AMERICA’S 5O BEST WINE RETAILERS
Whether you’re choosing a wine for a special occasion or looking for something to pair with your Tuesday night lasagna, chances are you’re selecting that bottle from a store. But in today’s world, wine shops are more than just beverage outlets. They’ve become trusted advisors, educators and retreats where we go to think about wine and wine only. As we do more of our drinking at home, retailers become increasingly important to tasting and discovering new wines, as well as deepening our appreciation of old favorites.
Like Wine Enthusiast’s other awards and best-of lists, we chose the retailers listed here by drawing upon our wide network of editors to share their experiences. There was no formula, just a lot of discussion about what makes a superlative bottle shop. We’re proud to reveal what we came up with, an ultimate resource to the best wine retailers across the country.
BEST ONLINE RETAILERS
There’s a lot to be said for buying wine online—prices and selections are often better, and you can stay on your couch to do it. While most brick-and-mortars also offer website sales, we wanted to highlight the stores that are digital first and have found ways to reach consumers just as meaningfully as people on a sales floor.
Benchmark Wine Group
Specializing in hot ticket items like cult California Cabernets and first-growth Bordeaux, this retailer has the expansive collection that makes online shopping great, with the customer service you look for in a brick-and-mortar. Chat with a consultant to build your dream cellar.
Full Pull Wines
This is a little bit different than your average web shop: Rather than fill a cart and then hit checkout, people can sign up to receive emails letting them know what’s available. They can respond with what they’d like to order, and then either pick up curbside or get it shipped. Owner Paul Zitarelli hand selects all the bottles, with a preference for those local to
