favorite topics. Last night I had a couple hours of packing for a trip. So I walked in with my dog and explained my situation to another gal: I have a couple hours, I want a nice white, bla bla bla - lo and behold, I walked out with a winner, thanks to her suggestion.
This store is so unique in many ways - one of which is how they group wines by the types of foods appropriate for pairing. For example, if you're cooking seafood, you can find amazing wines, with really vivid and useful descriptions to aid you in your planning simply by going to the section labeled "seafood". Really helpful and fun. They also group by region and wine types, as most stores do. Other things I love - the dog treats, the neighborhood feel, the beautiful environment, the presentation, the way they pack the wines in the bag, the purple markers they use. Its just a really wonderful place!! Highly recommended. -
Review from Liz S.
Brooklyn, NY
11/1/2008
Most wine stores are overwhelming to the novice wine drinker, or at least confusing. Bottlerocket takes the mystery out of enjoying wine by curating regularly updated kiosks dedicated to themes like "goes great with takeout", "gifts for someone you don't know well", "cheap, cheaper, cheapest", "wines of Washington State" and "top rated by Wine Spectator, Robert Parker and the Bottlerocket staff". Or if you prefer to shop by region, their entire selection is also available on the shelves that line the walls.
The staff is friendly, young and helpful and is typically listening to good indie rock in the store. They offer regular tastings, wine appreciation classes, special events with authors and even singles mixers. It's an informative, fun and unintimidating place to shop! Totally unpretentious.Listed in: Born to Shop
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Review from kahee y.
New York, NY
11/24/2009
NOT pretentious and so so SO helpful. the store itself is educational for it has information and humorous content everywhere. i love stepping inside and browsing around.
I recently attended their thanksgiving food/wine pairing event (catered by city bakery!) and it was excellent! It was for charity and only $2 per person! -
Review from Anna H.
Brooklyn, NY
1/17/2010
This is the place for me to pick out some wine. I was impressed with the arrangement of wine in this store by category like poultry, fish, etc. For me who hardly shop for wine this is a good start for me to pick something out without embarrassing myself. I like how each bottle of wine has a resume next to it that describe each bottle of wine.
We did get two bottles of wine from here.
I will come back very soon to get a bottle of wine for a friend who loves having dessert wine with chocolate or I could get her a bottle of white wine. -
Review from Michael H.
Long Island City, NY
3/24/2009
I stumbled upon this wine shop during one of my many trips around the union square area. It caught my eye as it is much classier an establishment than any other "wine and spirit" store in the area.
When I walked in, I was immediately confused by the organization of wines. Normally, bottles are organized by region or simply by grape type. Ingeniously, this boutique thrives on making wine tangible and easy to understand. Although the walls are lined with bottles is a very decorative fashion, the center of the store is filled with "kiosks" of collections from big reds to ones dedicated to food pairing.
The staff continually walks around and is available for any questions.
In terms of selection, there is a wide array of grapes including some very interesting blends and unusual grapes. Prices are affordable to high priced wines, which is nice to see.
I also glanced at some gift baskets that are in the back which is also a great idea and affordable. I would enjoy one as a present.
The back of the store also has an area for sitting with wine magazines and other reading material.
I definitely recommend to check out if you're in the area! -
Review from Jenn C.
2/22/2010
Bottlerocket has a fantastic staff - knowledgable, friendly, and eager to help or let you browse, whatever you prefer. Being a wine novice, sometimes a typical wine shop is overwhelming, but here everything is laid out in a simple and eye catching manner with lots of information laid out for you. I absolutely love how they have their displays - you can find a wine if you're having pizza; if you're buying an impressive gift or a gift for someone you just met once; if you want a highly rated wine, if you want wine to go with chicken... lots of categories that you're always confused about and now you don't even NEED to ask!
If you need a recommendation everyone in the store can give you one - one staff member even gave me a recommendation for a VERY cheap drinkable red that he said tasted much more expensive than the tag - and he was right!
