I forgot how much I like this place. Off The Vine used to be my go-to wine spot back when I lived closer to it. I was happy to see that not much has changed in the 10 years I've been living closer to Northern Blvd. Solid wine selection ranging from inexpensive options to higher end bottles if you're looking for something special. Ambiance feels a little more upscale than your standard wine shop as well. The owner is nice but like other reviews have mentioned he's not going to get up to help you with anything unless he absolutely has to, so if you're coming here to shop make sure you leave ample time to peruse the options. I was looking for something light and cold to take with me to the park, and quickly found a Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc that seemed right up my alley for $11 an $13, respectively, which I think was pretty fairly priced for what they were. When I asked what options were available already chilled the owner told me any of them, just pick what I want from the bottom of the shelf and bring them over to him so he can swap them out (again, this guy doesn't like to move, but totally fine for the wine he's offering). I'd come here again. read more

This store gets bad reviews because the owner doesn't offer to help out with selecting wines, but I think it's nice to be left to quietly browse their selection. Plus, he is extremely friendly and happy to help out if asked. I adore this shop! Great ambiance, lovely selection, and cozy little setup. Definitely recommend. read more

I stopped by to ask if they had a certain kind of wine. I was the only one in the store and the owner refused to get out of his chair to help me find the wine. If you want to connect with your customer base, you have to be willing to go the extra mile and give the best experience you can. I cannot give my hard earned money to an owner like this. read more

Rude manger and staff!!! Wine flight had one gross tasting and not willing to make a refund or change..

Came here quite some time ago with my guy on a Saturday evening for a wine tasting he suggested we go to here after hearing about it from the owner during one of his random jaunts to pick up some wine... Normally wine shop wine tastings leave lots to be desired, but Off the Vine completely exceeded my expectations by leaps and bounds. I could be wrong, but I felt like this place was family owned...if it isn't it still has that cozy, close-knit, neighborhood staple kind of vibe. The owner was super friendly and the tasting itself was fun, educational (no, seriously - it was) and very well laid out. They served a few cheeses (a smoked Mediterranean cheddar if my memory serves me correctly...) and sliced meats plus homemade meatballs...made out of LAMB. Now I love baby lambs and I'm sure there's a nice, warm seat reserved for me in hell right now but, I love lamb - this was an unexpected treat, lol. There was a station for white wines (5 different varieties, all Italian), one for red wines (also 5 of Italian and Spanish decent) and a random vodka station for a brand that was domestic/family fermented and they showcased their 3 flavors (regular, citrus and lemon). The boy and I ended up purchasing a Tempranillo that appealed to both of our palettes. I'd definitely see myself returning here some time during regular business hours. They have a really nice selection of wines from all over, nicely laid out and presented in a classy, no frills way that would appeal to both an educated wine conisseur and a casual wino. Stay classy, Off the Vine! :) read more

I just wanted to reiterate how much I love this place. The owners are really nice, helpful, and not pretentious. They have frequent wine tastings. They have unique wines; most of their wine comes from vineyards that produce less than 8,000 cases each year. Off the Vine is my go-to wine place. read more

Off the Vine - a storefront with a red awning - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Astoria, New York

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Off the Vine has wine tastings about every month in the summer and fewer in the winter. I usually find out about the wine tastings via twitter or just walking around in my neighborhood. I have been to many wine tastings in the past 5 years and Off the Vine has the best wine tastings by far. I have been going to their wine tastings for 2 years and each time it gets better. They have a good selection of wine offered during their wine tastings and you get 10% off if you purchase a bottle. In addition to their wine tasting, the owner puts out a nice spread of antipasto each time. It is always different each time. One time my boyfriend and I went for a wine tasting and the owner offered us carrot cake since it was an employee's birthday. The carrot cake was delicious. It's never really crowded during the wine tastings. You have people coming in bursts and no one really hangs out until the end, You taste 6 wines, nibble a bit, buy wine and leave. It's not a place where you socialize with the patrons, this is a true wine tasting. Everyone behind the counter is very nice and helpful if you have any questions and not pretentious at all. The prices are reasonable and the wine is very good. They have a good selection of European wines and not so much selection of local wines or from the United States. read more

