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Brooklyn Wine Exchange
Category: Food Beer, Wine & Spirits Beer, Wine & Spirits [Edit]
138 Court St(between Atlantic Ave & Pacific St)
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Neighborhood: Cobble Hill
(718) 855-9463
- Nearest Transit:
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Bergen St (F, G)
Borough Hall (4, 5)
Borough Hall (2, 3)
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 10 am - 10:30 pm
Sun 12 pm - 9 pm
- Price Range:
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$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
Dana D. said: "Best selection! Cheapest prices on the Island!" read more »
38 reviews for Brooklyn Wine Exchange
Review Highlights
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"I love the $12 and under table, which includes really solid..." In 7 reviews -
"Great selection and great prices." In 5 reviews -
"They also have several free classes per week." In 4 reviews
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38 reviews in English
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Review from Meg S.
Brooklyn, NY
1/11/2012 12 Check-ins Here
Very friendly, helpful staff, and a fun selection of local and specialty liquors. I usually buy from the "Under $12" table in the center of the shop, and I have discovered some great value wines that way. However, if you want a nicer bottle, the staff always has great recommendations.
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Review from Raphael D.
Brooklyn, NY
When you're a high powered designer socialite astronaut writer like myself you get invited to a lot of dinner parties and you gotta bring something even when you aren't asked to. Chips? Guacamole? A sixer of Pork Slap?
No you heathen. Sweet berry wine!
What this place lacks in size it makes up for in careful selections and varieties from almost every region of the world except central Ohio (shittiest wines ever). I've found everything from light Greek wines, super oakey Napas, explosive Spaniards and an array of French wines that would humble even the most snooty Parisian.
Not really shoppin for wine? They also carry a small selection of rums, gins, whiskies, liqueurs and other odds and ends that only your mustachioed cocktail nerd friends know what to do with. If you want some real badass points buy one of the little bottles of moonshine for your back pocket. I recommend pairing it with a large beard, some flannel and a Fleet Foxes album.
Prices range anywhere from $8 to $LOL so there's something for every budget and trust fund. -
Review from Niall B.
Brooklyn, NY
12/2/2011
So clever for opening next door to TJ's. And water (and treats) for the dog every time we walk in? He probably likes Brooklyn Wine Exchange more than I do; I go there to satiate our basic alcohol needs (human, not dog needs, that is).
Nevertheless, a good selection (especially the $12 and under table on my budget), helpful and friendly staff, and a good vibe and addition to the neighborhood, with tastings and classes and whatnot.
The spirits selection, however (as I hardly limit my basic alcohol needs to wine!), could be more comprehensive and more competitively priced. -
Review from Natalie G.
San Francisco, CA
4/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Adorable and charming shop with a great and diverse selection.
I stopped in here to pick a couple of bottles of wine as a thank you gift, and this was a great spot. Many domestic wines, and a international selection as well. Coming from California, I have a good amount of knowledge of the vineyards from the Golden State, so it was good to see they were represented here.
The staff was extremely helpful and cordial. Small talk was not forced, but overall just enjoying. They have a middle table with some reasonably priced wines under $12. This is a gem in Cobble Hill, and would make this my go to wine place if I lived in the area.Listed in: Manhattan + Brooklyn. Places…
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Review from Nif R.
Brooklyn, NY
Updated - 5/10/2011
Amazing selection. The friendly and young staff advises you very well. They are clearly passionate about what they do. Do not hesitate to detail what you want. They always have something new to discover, even to taste. The range of prices is very wide.
Try the French cremant d'Alsace or cremant du Jura as better alternative to Prosecco... You won't be disappointed!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/19/2010
All people working at BWE are of great advice. All wines they recommended have been huge successes.
… Read more »
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Review from Jonas M.
2/4/2011
The more you learn about wine, the more your realize you don't know. Unfortunately, you also realize that the person selling you wine doesn't know much either.
I had read great things about Brooklyn Wine Exchnage's in-store education program, specifically their Mixology Month in February. Upon entering, I was excited by the carefully edited spirits selection, the diverse range of small producers carried from each of the major wine growing regions, and the "Under $12" table, which featured some preeminently drinkable wines such as a Torrontes from Argentina, a Cabernet Franc from Chinon, and a Muscadet-Sur-Lie from France. A salesperson saw that I was browsing the Austrian section, and offered to help.
And then I got less excited.
