quite literally the rudest employees ive ever encountered. needed a stiff drink just to interact with them. save yourselves

As many have noted in the reviews here, the staff can be wild. I once witnessed a customer--obviously inexperienced with wine--tell the manager she was looking for a natural wine then ask him about a particular wine on the shelf only for him to snap at her "well THAT's not a natural wine!!" She looked bewildered, and I walked out before I had to endure any more bad vibes. I've been here many, many times over the years and finally stopped going because the energy in the store is so wrong. One star for an admittedly excellent selection and often fair pricing. But man what a great operation they could run in such a cool neighborhood--but only with a new staff under new management read more

I wen there for am inexpensive red wine and was recommended a merlot from Bordeaux. It was very good and only $15.00. I went back a few days later and got another excellent wine that was again reasonably priced. Nice and knowledgeable staff and a wide selection. read more

I would categorize the attitudes of employees as disinterested, bothered, and condescending Liquor selection is to be missed read more

My partner and I stopped by this place for something nice to bring to the celebration of a friend's medical transplant. We were looking for an organic red, and though the selections are organized by region, the organics aren't separated out. But a saleswoman came by, artfully undetected, and gave us her recommendation at our price point. It's the kind of service I love and haven't experienced in awhile! read more

Great selections of natural wine. Friendly staffs. Check out their online exclusive sales read more

The guys who work here are the most insufferable people New York has ever seen. I walked out the store and made this Yelp account just to say this. That's how condescending and unimpressive their workers are. They don't even know how to answer questions about wine they barely want to check you out lol. Such a weird collection of guys. read more

Such unfriendly service from the pretentious workers, instead of being helpful they seemed more concerned that I didn't know much about wine Not making a purchase again at this east village wine shop Note: wines are organized by country inside read more

Love this place. Been shopping with them since the previous location. I usually browse around the store before purchasing just to educate myself. Staff is very helpful and knowledgeable. Was asked multiple times if I needed help and every time I had a question it was answered perfectly. Every time I come here I leave learning something new. Haven't been to their wine tasting yet but looking forward to one very soon. Wine tasting every fri and saturday from 6p-8p... read more

Discovery Wines - a hand holding a bottle of wine - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - New York City, New York

I wasn't even planning on getting a bottle when I was in the area but I love my wine so I decided to pop in. Within a minute, someone assisted me. The gentleman helped me pick out a wine that suited my palate best. Layout of the store is Simple and elegant. Everything is organized! They have wine tastings every Friday and Saturday from 6-8pm and offer 10% off the featured wine so swing by and check it out for yourself. read more

Discovery Wines - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - New York City, New York

The best wine store in New York hands down. They remember you'r name, your favorite wine, etc. they gave the best selection and are constantly getting new stuff too. I cannot recommend this enough. read more

Wow, this place is as good as it gets. The wine selection is truly wonderful and the customer service is excellent. The staff always goes above and beyond to make you feel taken care of. Can't recommend enough! read more

This is a cool and fun shop, especially for natural and organic wines. They're really curated quite a collection, and often are the only people in NYC (sometimes the region...!) to sell a certain bottle. They also know their stuff and can talk with deep knowledge about the wines they sell. I started nerding-out with one of the workers, with mutual pleasure it seemed, and he took me to a little tasting area in the back to pour me a taste of something they had open. If I lived closer I would browse here far more often than I do. The sustainable/organic bent that they have makes it so that you'll see lots of producers and wines that you don't know, which is wonderful! Bravo. read more

I'm very glad someone told me about this wine shop... while their selection is smaller than the average wine shop, they only work with sustainable wines. Prices are good too. I've only met one person, so cannot opine about the staff overall, but he was nice, knowledgeable, and provided great suggestions within different price ranges. He did not push for the most expensive ones. read more

Staff acknowledged me the minute I walked in and immediately offered their assistance. I asked for a specific vintage and unfortunately they didn't have it in stock. Regardless they offered several viable alternatives based on budget and their recommendations are definitely stellar contrary to some other establishments who had no knowledge of their products. I'll definitely be coming back to get more wine from them. On a side note they also do delivery in the local area. TLDR Good place to get wine if you're not too picky but if you're looking for specific rare vintages go somewhere else. read more

70% of their wines are under $20 - Discovery Wines is a fantastic place to find decently priced wines in the East Village - wines are organized by region and if you need a little guidance, the enthusiastic and friendly staff members are more than happy to help you. They have free wine tastings/samplings almost every night and an intimiate, educational, and fun wine tasting class on Monday nights for only $35. The store also has great hours - they're open late and also on Sundays. The best thing about Discovery is the space, though... open, bright, airy and not intimidating at all, it almost makes you want to stay there all day and browse - would be a little more helpful if the prices were more clearly marked and there were comments about each wine - but still a fun wine place to shop at. It also happens to be around the corner for Nicky's Vietnamese for banh mi... read more

Discovery Wines - bottles of wine lined up on shelves - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - New York City, New York

Friendly staff, lots of wines to choose from but I have been very disappointed with several selections of adventurous wines that I was trying for the first time. Stick with what you know here. read more

