Great bottle of white Sparkling Wine! For me to enjoy in D. C., Convenient location. Great Selection and the young lady knew Exactly What to suggest! Impressive!!!! read more

Unless you are looking for wine and a few over priced liquor choices, they probably don't have what you want. The guy behind the counter couldn't really care less either. When I asked if they had Twisted Tea he said "No, how are you"? So that's that. read more

Bell Wine & Spirits - Whatever you are looking for they probably don't have. Dated March 2019 - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This shop is much deeper than it appears, both literally (it's a really long store) and figuratively (there's a couple people here that know something about wine). At first glance it looks like your typical rundown DC liquor store. You look at the staff, they kind of look the same way but when you go inside but it's not as dreary as it seems. After all, you're getting booze! read more

This is store is absolute bad in customer service. The staff is lazy and rude. Went to the store on November 11-2021. I was over charged $100.00.. For 2packs of cigarettes $20. Two beers $8. I was charged One hundred and $27/ twenty-seven dollars I was so upset. The purchase was at the most about $40.Before I left the store I realized the mistake. They told me they credited my money back which was $89.82 back into my account. I got my receipts. I will never go back there again. Then he slammed the window on me before I was finished talking. Rude and disrespectful. Like I did something wrong. The only thing I did wrong was to go to Bell's liquid. Never again. Today November 26-2021 still don't have my money credited back to my account. I called the store and went back to the store I was told that no manager was there for me to speak to. This was my bill money. hurt and disappointed. They need to to better. I don't want this to happen to anyone else. read more

Honestly, maybe because I just moved to the area (it's been a few months now), maybe I don't know what places have a decent selection of wines in the District. All I know is, this place always seems to have what I'm looking for when a particular mood (or varietal) strikes my fancy. Just an FYI, I'm from California, so I will admit that I'm in to full body reds most of the time (sometimes I'll veer off course for an obsession with a particular pinot or viognier, etc.). This little-place-that-could happens to be on my way home from work, so I had to stop in early on out of curiosity. I had heard that this place didn't have a good selection of wines. Well, apparently they recently underwent a change in ownership, and since then their selection of wine has exploded...comparatively speaking, of course. The owner keeps the 3 or 4 wine room temps at a perfectly low temp, too. They are all in the back with no exposure to outdoor light as well. Bell also has tastings every Wednesday night, Friday night, and, I believe, every Saturday...for free! I recently went to a Wednesday night champagne tasting, and they had seven stations set up, each with about 7 different champagnes to try. Of course I had to go straight to the Perrier Jouet and Krug stations (yep, they had them!). I can't begin to imagine the cost of the amount (and quality) of champagne I sampled for FREE. The Friday before they'd had a Macallan tasting (17 year olds, 18 year olds, and 21 year olds...again, not cheap, but the tasting was free). I really can't speak for their collection of other alcohol, except that I know that the owner married someone whose father is straight from Ireland, so they have a solid selection of good Irish whiskeys thanks to him. read more

As it happens I happen to know a few employees at Bell and have to admit that they know their stuff when it comes to wine, beer and liquor. One of the great things about Bell's is the fact that they have different tasting each week. All in all they have a fantastic selection of wine, and an okay selection of beer (I am more picky about my beer too). Become a regular and things will get much better! read more

This is my hands down favorite place to buy wine and liquor in DC!! They have the best staff who really know what they are talking about when it comes to wine. I was able to have a convo today about the subtle difference between brands of port, then talk to another person about the different types of MollyDooker wine (which they had a full inventory of). They have tons of bottles on the shelves and if you dont see something you are looking for ask, because they have a large computer database which catalogues wines they might have in the back. Also to top it off their prices are very competitive, obviously on the more expensive wines their prices will be higher than online, but on most entry and mid-range wine they always have the best prices. Also their liquor selection is extensive and priced below other dc retailers in the area. I picked up a 1.75 of Makers Mark for only $42, versus $50+ everywhere else I have looked. Overpriced "Best in Liquor" charges $55!! By Far as good as it gets in the Foggy Bottom, Dupont, Logan area when it comes to wine and liquor. Also only 2 blocks from Ferragut North. read more