I'm a good Catholic woman that attends Saturday mass each week at St. Joseph's, in Astoria. One of the highlights, after church, is a visit to Off the Vine. Seriously, they usually put out quite the spread that involves, at times, a multitude of samples. From wine, cheese, and charcuterie, I never would have realized my love for Prosecco, if not for my this place. read more

This is a great local business! I live right across the street and was so impressed by the owner. I think that a lot of wine and liquor stores give off a "wine snob" atmosphere which makes me intimidated to ask for recommendations but not Off the Vine. I feel so welcomed every time I come in and the owner provides great affordable selections. Came here several times during the holiday season and he wrapped all of my bottles as gifts at no extra charge. He also hosts wine tastings a few times a month. Off the Vine is a great example of why we need to support local shops in the neighborhood! read more

OFF THE VINE epitomizes the idea of having an amazing LOCAL wine shop! Their wines and spirits come from mainly small, artisanal, producers from around the world...who focus on quality and TLC...not quantity. JP and Steve have such a zest for their products and the stories of the people who make them. Ultimately, they debunk the myth that going into a wine store can be overwhelming! Moreover, they treat every one of their customer's like a VIP. I'm always welcomed into the store with a warm smile and very pleasant greeting. At the end of the day, the wines/spirits are 1st rate, the prices are extremely reasonable, and the staff's delightful! As an Astoria resident, I feel so lucky to have them as a friend and neighbor. read more

I went to Off the Vine on my way to a tasting meal at a nearby restaurant and have to say I enjoyed my experience there. That said, there is easily room for improvement, hence the three star review. So here are the positives. 1 - The selection covers a wide range of price points. As an example, tonight I was specifically looking for French reds to go with my meal. Off the Vine offered selections starting at $10.99 for a Bordeaux and moving up towards $50. When I drank one of my bottles, I found it to be enjoyable. A bit dry, but good. Additionally, they were offering wines from a wide number of regions. There were a good number of South African wines (something I haven't been able to find in Queens), Chilean, Argentinian, Spanish, Greek, Croatian, and of course US, French and Italian. 2 - Shopping by region managed to be quite easy. Instead of hanging signs to indicate region or showing a map, Off the Vine decided to indicate the wine and its country of origin by using a simple photoshop (?) flag of the country. I found this to be creative. 3 - The staff (it was only one person and I'm not sure if that was the owner) was engaging, helpful and accommodating. The downside: 1 - There weren't many, or any reviews of the wines for sale. If you're not familiar with the wine you're purchasing, it's a total crapshoot. Your selection might be good, or it might be crap. 2 - The variety. There were only a dozen or so wines representing each country. The US wines were very regional (CA, Long Island, WA, and a bit of OR )of each. Granted, the store is on the small side, so for them to crush so many countries into the room, and they did get at least 10 into the small store, there was bound to be an effect. It just so happens to be on the number of bottles on sale from each region. Final thoughts. Off the Vine is a promising venue. Several of the other liquor and wine shops in Astoria, while bigger, are very impersonal. There is very little help on offer, and the hep that is given, often seems to push you towards certain wines. The people here seem to know their wines and are willing to offer suggestions if asked. Hopefully with time, Off the Vine will begin to grow and a smaller, niche shop that offers higher quality service with a decent offering menu. I'd like to check back in a few months too see what improvements/if any are made. read more

An amazing neighborhood wine shop. I give this place 5 stars for mostly the customer service- the guy running the place is one of the friendliest people I've met in the neighborhood, and the guys knowledge of wine is outstanding. He's always full of good tips about his wines, and carries a lot of brands I can't find anywhere else. The wine tastings are a great neighborhood event on Saturdays, and it's a very family oriented place. If you're looking for a select wine shop (not your warehouse wine places) I definitely recommend this place. read more

