Finding the best wine shops in America is no easy task. In last year’s guide, we spoke to over 60 wine professionals—winemakers, sommeliers, shopkeepers and writers—to find the top stores in the country. This year, we’re getting even more specific.
Why, we wondered, might a person go to a brick-and-mortar wine shop and (gasp!) talk to someone when they can just buy bottles online?
Because today’s wine shops are changing. New COVID-era regulations allowed restaurants to sell wine to-go, opening up opportunities for bars and eateries to expand into retail. Far from being rooms stacked with endless bottles, completely mystifying to the consumer, many wine shops today float within the grocery, restaurant, venue and even bookstore categories.
Our 2023 shops are information hubs and community centers. They open windows into local wine regions, introducing consumers to the ferments happening in their own backyards. These shops help tell America’s wine story as it is today—one that celebrates new varieties, new approaches to winemaking and a diverse maker space.
Today’s shops don’t only sell wine, either. They’re expanding notions of where wine fits into our lives, with many shops offering cider, sake, bread, cheese, coffee and books. They’re also crafting thriving communities, paving the way for a new kind of wine culture.
For this guide, we interviewed over 80 wine industry professionals about their favorite wine shops and what makes them special. We kept in mind several factors: community involvement, spotlights on local wine, commitments to causes and excellence of selection. In every region of America, the wine shops we selected serve their communities with visions toward the future and a wine culture that’s people-oriented, diverse and sustainable. We highly suggest you pop into one near you.