I can understand why people have been giving this place high marks, but don't be fooled by the extensive collection of eclectic wines. For starters, during my visit to the store, the temperature inside was easily in the high 70s. This does not bode well for the wines. However, my biggest gripe with this store is the way they handled a rather basic customer service matter. I purchased a bottle of Valpolicella that was marked down by a couple of dollars with an "on sale" sign. After getting home and realizing that I had been charged the original price, I called to point the error out and have them adjust the difference off of my credit card. All I got was a dismissive response that the sale had expired and they could not offer me the discounted price because the distributor of the wine would still charge them the original price. I could care less if they have to eat the cost of the discount, as it was their own incompetence that left the sale price listed. Additionally, if they did receive a post off on the wine, every bottle purchased from the distributor during the post off period would have been at the lower price. Therefore, only the customer's discount expires and not theirs. What a load of crap. A simple and sincere apology would have sufficed and an actual refund of the difference would have been even better. Product Selection: 4 stars Storage Quality: 0 stars Customer Service: 0 stars Bullshit excuses: 5 stars read more

There gets to be a point in your life where you want something more. You've gotten to that age or that stage in life where you finally realize you can indulge in nicer things, so you start buying imported beer vs. domestic. Nice dinners at a restaurant vs. ramen. Designer jeans vs. The Gap. Trying to establish an actual relationship vs. trolling for booty with self-esteem issues at the local watering hole. Now, I've consumed wine for years, but it was mostly the cheaper stuff, like $10 or less. There's nothing wrong with that (in fact, a bottle of Turning Leaf chardonnay is one of my guilty pleasures). But after a while you want something... more. Something with more substance. Something you won't find at Safeway. I stopped in here a few days ago with the sole intention of getting some beer. That plan got nixed (see the first "con"), but I thought I might as well stick around and try finding some new wines. I will say that they have a good selection. I haven't been to a full-on wine shop in ages, so I really can't compare it to the others in the city. But if you're in the neighborhood and want to get a bottle of something different, I don't think you'll leave here empty-handed. French and Italian wines come out the winners here, Australian and South American wines not so much. The California selection was so-so. You won't find rack upon rack of Sutter Home, but I still felt the California selection could have used more variety. For some reason, California wines aren't held in such high esteem in the DC area, which is a shame, because they're some of the best wines out there. Prices seem to be competitive for the most part, though the Burgundies are definitely pricey, and there isn't quite as much of a selection of them. At any rate, I got a great Chateauneuf du Pape and two other wines that escape my recollection (must've been noteworthy, right?) for about $60 total. Cons: For starters, either they let people break up six-packs, or they have horrible loss-prevention strategies. There were two different beers I wanted (one of which I can only find here for some reason) and both of them had a bottle missing. Why? Does anyone honestly set out to buy a five-pack? I'm sorry, but that projects an "I don't give a sh*t attitude." Tag the walls with graffiti while you're at it. I've also seen DMV employees more cheerful about their jobs. Seriously. They weren't rude or anything. But I think you can find convicted felons on highway trash detail that are more upbeat. Errata: As Tom says, this place has a musty feel to it. For some reason, I don't mind it. It's like you got invited to the estate of a recently deceased relative, and while the attorney is going over the will, you lean back in your chair, bored out of your skull, and a bookcase slides open, leading you to some hidden wine cellar. I can't say that it's a complete draw, but I don't find it to be a turnoff. The verdict: I'll certainly come back here again, but at the same time, I'm even more motivated to check out some other wine shops in the DC area. But if you're in the Golden Triangle area, I can say this is a solid recommendation. read more

