The Winery is a curious artisanal wine store with a non-traditional selection, and some varieties you will only find in this particular spot.
Located in Harlem on 116th street very near the B/C train stop, I discovered the shop accidentally in October 2015 while searching for a wine supplier that was not like a typical liquor location. When I entered the store, I was instantly taken by the elegant organization of the wines. A store that small can often feel extremely cramped, but the owner, Nobu Otsu, has laid out his store to take advantage of the high ceilings. The designers of the space deserve a lot of credit for what they’ve been able to do with the space. It’s almost like a mini wine museum. If you’ve been paying attention, I love a sophisticated ambiance, and The Winery has it despite its size.
I enjoy walking through the aisles observing the wines and seeing where they originated, but to be honest I’m there for one reason: Dr. Loosen Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese. The Winery is the only place you can get this particular brand of sweet German Riesling in Manhattan. As someone who usually shuns super sweet wine, I have a surprising mild addiction to it. If you are able to get to the store and want a desert wine, I highly recommend it.
The website is a very bare-bones e-commerce site, but it gets the job done; it gets my beloved Dr. Loosen to the door in a decent time-frame.
I should probably mention that the wine store has a small selection of liquor behind the counter; nothing spectacular, but depending on what you’re looking for, The Winery might be a one stop shop