I had the fine people at NYC Wine Company host our holiday party of 40 and wow it was simply a…read moredelight all the way through! 1. They pick fun wines that have a story and still accessible (like not the stuff you need to fork over life savings for). 2. As good... if not better than the wines were the cheese and bread pairings. Not just the perfect pairing but amazing in it of itself! 3. The SOMs are just delightful personalities... fun but totally know there stuff.

Wine Classes!…read more Squabbie and I took our first wine class at NYC Wine Class. We enrolled in their introductory to wine course, Wine 101. Andrew Harwood (the founder) was our instructor. He's had experience cultivating wine graps in Hungary, France, and California, to name a few places. He was quite informative and helpful. On top of our dessert wine, we had full glasses of 10 different types of wine. The grape variety for the wines included Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, & Malbek. The wine regions included Oregon, California, Argentina, Italy, and France. The prices of the bottles and their Wine Spectator ratings aren't revealed until after the wines are tasted, as to not provide a bias. There are five rounds of wines pairings, accompanied by a type of cheese. The wine pairings are selected to distinguish the contrasting tastes (e.g. comparison of regions, comparison of vineyard processing, or comparison of grape varieties). The class was a great introduction, and has whetted my desire to learn more about wines. If taken individually, the class would have cost $90, but Squabbie purchased the $275 four class promo package (good for 2 years and splitable amongst friends). I HIGHLY recommend this package (http://www.nycwineclass.com/wine_classes.php#256). I delayed taking this for half a year, I can't believe I waited so long! I can't wait for my next class.

I've taken 2 wine classes (wine 101) and I'm already looking to take the Wine 202 class…read more This is my type of wine class because: - It's located near Midtown Manhattan - The instructor is really chill - You are given different games to play which helps you remember the different wines and information about them - There's a variety of wines - There is no spit bucket (so chances are you'll get lit) - It's an open space so you get to meet other wine lovers Both wine classes I've taken have been on Fridays because you do tend to get a wee bit tipsy testing all of the wines. I first learned of the class through Groupon so I suggest looking there first if you are interested in taking a class here but either way if you interested in learning how to differentiate between the age of wines, the percentage of wines and practice your sense of smell (to determine what's in the wine) this place is for you.

We took the WineO 101 class on a Friday night, and boy was it a good time. The teacher and owner of…read morethe company, Mark, was clearly very knowledgeable of his craft, and his love for what he does is apparent. Students of the class are allowed to enter the rooms 10 minutes before the start of the class. The emails they sent out before the class stated that the class starts promptly at the scheduled time. We started about 7 minutes after the scheduled time, which I actually didn't mind because it gave us a chance to talk to our new friends were seated with. We had the chance to listen to Mark talk about wines, taste 5 different wines along with 4 different cheeses and some cured meat, as well as ask Mark questions we had about wine. We also played a few games for a small prize (drawstring bag with the WineO Club logo on it). It was a really fun way to spend a Friday night. The reason for the 4-star review and not a 5 is because Mark spoke wayyyyyyyyyyyyy too fast. My whole group had trouble keeping up with the information he was sharing, and it was a little annoying because we were all there to learn about wines. The class was supposed to be 2 hours long, but start to finish, it was closer to 1.5 hours, so I'm not sure what the rush was. Definitely not a dealbreaker, and I would definitely go back for another class, but I sure do hope they slow it down next time.

Beautiful venue with a lot of space to have some tastings, a bottle of wine, some snacks or…read morewhatever you want! Since it was my first time here I decided to do a tasting so I could try some of the wine they have. My husband and I got the Seasonal and the Library. I was surprised by the vintage of some of these wines and they still add them to these tastings! Great value for 5 tastings. Staff was nice and the place was gorgeous. I will definitely come back!

What an amazing experience! The wine tasting was so well done, the staff walked us through all of…read moreBrooklyn Winery's exclusive wines and explained each one beautifully. The rosé was hands-down my favorite. We happened to visit during the launch of the new summer menu, and every dish was incredible. The peach and tomato salad was so fresh, the chef's charcuterie board was perfectly curated, and the peach cobbler? Absolutely life-changing. I'll be dreaming about it for the rest of my days. On top of the amazing food and wine, the service was exceptional. From our server to the bartender, you could truly feel the warmth and hospitality throughout the space. We left already planning our next visit!

Yelp is saying Corkbuzz has permanently closed, but I visited on Saturday (two days ago!!!) and…read morecan't verify the closure, so I'm writing a review assuming it's open! Corkbuzz is a wine bar inside Chelsea Market. While I typically find Chelsea Market a little too crowded and chaotic to be comfortable, my husband and I dropped in specifically for some wine and a snack in the later afternoon on Saturday. The wine bar is comfortable and cool. We grabbed a couple of barstools, ordered 1 wine (a Slovenian wine for me), 2 cocktails (for my husband; he liked the cocktail so much, he ordered a second), and a white bean dip with focaccia bread, that was garlicky and delicious. It was a comfortable place to enjoy a drink and a snack. I'd be happy to stop by again - if it's still open?!