This place has a grand tasting once a month and I can fully attest to it being extremely grand. For a mere $5 you can taste up to 50 wines. It really lets you try a bunch of wines that you might not otherwise purchase. The staff also knows a lot about the wine, so you end up learning through the tasting - but you probably won't learn much at the last table because you have tasted over 40 wines by then! The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because the place is really dingy. It really needs a revamp. If you don't make it to the grand tasting, there are free tastings throughout the week - and many times you get to try bottles that are in the $45-60 range. read more

2.5 stars Good store -- with a fairly decent selection of French and California wines. really neglect the Aussies....Spanish selection could use some attention too. I have to say that they really could have a better selection -- at least in terms of the amount of space they have. There are like 2 choices for Peite Syrah in the store..... Prices aren't anything to get excited about -- some of them are over retail -- they are still working on the 2003 Marquis Phillips Shiraz -- and no wonder at $17.99 a bottle. The staff tend to be pretty helpful and know their wines -- they seem to have a thing for ugly ducklings and underdogs -- things that might not be from the "in" wineries -- some of these are real finds -- and others are less so..... A couple of months ago I picked up a nice bottle of wine -- happened to mention it was a gift -- and they did a really nice job on the gift wrap without asking. The place is definitely a bit musty -- which does make me want to get my wine and get out as quickly as possible. read more

Decent service. Close to hotels. Open when I needed it to be. Thats good enough for me. They have an eclectic and cross price range on all types of wine but beware if you linger too long looking they may start to offer suggestions and such - which can be good but sometimes I just want to know when I see it. read more

3.75 Stars Bell's has seemingly been around forever and they do frequent wine tastings (full disclosure: I went here for a wine tasting on a blind date 15 years ago; it didn't go anywhere). It won't rock your world, but it is a good place to pick up something on your way home if you have a hankering and happen to work in Dupont or the Golden Triangle. Anyway, this is exactly the position I found myself in not so long ago: in the neighborhood and craving a few brews. Bell has a fridge full of craft beers but only a few in large-format (e.g. Blue Ridge Sleepy Hollow). I opted for a four pack of Victory Kirsch Gose just for something a little different. In addition to beer, they have a decent selection of wine including from less well known known/not as trendy wine producing regions like Greece and Germany. They also have a good selection of "stickies" (port, sherry, and Madeira). The layout is a little strange; due it to being in a converted rowhouse it extends back and down and actually feels like you're descending into a wine cellar (the lack of windows in the back increase the effect.) As far as hard liquor goes, they have a good gin selection from a number of artisanal distilleries, although no Green Hat. read more

They have a great selection and a great floor plan....WHO would have known all of this was back here!? Here for a wine tasting. ..freee, customer service is great. They are very helpful in choosing pairings for the holidays. read more

Bell Wine & Spirits - Wine tasting on a 29 degree night. - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I haven't found better wine shop in DC, I love the Saturday wine tasting and associated discounts, and the staff have been very helpful in recommending bottles at various price points. Very good selection of French and South American reds. Prices are fair in general, plus I've found that when they get a good deal on a lot of something, they'll pass on the discount; because of that I've been able to drink some great wine that I otherwise wouldn't have wanted to pay for. Overall, excellent choice, and the place to go if you're hosting a dinner and need the right wine plus a bottle or two of other items for cocktails etc. Downsides for me is that I find the store's layout to be confusing and therefore I sort of require help in finding the right section (it's an odd retail space), and I think there are better places in DC to by scotch. Oh, and the real reason I took off one star is that they don't seem to carry decent calvados, which I like to serve after an autumn meal. read more

Probably one of my favorite liquor stores in the city. Friendly staff, large wine and liquor selection, and great in-store tastings. They have free wine tastings on Saturdays which are rather extensive-usually about 7 wines, plus one "mystery wine", where you try to guess what it is and they send the answer in their email newsletter the next week. They also have a grand tasting once a month, where $5 gets you samples of about 30-40 wines. And if you're tired of wine after tasting so many but still want more booze, they also have a pretty extensive beer selection. read more

