Union Square Wines & Spirits

Union Square
140 Fourth Avenue
at 13th Street

P: 212.675.8100

Union Square Wines & Spirits, a beautiful store located two blocks from the great Union Square Greenmarket, is an impressive wine merchant that brings together a diverse and deep wine and spirits selection with savvy marketing and a celebratory sense of service.

What's great:

The store is large and spacious, with aisles wide enough to push a small shopping cart, and a high ceiling and handsome wood floors. The signage is clear, with occasional notes about certain wines adding to the store's balance of helpful information for the less experienced wine drinker and respect for the knowing wine customer.

Wines are organized both by country as well other categories -- for instance, there's a wall of domestic wines grouped by type of grape as well as "staff selections" and featured specials. The choice of whiskies and other brown spirits is impressive, including bottles from small producers. They also offer a large variety of kosher and organic wines.

What to know:

In-store tastings are back; proof of vaccination is required.  See the "Events" portion of their website.

They always discount cases 20%. If you spend a minimum of $50, delivery -- often the same day -- is free in Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn.  They also deliver to the other boroughs and locations (see the website for details). 

You can also shop online.  The store's site provides a huge amount of detail, notes and commentaries for each bottle, making it easy and less daunting to buy.