Not quite knowing the answer myself, I asked a not-so-obvious question: "What does Smaragd mean on Austrian wine labels?" The salesperson mentioned that it had something to do with the vintage, a response I knew was absolutely wrong. The question then got passed to the person at the retail counter who said it had something to do with an "emerald" color. Since the term was on a white wine, I knew that was off-the-mark as well. The store manager overheard this inquiry, and fortunately corrected everyone: it was, in fact, a special classification for dry wines in the Wachau district of Austria, and that the wines had to have a minimum alcohol level of 12.5%. (Smaragd does in fact refer to an emerald-colored lizard that sunbathes on the rocks in the Wachau region, a fact I later discovered).
I later inquired about a purple-colored gin called Averell Damson Gin, which I had no intention of buying given their hefty markup, but wanted to know more about its provenance and taste for future reference. Unfortunately, another salesperson offered to try to help me. He mentioned that the gin got its color from being aged in oak, which I knew to be blatantly false, as 1) gin is not typically aged in oak, and 2) oak doesn't fix a purple color. After this exercise in misinformation, the famous quote by Abraham Lincoln came to mind: "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."
I understand that the store has just recently opened, and that the salespeople-in-question were trying to help, but if one doesn't know the answer to a question, just admit you don't know and resolve to find out. I appreciate the enthusiasm of those working at Brooklyn Exchange, but it is difficult to develop a relationship with a wine store, if you can't trust them. -
Review from sarah w.
Manhattan, NY
12/11/2011
Brooklyn Wine Exchange is great for all occasions... you can get an under-$10 bottle as well as a $50 bottle of wine. The staff was really friendly and outgoing and told me a bit about their different tastings without me asking. I really enjoyed my experience and will return again soon!
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Review from Christine G.
Brooklyn, NY
2/12/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Great wine store in Cobble Hill. The staff is helpful and knowledgeable to the extreme. Even if you aren't looking for a recommendation, everyone in there wants to tell you what their favorite bottle is at the moment, sometimes in painstaking detail about fruits, drinkability, blah blah blah... but in a good not pompous way.
They have a great selection of wines and huge range in prices. The under $12 dollar wine table is pretty awesome and they have great cheap but delicious wines to choose from. Plus it's on the way home from my friend, Trader Joe, who for some reason doesn't have any cheap wine to share. -
Review from Christian J.
Brooklyn, NY
1/31/2011
I stopped in for my first time a few days before new years to pick up sparkling wine. The staff was upbeat, professional and informative. The store was busy but they were trying hard to accommodate everyone. I asked for a recommendation and was helped by a warm and enthusiastic employee who gave me informative descriptions on a local and foreign wine I was interested in.
Uncorking and stumbling around a few nights later, I was very pleased with the choice I made and the service behind my purchase. i'll be back to stock up more soon. -
Review from Bekah S.
3/19/2011
The staff here is not only knowledgeable and passionate, but NICE. They absolutely love helping people find the perfect bottle of wine; I'm amazed each and every time by how helpful they are. And they are completely unintimidating, on top of it all.
I know I'm unbelievably obnoxious because I always give really vague and unsophisticated descriptions of what I'm looking for, but somehow they manage to find exactly what I had in mind, and it is always delicious. And then I look like a bad ass wine coninosuieur when I bring an exceptional bottle to dinner. Thank you, Brooklyn Wine Exchange, for making me appear a lot more intelligent than I really am. This one's for you! -
Review from Brian m.
2/27/2011
The best wine store - and there's a lot of 'em around there - in the 'hood.
You can tell a lot of thought went into this place. Informative placards and "by region" placement of bottles is supremely helpful for those who may not know a whole lot about wine.
Also great - and my favorite part of the store - is there $12 and under table. Love it, love it, love it. All good stuff too.
The staff is friendly and helpful w/ out being pushy or condescending. (I've seriously gone in there and asked questions like "what goes best with christmas sugar cookies?" or "i'm going to a pumpkin carving party - any suggestions?" All questions met w/ a smile and helpful insight.) -
Review from Giacomo C.
New York, NY
1/11/2011
Patrick & Patrick do things the right way. Great wine tastings. Great wine selection. Great knowledge. Great attitude.
Why can't you guys open a branch in the UWS?
Highly recommended. -
Review from C Q.
Brooklyn, NY
11/20/2011
Another rich children outpost from Williamsburg invades Cobble Hill. Sure the kids with the facial hair they learned to wear from fashion magazines are sweet and oh-so-helpful, but god forbid you are the customer who just wants to buy your bottle of wine and go home because you have only a few hours of down time before sleep and work.
If some twit swans in wanting to buy a case for a hedge fund manager party celebrating the death of poor people everywhere, you will be left at the counter for 10 or maybe 15 minutes while the staffer fawns over the promise of a big purchase while holding forth on the latest $85 bottle of plonk.