Decent selection and prices for DC. Wide range of choices and well-chosen offerings. Unlike a lot of places, they do not have a lot of stuff that isn't worth buying. That said, there are only two great places in DC - 1 West Dupont & ACE Beverages. This isn't close. read more

The worst service ever. These folks obviously bought the store as a business only, they don't know or care one whit about wine. For a while, they had an acutally pretty good wine guy working in there, but he is gone and now they sit there smug and arrogant. When I called to ask about a wine they couldn't understand my english, so I gave up ( hey I am all for immigrants buying businesses) so then I went in. I asked about a wine and it was in stock on their website. I then asked a guy and he brought me up to look on the computer. Listen I worked in a wine store for 3 years. I knew every wine that we had in stock and every SKU ob the shelves. You do when you are there all day every day. The 4 guys in the store between them were totally clueless.They then told me the wine was out. They have no idea what is in stock, and don't update their website. The older fellow has no idea what they have, and the younger fellow (I assume the son) gave me an extremely smug look because I questioned (nicely) why the wine was on the site as in stock but not actually available. Honestly I can tell you these people care nothing about wine. I can't say for sure but I have a feeling they don't even drink wine. To them this business is the same as a pharmacy or a deli or anything else. There are some businness like say 7 Eleven where it does not matter if you know or care about the product, a wine store cynically bought as just cash flow is an insult to a product that people really care about. I Have noticed 2 wine stores very near each other in downtown DC where they are clueless, and only sell wine because it is something they were able to buy and sell. This store is one of them, and wipe the smug look off your face son of owner, in your expensive blue oxford shirt and complete lack of giving a crap about wine. Just so you know, about 2-3 years ago I had gone in there and had a really shitty experience with a woman working there who could NOT GIVE A SHIT about the customers. I posted a bad review. Then they hired that wine guy and he actually seemed to care about stuff and he messaged me and told me things had changed, so I took my review down and went back in. They guy was not really that nice, he had the arrogance of a young guy who thinks he knows everything about wine ( the more you know about wine you understand the less you know which should humble you if you have the ability to be humble) , yet at least he gave a damn. I have no idea why he left, but at least he gave a crap, even if he had a weird sense of entitlement. Now they have reverted to the we don't care about wine model again. Their website is stuck on May 5th which must be the day the wine guy departed. read more

Was better under the previous owner. No one on premises knows about wine. 'Outsourcing' has its limits.

I give them one star only because I cannot rate them a zero! Not friendly when I entered and I noticed they pick and choose when and with who they want to enforce a BS policy requiring identification when using plastic for payment. I balked and presented my id. Instead of simply accepting my ID when I presented it "Bob" got defensive and wanted to argue with me. I don't recommend them. read more

Been shopping at this liquor store for years but I don't drink a lot of liquor mainly go there from my office to Buy ice beer or wine if we're having Office event The staff that works there is very helpful whenever I need when I go in there read more

Twice this week they've been rude and unapologetic. At no point should a long-time customer feel ignored and unwelcome. They clearly forgot that when they walked away from me today while I was speaking to them. read more

Pros: Great selection of wines & spirits. Cons: Staffs' lack of knowledge on wines make them ill prepared for recommendations. No parking available. read more

They have a great selection of top-shelp alcohol. They tend to sell out of some of the more popular high end spirits, so buy it when you see it. I've always had good experiences with the staff. Overall, a great shop. read more

Do not buy from here! We bought a bottle that was already open!!! We tried to take it back and they said no. The owner "shushed" me and said they don't do refunds. read more

Prices are typical for the area. Selection is more than decent, a few things I looked for that they didn't have, but it was a long shot to begin with. They used to have sales on the Black Label quite often on the 1.75 litre. Which is a great welcome for those of you who drink Black, which should be everyone. The Black Label 1.75 seems weaker than their shorter counterparts for some reason. At any rate, I stopped purchasing their 1.75 bottles because of it. Thus, my -1 star. Their super awesome prices lead to me hating Johnny Walker's 1.75 litre Black Label. :( read more