I am regrettably overdue for posting a review of this place. My husband and I are frequent customers of Off the Vine (what can we say, we like to drink!). The owners are always warm and welcoming, and super knowledgeable. I can honestly say I've never been steered wrong. If you go in with an idea of what you like or what you are going to pair it with, the suggestions are spot on! The wines are all from small distributors and are all moderately priced. We absolutely love the selection. I get very overwhelmed in giant wine stores with impersonal service. The other thing I love is the tastings! While you can never argue with free booze, they really go out of their way to make the tastings a special event. Sometimes, you can even sample liquors such as gin or limoncello, depending on the night. They always have a spread of snacks out to enjoy as well. In short: everyone should venture east of Steinway. The Trifecta of Awesome that is Sorriso's, Gian Piero bakery, and Off the Vine can't be beat. Grab a soppresata and cheese, some cannolis for later, and a delicious bottle of red. Your night is guaranteed to be awesome, and you're supporting local business, to boot. read more

I went for a wine tasting a few days ago. The wine might have been good, but none of them tasted good to me. The cheese and crackers were oddly on the other side of the store. The guy who served the wine seemed kind of snobbish. He wanted people to drink the six wines in a certain order, and he had a speech planned. When I just wanted to taste one of them, he complied but he clearly wasn't very pleased. This is the kind of wine place you go to if you already know all about wines, or if you're comfortable chatting about wine for a while. I prefer reading reviews and flavor descriptions. read more

The customer service makes up for the smaller space and selection. Every time I have gone in here, employees immediately ask if I need help and what I'm looking for, and they always give great advice and attention. I have always left and loved my purchase. They represent pure quality all around. read more

Absolutely serviceable wine store with a nice selection, artfully laid out and with clear indications of country and price for each tipple. I checked it out today for the first time because I remembered having come across a 5-star Yelp review for it this morning when we parked right in front of the store to pick up some mozzarella across the street. We went in, browsed, and picked up a $13 Malbec for which the cashier (owner?) was happy to accept a credit card charge. A slightly broader selection of good bourbons would make Off the Vine even better, but I'm up for heading back to get another bottle or two of wine soon. read more

I love, love, LOVE Off the Vine. It's the kind of place I'll walk into whenever I pass by just to see what they've got going on, whether or not I actively need to restock. Weekends are an especially good time to drop in because they do tastings regularly, putting out a selection of probably 4-6 bottles in addition to a significant spread of meats, cheeses, and baked goods provided by the owners' mother :) If you buy anything offered for tasting (which usually range in price from ~$20 to ~$35), they give you a 10% discount, which I've taken advantage of at least twice now. They also offer discounts like most places do for buying in bulk 6 or 12 bottles. Overall wine selection is good with plenty of options around $10-$20, and very neatly organized so it's easy to find what you're looking for. The staff is also knowledgable and ready to recommend a bottle to help you find whatever you're looking for. It's one of my favorite places in the neighborhood, a family business that will make you feel warmly welcomed every time you come in. Check it out for a weekend tasting! read more

Great local wine shop. Prices are reasonable. Wide selection of wines from all over the world and the owners are very knowledgeable. I really like their wine tastings. Make sure you sign up on their website for email alerts. They go all out and serve cheese and crackers and hors d'oevres at the tastings. If you buy one of the wines featured that night, you receive a 10% discount on the bottle. If you are an Astorian and like to drink wine, stop by and support your neighborhood wine shop. read more

I have walked in this place once. The store is clean, nicely laid out and airy... In my opinion this is "wine store" 101. The little flags on the bottles gave it a nice touch. It was separated in region/country and red vs. white. Nice. The person behind the counter seamed pleasant and willing to help. The store is limited in space thus there can only be so many countries/regions represented. There was a nice niche in South Africa wines for people who care about it. Personally, it did not have variety to my taste. Zero Greek wines in Astoria to me, is a no no. I bought a 100% pinotage bottle and have not tried it yet. I will go back to buy another South Africa wine but it will probable not be soon. read more

