Appellation 156 10th Avenue, (212) 741-9474, www.appellationnyc.com Great small store with a focus on a small selection of mostly biodynamic, organic wines and artisanal spirits.
Astor Wines & Spirits 399 Lafayette St., (212) 674-7500 www.astorwines.com The biggest and best wine store in the city. Recently moved to a new location expanded and updates mean this is the ultimate wine buying experience.
Best Cellars 1291 Lexington Avenue., (212) 426-4200 www.bestcellars.com 100 wines for $15 or less arranged by style of wine (i.e. soft, luscious, juicy, smooth).
Burgundy Wine Company 143 West 26th Street, (212) 691-9092 www.burgundywinecompany.com. Only wines from Burgundy, Rhone and Oregon. This means they are specialists and have the service and quality to back it up. On the pricier side but you can find great deals in Cru Beaujolais.
Cellar 72 1355 2nd Ave., (212) 639-9463 www.cellar72.com. Quality selection of wines from around the world. Features touch screen computers with information about the wines and food and wine matching.
Chambers Street Wines 160 Chambers Street, (212) 227-1434 www.chambersstwines.com The Loire and Burgundy experts, ask the really helpful staff for a suggestion or choose blindly because its mostly all good here.
Chelsea Wine Vault Chelsea Market, 75 Ninth Avenue (212) 462-4244 www.chelseawinevault.com Good all around selection with noted organic and biodynamic wines. Any reason to go to the Chelsea Market is worth it!
Crush Wine and Spirits 153 East 57th Street, (212) 980-9463, www.crushwineco.com Owned by the Myriad Restaurant Group, think Nobu, Montachet Tribeca Grill. Eclectic selections from small and esoteric regions and producers. Especially strong on Riesling. This is without a doubt one of the top stores.
De Vino 30 Clinton Street, (212) 228-0073, www.de-vino.com. Superb Italian selection, with several French additions. Many fine and rare bottles and some mid-priced, on the pricier side overall.
Discovery Wines 10 Avenue A, (212) 674-7833 www.discoverywines.com Alphabet City wine store with advanced computer system where you can scan the bottles for producer and wine information and food pairing.
Harlem Vintage 2235 Frederick Douglas Boulevard, (212) 866-9463, www.harlemvintage.com Boutique wine store in Harlem has section for black winemakers, and very good wines throughout.
Italian Wine Merchants 108 East 16th Street, (212) 473-2323 www.italianwinemerchant.com The best Italian wine store, maybe ever. Ask the super knowledgeable staff about a selection. Also, my first job in wine was here.
Le Du's 600 Washington St., (212) 924-6999 www.leduwines.com Hand-chosen artisan wines by the former wine director of Daniel restaurant, Jean-Luc Le Du. The entire store is kept at 55 degrees, cellar temperature. Worth the trip!
Nancys Wines for Food 313 Columbus Avenue (212) 877-4040, www.nancyswines.com. This is the place to buy Riesling!
Red, White and Bubbly 211 5th Ave. Brooklyn, (718) 636-9463 www.redwhiteandbubbly.com Great boutique wine store.
Sea Grape 512 Hudson St., (212) 463-7688 www.seagrapewines.com Come in and joke around with the helpful, hilarious staff. Then happily carry your reasonably priced bottle of wine back home.
September Wine 100 Stanton, (212) 388-0770 Eclectic selection of quality wines from unexpected places like Mexico, Lebanon and Slovenia as well as the more traditional locales. Also a selection of female winemakers.
Vino 121 East 27th St., (212) 725-6516 www.vinosite.com. Superb selection of Italian wines, choice grappe and digestivo. They also offer classes on Italian wines at their Vinoteca in a brownstone a few doors down.
Vintage New York 482 Broome St. (212) 226-9463 / 2492 Broadway (93rd St.) (212) 721-9999. www.vintageny.com Open seven days a week. All NY state wines, run by Rivendell winery. You can try anything in the store before you buy it at the bar. Frequent classes and tastings. | 