This store rules. For me it's all about great value wines. So many great bottles for under $20 and always new specials/recommendations. That guy Scott nails it every time I ask for a food pairing suggestion. I like the kiosks too, just scan your bottle under and it tells you about the grape, region, short description and food suggestions. read more

I've ordered different wines from this place on a half-dozen occasions and have yet to have been introduced to anything that was even remotely good. The wines that this place peddles have yet to be "discovered" probably for good reasons - they're bad wines. I remember one of the first times I called them, I asked if they carried Ruffino and the guy on the phone actually laughed. I was instead sold their mid-range Chianti which was supposed to really knock my socks off. When I uncorked what seemed to be a gatorade and vodka mix, my socks were indeed knocked off. read more

This is the ideal neighborhood wine store. I remember shopping with them years ago at the now-Union Market location around the block (it was so beautiful and large and more amenable to wine tastings), but the new location doesn't miss a beat. The staff are very supportive, their affordable (unfortunately $15 is the new $10 in wine it seems) wines are often delicious, and they beat other neighborhood wine stores by a mile (combination of friendly service, first of all good wine, fair for Manhattan prices, and quality selection when I state what I am looking for and they match it). As a contrast, not to step on Trader Joe's toes, I once went on an experiment to try a dozen TJ wines. Rest assured, I am back to Discovery and NOT to TJ's for anything other than groceries. read more

I've frequented this wine shop several times. They have a great selection though not as varied in terms of sourcing. But they often have wine tastings for free which is great as well. And I've gotten good recommendations here and even discovered a terrific cognac courtesy of staff suggestion. read more

Totally approachable with a great, curated selection. It feels cozier than your average wine shop and has a good flow. Have always had good luck with staff recommendations too, as close to an ideal neighborhood shop as you can get. read more

I don't like the vibe of this place. It seems very corporate and top-down. As in lacking in charm. Cold, all the way down to their own price stickers on the bottles, so if you take one to a party everyone knows the provenance of your bottle. That's just a little tacky to me. I wouldn't mind it if I were saving a buck, but this isn't a place to save a buck. You do get your money's worth, though. The staff knows their wine, and there are a number of standout bottles in the shop. So the bottom line is that DW is a good wine shop, as in a place to buy good wine (often for reasonable prices). I don't like the shop itself, but can't complain about their selections or staff. read more

My next stop on the, Where does Andrew Bell, President of the American Sommelier Association, get his wine tour? Discovery Wines on the Lower East Side - tadah!!! Remember in my last posting when I mentioned that I had a tendency to choose wine by the label art? Well Discovery honors my visual vocabulary and presents the wine as if it was a work of art - kudos to my fellow label whores. I felt like I was browsing at the MOMA. Each bottle is neatly presented in an individual cubby and looks special as its own focal point, which makes it very hard to choose. Lesson #1 from this journey when you go to a crappy wine store - the kind with cases stacked against the wall and value jugs in every corner it is easy for them to up-sell me by simply making a display not look ghetto. Well, Discovery makes everything look good so how is a girl to choose? So, as usual I went in search of help and got Scott. I explained my reason for the visit and he asked if I new Andrew, no I don't, but Andrew if you are reading I feel like I know you from following in your wine soaked steps. Scott decided to school me in oxidation. Oxidation, I figured had something to do with air but other then that I decided to remain ignorant until after I drank my examples. I would not want my Yelping taste buds to be influenced by outside information. No, all I was told by the trusty Scott was the 2007 Domaine Lucien Crochet - Sancerre had no oxidation and the Vino Cubillo Rioja is swimming in it after two years of aging in an oak barrel. Would I be able to notice the difference? The challenge was set. I called on a friend and a leisurely Saturday afternoon by the water in Battery Park to see what I would discover from the Discovery wines recommendation and did I ever get a taste of oxidation. The wine with no air (the Sancerre) felt thicker, heavy and syrupy. It did not have much after taste but I may not have noticed it because I was too busy chewing (ok that is an exaggeration, but you get the point). The texture bothered me so much that I could not enjoy drinking it. However, that does not mean I didn't get through my allotment from the bottle I certainly was not going to let non-oxidized wine go to waste. So with one bottle down, the sun sparking off the water and my awareness of what oxygen gives wine growing we cleansed our palates and opened the next bottle - I needed some air. Ahhhh......oxidation, sweet wonderful, oxidation. The Roja was wonderful from the first sip. Much lighter and exotic (I think that was my friends word, but she was right). I was experiencing the wine with each taste and it was lovely. Plus, the bumble bee that kept landing on the rims of our glasses also voted for oxidation. Lesson #2 from my Discovery wines experience - I love wine that has traditional oxidation and my thanks to Scott for giving me such extreme examples for testing - I certainly now know the difference. Next stop on my tour Veritas Restaurant, stay tuned. read more

A+++ energy, staff, vibe and wine selection. Wonderful feeling from moment you walk through the door. A real hidden gem. AND, they deliver if you are too lazy or drunk to go get some more good libations. :-) read more