Oh, and word of warning, the discount table is there only to increase Advil sales at the nearby CVS. -
Review from Lisa W.
San Francisco, CA
9/24/2011
C'mon! Plastic bags!? This company obviously does not care about the soil & region of the wines when the management sends this good stuff home in the client with petroleum based bags. boo. Also, those plastic wine cups you throw away with tastings! SO wasteful. Beyond these slow business practices, the selection of wines, and liquors was excellent. I wish they'd change their plastic to paper but beyond that, I would go back. The customer service was truly knowledgable, friendly and helpful.
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Review from Taylor S.
Brooklyn, NY
4/24/2011 1 photo
I am a big fan of Brooklyn Wine Exchange, not only as a customer but also as a business critic. Their location is perfect (right next to the wine-free Trader Joe's) & their staff is exceptional.
You will not get one ounce of pretension at this local wine shop, just eager friendly faces with extensive wine knowledge. The only reason I did not give this a 5 star rating is that I think their collection (specifically their under $12 table) still has room for expansion.
A+ staff, A decor, A+ business model.
Open to public wine classes & awesome membership subscriptions to keep you coming back. They are integrated with 4square with great incentives and again I cannot compliment the staff enough!
So let's drink to the Brooklyn Wine Exchange for offering an exceptional customer experience! Other wine stores.... take note! -
Review from Matteo R.
12/7/2009
This wine shop is so brand new that it is scheduled to open in 4 days, 1 hour, 45 minutes, and 7 seconds, according to their website. However, my gf and I found it open last night...
Aptly located next door to Trader Joe's, the interior of this wine shop is very bare (take my words with a grain of salt, however, since by the time it opens "for real", things may have changed): basically bottles of wine over shelves, and a large table in the middle with wines at $12 or less a bottle.
VH and I were looking for a cheap wine to cook a risotto (mushroom and carrots risotto; it came out just eh...it needs some work), and I chose a Leone De Castris Salice Salentino [1]. This is a strong wine, with hints of fruits like cherry and red berry.
For ourselves VH chose (they were having a wine tasting) a white Chateau des Hospitaliers Languedoc: dry and medium bodied, 13% ABV. Good choice!
This place certainly has great bargains. I'll be back to check it out more thoroughly.
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[1]. You can often find great bargains on wines from the Southern Italian region of Apulia like Salice Salentino (which comes from Negramaro grapes), and Primitivo, which is made with grapes with the exact same genetic make as Zinfandel. -
Review from Asila C.
Brooklyn, NY
10/14/2011
This is such a great addition to the neighborhood. The selection of wines is vast, but not overwhelming. I love the $12 and under table, which includes really solid choices. Staff are knowledgeable and unpretentious--always willing to make recommendations. I've yet to take one of their classes, but look forward to trying that out soon.
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Review from Paul F.
Brooklyn, NY
5/22/2010
This place is the schniz nittle bam snip-snap-sap!
Great selection and great prices. Very helpful staff, and I love the fact that each bottle of wine has its own tag with a description.
Wine tastings all the time as well.
If you are at Heights Chateau or Montague Wines and you are not liking what you see (which is a highly possible) then head to Brooklyn Wine Exchange.
You will not be disappointed. -
Review from joanna m.
Brooklyn, NY
6/17/2010
A great selection of wines in a neat, nicely organized (and uncrowded) space with a cool, knowledgable staff.
On a side note, this place is WAY too close to my apartment for me to not become a wine-o.
P.S. Might I suggest the German Selbach Reisling Kabinett - 2008? It's lovely.Listed in: Let's drink...a little, at…
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Review from Mike P.
Brooklyn, NY
9/20/2010
Wine tasting every night is always a HUGE plus. Add to that a friendly, approachable, knowledgeable staff, and good prices... and you've got yourself a great local wine shop.
And a huge plus is how friendly the store is to dogs. I never bring the pup into stores with me as I feel awkward. However, they have a big old sign on the front welcoming the little guy in. The wine is all set up too where I'm not worried about the dog knocking over wine.
Love it.. -
Review from Taueret M.
Brooklyn, NY
2/23/2010
I usually prefer the Trader Joe wine shop for all of my classy (and klassy) wine needs.
I work around the corner from this shop and have never found an excuse to go in until a friend decided to throw a impromptu dinner. The polite and funny staff person found a decently priced bottle of rose sparkling wine that was really yummy.
It's pricier than 3 buck chuck, but they have local wines and the staff are quite helpful. -
Review from Casey D.