We stopped in for the Happy Hour. You'll need to ask about it. They really did not advertise. It…read morewas only a couple of dollars off one of the white and red wine. They also had a few bar snacks such as devil eggs for $3 a half egg. The bar was cozy. Staff was very helpful.

Cheese Mecca and community space for foodies! Murray's has just about every type of cheese you…read morecould imagine--and they have their own cheese cave! They also have various meats, pastas, olives, pickled vegetables. Anything you'd need to make a cheese board. Though they also have pre-made boards for when you're in a pinch. They also have butters, oils, sauces, marinades. Fresh breads, honeys, chocolates, coffees and teas. They have cheesemongers throughout the store, just waiting to help you out and find your dream cheeses! They also have a snack counter/small cafe where you can try dishes made with their cheeses (like a Mac n cheese bar, grilled cheese, etc). Murray's also ships cheeses and products. And they have classes to teach you about cheese, wine, and charcuterie!

This review is for the pasta making class with cheese tasting. This was my second class at…read moreMurray's. I've also taken many cooking classes at other spots- Taste Buds being my fave. This class just did not need the standards of other classes I've gone to. The reason I gave this 3-stars is because what you get for $100 is just not worth the price, plus the final product was inedible. The class consists of giving you flour and eggs to make the pasta, then roll it (which was super rushed), a "cheese tasting" (three tiny portions of cheese with some pesto) and unlimited wine (sparking white and red). You then bring the pasta home to cook it (with the instructions to use a fork if you haven't had enough time to roll your dough, which some didn't). I made the pasta when I got home and it was completely inedible as was the person's I went with. The instructor was nice and the room is beautiful, which is why I added a few stars. They're also great about making sure that your wine is filled up. Overall, I would not recommend for this price, especially when the end product was a throwaway.

Perfect place to grab a bottle coming to or from the train. Super reliable and the staff is very…read morefriendly.

Had to make a purchase thru the window on 3rd Ave! Wine was way overpriced. The clerk was not happy…read morewhen a different brand was requested.

Such a laid back class, with good pours! He knows his stuff and breaks it down in an easy to…read moreunderstand manner. Love this!

Fantastic wine tasting. Previously, I attended courses in Cotes de Provence, France, Sonoma County,…read moreCalifornia and Washington, DC and this was definitely up there in quality. The difference maker was Keith, the instructor, who is down to earth, detailed, and engaging. With each wine Keith explained it's historical significance and as the class described them, it was easy to share thoughts and participate in the conversation. It was a fun experience where I learned a lot and I look forward to the next lesson.

I am not very easy to please...however the fine wine I bought from this place...pleased me. The…read moreowner and work's are very wonderful, especially that man with bright color hair behind the counter. He will not play my game...but you know who WILL play my game...the lady in the store with me...she was awfully rude to the poor boy working the counter, but he handled it with such dignity and respect I bet all the employees have. They also were incredibly helpful on helping me choose a wine for my next...game. The quality and service was far beyond my expectations and I shall be returning to this fine establishment in the near future. Disrespect this place and you WILL play my game...

Best selection of liquor and champagne I have ever seen. The staff is really knowledgeable.read more

Astor Wine & Spirits has one of the most extensive selections I've ever seen. If you're looking for…read moresomething specific, there's a good chance they have it. I came in searching for a specialty spirit from Ireland and a very specific perry from England. Surprisingly (because again the selection was vast) they didn't carry what I was looking for, but the staff were incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. Instead of just sending me on my way, they actually helped me track down another store (not affiliated with them) that carried them and pointed me in the right direction. That kind of service really stood out. I ended up leaving with a bottle of Gin from Hawaii and some St-Germain because the prices were excellent and the selection made it easy to find something interesting. Fantastic shop, great staff, and a seriously impressive inventory. I'll definitely be back.

Simply shocking sake selection! I came here to purchase sake to make miso-glaze to put on top the…read morefresh black cod (sable fish) and Chilean sea bass that I bought at Wegman's. Employee Michael recommended the Staff Pick--Suigei Tokubetsu Junmai "Drunken Whale", so I bought that. It was fun to look around the liquor store. I came upon a bottle of Floc Gascogne, which is a French aperitif or dessert drink that I was introduced to at a now-defunct French restaurant on Long Island (Le Soir). The liqueur is so rare that few liquor stores in the U.S. sell it, per ChatGBT. If you cannot find it at Astor Wines, you cannot find it anywhere. They have daily liquor tastings, and their prices are reasonable. As a first-time shopper, I signed up for their rewards program today to get discounts. Staff is knowledgeable about their products, and they securely wrap all bottles. I highly recommend this store.

I invited Erika for a birthday cocktails workshop and were beyond impressed!…read more I never hosted an event like this, and she helped me plan the themed cocktails (disco night), explained about each and every spirit, built a detailed ingredients list, and made it a really good experience end to end. During the event itself she was super prepared, and guided us through the making of 3 cocktails in a funny, patient, and creative way. I really couldn't ask for a better Mixologist!

If you are thinking about using ERB Mixology, DO IT! Erika…read morehelped me determine what cocktails suited my event, and my guests were blown away by her creativity. Every drink was something to write home about - people are still talking about them! Knowing she was in charge, I didn't have a care in the world, and my party flowed flawlessly. Highly recommend!