I subscribed to their mailing list to get 10% off my first purchase and even their newsletters are delightful and clever. -
Review from Jackie Y.
12/2/2008
The store is laid out in a very browse-friendly way w/ wines grouped by region as well as cuisine pairing. They even have a "takeout" section!
Each time I head into BottleRocket, the staff is always extremely helpful and knowledgeable - you can tell that they really love wine.
2 wines that I keep going back for are:
Gruet: sparkling wine from New Mexico ($14)
Nero D'avola: red wine (~$11)
Wine Tastings are kind of whack as they only have 1 red and 1 white. I went once and didn't like either of the ones available for the tasting. I only wish the tasting was a bit more interesting (in terms of quality and quantity).
They also host events and offer classes which I'll definitely attend if I can only convince my friends to join me!
Tip:
If you sign up for their newsletter, you'll receive info on their events, classes as well as good gift ideas!
First time customers also receive 10% off when they join Bottlerocket's customer list.
https://www.bottlerock... -
Review from Bethany P.
New York, NY
1/27/2010
Love this place!
The staff is knowledgable, helpful, and so friendly. The store is clean, well organized, and well stocked. They even have hard to find liquors like St. Germaine.
They also have a great rating system. They send you away with a paper that tells you what you bought and gives a description so you can keep track of what you bought and if you like it. This is great for people, like myself, who forget what "that one kind of wine with that one label" is called. -
Review from Melissa M.
Brooklyn, NY
10/12/2009
Bottlerocket is a great wine store in a city full of underwhelming wine stores. Things I love about the store:
1. The stands suggesting wines for different occassions and different types of foods: Take Out, Chicken, Special Occassion, etc - great way to narrow down the selection.
2. A selection that is fantastic but not overwhelming.
3. A unique and interesting and very reasonable selection.
4. The helpful staff.
5. The tasting notes they give you when you check out.
I dig it, yes I do. -
Review from Kathleen Y.
Astoria, NY
1/16/2011
This place is wonderfully approachable for those of us who aren't wine experts. The store is divided into typical sections (sparkling, red, white, etc.), but it also has other helpful divisions like a selection of wines that go well with Thai takeout or poultry. When you buy wine from here, they give you an informative printout with suggestions about what foods pair well with this wine.
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Review from D. R.
Malibu, CA
4/7/2010
I was in the midst of steaming some mussels, watching Dr. Phil to keep me grounded and to gain a glimpse at the future of the country, listening to the new Sade, and thinking something is wrong here... yes, I don't have any white wine for my broth. So I went here and picked up some Italian Pinot Grigio. Great customer service. Fantastico!
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Review from J F.
ASTORIA, NY
8/11/2011
Bright, well organized, awesome service and a big selection of great bourbons and rye whiskeys. This has been my favorite liquor store in NY since I stumbled upon it a year ago.
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Review from Christine Y.
Bronx, NY
1/5/2011
A boutiquey kind of wine/liquor store.Helpful staff who will leave you alone to browse if you like. Nice selection of well priced wine-I've liked every new one I've tried. Only complaint is that I can't carry all the bottles that I'd like to buy.
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Review from BC C.
New York, NY
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Review from Kieran Jason H.
Manhattan, NY
1/9/2011
Bottlerocket is what you want a wine store to be. Friendly, knowledgeable staff who know how to pick 'em and don't make you feel like a dope because you don't know the micro-climate of some 5 acre patch of New Zealand. They have a nice selection and you can do well from $10-$20 . The tasting notes are super helpful too.
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Review from Akiva L.
New York, NY
10/19/2007
One of my favorite wine shops in the city. Great organization on wines on the floor by what you are eating as well as the traditional regional based organization along the wall. They post ratings from wine magazines as well as their own bottlerocket rating next to each bottle. Also, each bottle you buy comes with a tasting sheet for your own notes. The staff is helpful and will help you find anything you need. if they don't have it in stock they will special order it for you.