Manhattan, NY
1/8/2012
Nice people - very helpful if you're buying a single bottle or a case.
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Review from Vivian H.
12/14/2009
OK, must be serendipity. When you are looking for a wine store, and think, mmm, none to be found, and you start to feel glum, but then, you walk some more, and look up, and wow there it is. A wine store! I didn't know it at the time, but this place is new. After buying some groceries at TJs next door, we stopped in here to pick up some wine for cooking and imbibing! Inside, it was pretty bare, and in the distance you could still see cardboard boxes. They were having a wine tasting of the Languedoc region and I tried one of the whites (Chateau des Hospitaliers), and it was just what I liked. Dry and crisp and 13% ABV, what a hit! The current main attraction is a center table with $12 or less wines.
This is a great location, rigt next to TJs, I hope they do well ;-) -
Review from Saskia S.
1/4/2010
Yep, it's brand new and (still) pretty bare bones in terms of decor. Boxes abound in the back, and it's a little unorganized..but I don't mind at all!
Wandered in the other day and pretty much cornered one of the employees (I always have a ton of questions and I'm indecisive..yes, I am aware that I am every salesclerk's nightmare). The guy was very patient and very knowledgeable.
Walked out with 2 very different wines from their $12 and under table and am excited to go back and explore a little more.
Already really impressed by their selection and price-range, and the fact that the employees were nice is a huge huge plus in my book! -
Review from Matt E.
1/27/2011
My usual sketchy wine and liquor store down the street was closed so I walked down the street to find a place to grab a bottle of wine and this was the first place I found. The exchange program they have here is that you give them money in exchange for their wine. Novel concept. The place is a respectable higher end type of wine only store. They're amazingly clean, well laid out, have plenty of elbow room, and the girl who helped me was not only super knowledgeable but also incredibly friendly and down to earth as well. I don't know wine enough to know if the prices or wines they carry were worthy of 5 stars but I certainly had a good experience coming here.
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Review from Andrew L.
Brooklyn, NY
3/31/2011
Brooklyn Wine Exchange is a fancy store, no doubt. But I would encourage customers to take a closer look at their prices. Forget the $12 or under table. The range of experiences in that category is super narrow. If that's all you care about, go for it. The category between $20-$35 is what I care about because you can get something super delicious at that price. If people care, this store charges upwards of $4/bottle more for some of their wine.
For my money, I'd rather dial up thirst in fort greene or slope cellar in park slope. The all deliver for free. what the difference? -
Review from Josef K.
Brooklyn, NY
8/17/2010
Phenomenal.
Since moving up from Carrol Gardens/Red Hookish, I'd been unsatisfied with the options in the 11201 region. Then this place opened, and all of a sudden I spend too much of our monthly budget on wine... and they're all good!
This place has friendly, knowledgeable staff. Wine tastings occur all the time, and are not run by weirdo outside vendors trying to sell you their own wine - as at some places I could mention - but by the in-house staff.
Wine classes take place in the supercool back room, with some offered gratis.
The $12 and under table is a godsend.
I'm still waiting for the return of a sparkling gamay that the lady presiding over the tasting where I first had it correctly called "candy" but not in an overly sweet kind of way (I almost never drink sweet wine, but this was astounding), ancd I also really liked an Aglianico de Taburno, among numerous other good options. -
Review from Kurt V.
Brooklyn, NY
12/12/2009
Brooklyn Wine Exchange is a welcome addition to the neighborhood. It has a good selection of New York wines in the front, a table with some good buys in the middle, and some interesting choices on the wall that stray from the lackluster grocery store wines available elsewhere.
The staff is friendly, knowledge and when they don't know they are willing to say it rather than trying to b.s. you.
Overall, it is a good place to go to grab a cheap bottle for dinner and it has some good options if you want something a bit more serious. -
Review from Chante R.
3/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Love this place! I'm so Bk and when I need a bottle of something good, I come here. The available wines are extensive as any wine shop but the major difference is the friendly staff, easy to browse setup and great tasting events all the time. I highly recommend a stop here in downtown Bk!
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Review from Eugene L.
Brooklyn, NY
10/11/2010 4 Check-ins Here
Nightly Wine tasting need i say more ?, friendly staff and the fact they are actually knowledgable!? this place has just become my favorite wine stop with a big selection and great prices.
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Review from Laura W.
7/8/2010
This is a wine store by people who are passionate about wine. Unlike some wine stores where you are made to feel ridiculous for asking questions, here they not only make you feel like that was a brilliant question, but also want to make you as enthusiastic about the varieties of wine as they are. There was a lot of passion, and the whole sensation you get is that they want to make wine as approachable as possible, because then you can be passionate too.