Great wine store on 2nd street and ave B. friendly staff that will help you find what you're looking for. A great selection of chilled wines in the back fridges. I often can't find what I'm looking for chilled -- but they has a great assortment. Highly recommended. read more

Discovery is a great place to pick up a bottle. Big, airy space; great selection of reasonably-priced wines, and knowledgeable staff. Lesser-known fact: Discovery is also a great place to host a little wine-tasting party. We had one there last night, for ~20 friends to celebrate a 30th birthday. It was SO EASY to set up, just a visit and a couple e-mails to discuss wine selections. Staff paid close attention to our group, putting a glass in people's hands as soon as they arrived; and offered wine-tasting commentary that didn't get in the way of conversations. It was a great way to relax, meet new people, and get the night started right. By the time we arrived at our final destination we were all ready to party... read more

Trevor is the manager here, and he redefines what it means to go above and beyond. He never met me, but treated me like a regular and went out of his way to save me the last bottle of 40 oz Rose after I requested he hold it for me, as it was a special gift for my girlfriend. Check out their shop, Trevor and the entire staff are friendly and extremely knowledgeable. Thanks again guys! read more

We love discovery!! I don't know much about wine but my husband always sends me to pick his up and I go straight to the employees and they helps me so graciously every time. There is such an awesome selection at every price , sometimes we go cheap sometimes we get finer and I just love sparkle paintings on the wall we are thankful this is right on our avenue !! 10/10 always coming back to grab a bottle read more

CLOSED DURING MOVE TO 16 AVENUE B. Love the selection and the service. Hate that I have to wait for the new spot to open! (and that I missed the 30% off sale during which inventory was sold off). Only sad that they will be a few blocks further away from me at the new digs! read more

Top notch place. Great selection of wines and even better service. Everyone is knowledgeable and nice, prices are more than fair as well. Keep it up guys. read more

If you're finished with Union Square Wines and Liquors and want a new place for wine tasting, why not check out Discovery... The people are super knowledgeable and friendly. That said I personally buy wine mostly at Trader Joe's as I'm not so "cavalier about price" as they say in Economics... read more

Discovery is a pretty unique wine shop, and I actually enjoy going in and looking for a bottle. They have a good range in price, so there's something for everyone. The space is big and open and easy to move through. There are weekly wine tastings and very often there's a featured wine you can sample. My personally favorite aspect is the scanners. You can take most bottles and scan them and it will list bottle details, tastes and pair it with foods. Also, if you don't know what you're looking for, you can enter either what food you're looking to pair, or a type, price, taste, etc and it will list bottles that match what you're looking for. The people working there are also pretty helpful themselves. It's a fun experience. read more

I look forward to going into Discovery Wines because the experience is always a positive one. The staff really make this place special. Great selection of wine and booze. I haven't gone for beer yet, but I'm sure they have a good variety. The staff is very friendly, and very willing to help with any suggestions, in any price range. They are not pretentious, which is always a big plus. It is not uncommon to find a fun new liquor tasting during the weekends, and they have a great tasting bar set up in the back of the store. It's even fun to just browse their large selections. Lastly, you can't beat the prices here. They are not over the top marked up, and actually are the most reasonable I've found the in the neighborhood. That really tops the chart for me :) read more

I was meeting friends at Himalayan Cafe down the street and didn't realize it was BYOB. The restaurant owner recommended Discovery Wines for picking up a bottle while we waited for our table. What a great recommendation! The store was large, clean, inviting and well-stocked. More importantly, the staff was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. My friends and I were shown several options meeting our specifications and ended up with a delicious, affordable white to go with dinner. read more

Great Place, very friendly. I run in for a nice brand well priced vodka, however have been in with friends for a dinner party and checked out the wine. They are super cool, nice well made reusable bags. A/C blasting in the summer. No problems, no pretentiousness if you have questions. read more

so many good wines to choose from! the owner is very friendly and always has the best suggestions, so do most of the nice sales people here too. The selection of french wines makes my heart happy. This is my go to wine spot and luckily i live on the block so it's easy to get to! The only downfall is i will drink too much wine! read more

I love this place. Great selection of wines available for every price point. Super helpful and knowledgeable staff.

The people doing the wine tasting forgot what I looked like and let me go through twice. You can take your dog into the store but you they will not serve him wine. We need a place like this in Philly... Instead we have lame "State Stores" that stock Sutter Jackson. BUT we have BYOB's... Take that Gotham! read more

If you are uncomfortable, intimidated, or just plain irritated by pretentious wine snobs then this is the store for you. The store is staffed by knowledgeable, approachable, professionals that can help you find exactly what you are looking for. All of the wine in the store was hand selected for quality and price by the people working at the store. Most of the wine is under $20, although, if you are one of those people that like to spend a lot of money for a good bottle of wine, they have plenty to make you happy. Their infectious enthusiasm for wine really made the experience fun (ask for Scott Reiner). However, if you arent a big fan of speaking to people, you dont have to. The store has numerous touch screen kiosks that provide you with information on each wine by scanning the bar codes on the bottles. read more