They also have several free classes per week. I was lucky enough to make it to one last which was a regional spotlight on Sonoma County, led by professed wine geek, who was extremely enthusiastic about wine. They have a back room that is set up for the purpose of wine tastings, and its incredible how well organized and thought out these free classes are! You get a booklet at the beginning of class with some history on (in this case) the region of Sonoma, how it came to be an AVA leader, and what you can expect- or be surprised by- given the terroir of the region. Yes, he explained terroir too. It's hard not to have a great time when the tasting is being led by someone so passionate about the topic. The pamphlet also has a page for each of the wines being tasted with a descriptor, a picture of the label and the cost of the bottle; beneath that the page is dedicated to your notes on the wine with prompts for Appearance, Nose, Palate and Conclusions.
It's not really convenient for me, but it was so much fun I will definitely be back. -
Review from monte b.
New York, NY
2/9/2011
pretty great selection. how convenient next to TJ's (especially since this TJ's has no booze other than beer). Even though it is the same owners as Smith & Vine, it is a very different stock. I think that it is a bit more "upscale" and the prices reflect this as well. Many vintages can be found for less online and in other stores. Okay, that being said, there are also a few things here that I have not found elsewhere (I particularly love the Etna region, which they carry!). It is a great a lovely vibe with regards to the space and layout and I like the tastings they have here, I just wish the times were more convenient. I also think that the staff here is a little colder than at S&V- but again, it is closer to BK Heights, so a different target client, I presume.
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Review from Lisa D.
1/14/2010
Based upon some pre-opening buzz I'd read in New York magazine and Tasting Table, I was expecting the space to be bigger. Regardless of size, however, Brooklyn Wine Exchange is chock full of good stuff. They have an extensive selection of New York state wines, including the Herman Weimar Riesling. I was also impressed by the large, centrally located $12 and under table, on which I found a highly quaffable New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. They have other limited time specials here, including an Alsatian Pinot Blanc for $12, which was just as good as bottles I've had at higher price points elsewhere. Customer service was also very knowledgeable. We might not have the Trader Joe's wine shop here in Brooklyn, but with Brooklyn Wine Exchange, we have something far superior.
Listed in: I Wine A Lot
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Review from louisa b.
Brooklyn, NY
2/17/2011
LOVE this store! My bridesmaids actually just threw my bridal shower in their education center/back room. It's out of control gorgeous back there and looks like a wine cellar. It's great because the tasting is incorporated into the event and it's a beautiful space. They also can provide food for the event OR you can bring your own. They can help coordinate everything. Highly recommend for any event. The staff rocks...Jen was evidently GREAT to work with and led the tasting.
Best under $12 table ROCKS too!
Enjoy! -
Review from Jeffrey S.
Brooklyn, NY
9/22/2010
This is a really great local wine store. Brooklyn Wine Exchange has everything for your everyday wine needs and the pricing is good. This store also does a great job of showcasing some lesser known varietals. However, the best thing about place is the great staff which does a great job of being helpful and engaging without being annoying and pushy.
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Review from Natalia O.
Brooklyn, NY
12/16/2010
I love this place. If only winter didn't keep me from wanting to ever venture out of my apartment more than a block, I'd probably be here every week. When I first moved to the area, I was thrilled about Trader Joe's and then ever-so-slightly less so when I realized this one didn't have the awesome(ly cheap) wine store that the Union Square TJ's has. Cue the opening of Bk Wine Exchange to solve the problem. The staff is super helpful and friendly. The first time I walked in, they asked me right away what I was looking for, made suggestions based on what I said I liked, and pointed out the large and totally sweet $12 and under table (from which I have made many a purchase and have been very happy with every bottle). Also, I think it goes without saying that nightly wine tasting is worth 5 stars alone. Am I right or am I right? The prices are good, the selection is very good, and the staff is great. And when the weather isn't so arctic, its an easy trip to pick up a nice bottle of wine after picking up some yummy food next door. I will definitely be back here again and again.
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Review from Jason S.
Brooklyn, NY
2/13/2011
Great service, Excellent Selections, and loved the samples. Wonderful to have to found this place
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Review from l p.
San Francisco, CA
2/25/2011
just had such a great experience with this place! called from california, to have a gift delivered to a friend. spoke with hannah, who was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable and friendly. amazing service. she wrote a card for me, recommended her favorite champagnes, and wrapped the bottles with bows for me. plus, FREE delivery!! happy customer! wish i lived locally so i could shop here.