This guy is AWESOME. Period end of story. He's never condescending and I never for a second felt timid abt asking a question. Selection is good, and I've never been let down by his choice. Although I have strayed from his suggestions nd he warned me. He's always on point. Service is great! GO HERE. read more

Local Wine store with a small but varied selection of wines. Very open layout, and they have labels with flags indicating the origin of the wines. They also have a selection of higher end whiskies available, read more

Reasonable prices on a big selection of wines. My wife is in heaven here. They have a smaller selection of spirits as well, a few interesting liquors and liqueurs I haven't seen elsewhere. Also wine/liquor accessories and mixers. The owners are very friendly, and the service is great; they can recommend a good wine for just about anything. They also have tastings and events which are fun. Last time we tasted a white chocolate almond vodka that is made locally. My wife wouldn't let me leave without a bottle. Good times. read more

Amazing selection of craft liquor and wines. Nothing is mainstream - its all from small owned businesses trying to make it. The gent who mans the store is extremely knowledgeable and friendly. He had never given me a bad recommendation. Also - prices are reallt reasonable. read more

Really helpful staff. Best selection of wine I've seen in the hood. I've never bought a bottle from this store that I found disappointing.

Honestly, they do have a good wine selection, but compared to other wine stores I have been to the prices are nothing exceptional. Also, everyone keeps talking about how awesome the customer service is, but I find it quite the contrary. The employees seem completely uninterested in helping me, going so far as to having conversations with other people while I am trying to check out. We go to the wine tastings and we are not acknowledged by the owners. I should also add that I come in a lot. read more

What a great little neighborhood wine shop! I stopped here before going to a dinner party at my friend's house in the neighborhood and the owner helped me pick a delicious bottle of Syrah that had exactly the flavor profile I described to him. The prices were reasonable, and the owner was very easy to talk to, non-pretentious, and clearly passionate about his products. If I am ever back in the area I'll be sure to stop in. read more

This is the ONLY wine shop I go to in Astoria. It's absolutely stunning and the windows are always decorated with seasonal displays. The inside of the store is beautifully arranged, with neatly-labeled wine (country of origin, price) so that you don't have to ask for help. But if you do, the owners know every detail of the wine and will offer suggestions. Prices are also super reasonable. read more

Easy to miss as it's located off the beaten path in Astoria but once I ventured past Steinway I was extremely pleased. It is a beautiful store, clean, well organized and roomy - perfect for perusing their extensive selection of wine. Owner John loves to focus on smaller lesser-known but fantastic wineries and does a wonderful job. Definitely the best there is to offer in the area and worth the walk. read more

This is a wonderful wine store that raises the bar on quality and customer service. The guy behind the counter (forgot his name!), is knowledgeable and does his best to choose an eclectic selection of wine that tastes great and is not overpriced. Basically, this is the place to go if you want to spend 15 dollars on a bottle of wine that tastes like a 30 dollar bottle of wine. The quality of the wine you can get at this place for the money is a testament to Off the Vine's knowledgeable staff that goes out of its way to find the best choices for its customers. I highly recommend you go there if you are looking to find a GREAT bottle of wine at a reasonable price. read more

This is the perfect neighborhood wine shop. The owner is knowledgeable but approachable, there's not a even a hint of pretentiousness in this shop. He always recommends outstanding wines that aren't outrageously priced. They have a great selection. The wine tastings are awesome, they always have food and the wines that are put out are really good, we never walk out of a tasting without a bottle or two. Great place! read more

This place is great to find liquors and wines you can't find elsewhere. The staff is exceptionally friendly, and the tastings are awesome. The only drawback is that they close earlier than the other liquor stores in the area, so I often times end up walking there and then have to turn around and go somewhere else. Maybe I'll check the hours next time. read more

Best wine store in the area. Love the atmosphere and the owner actually, cares about what you are looking for and isn't just trying to make a sale. read more

I really do love this place. It's too bad that its so damn far away from my apartment! They have weekly wine tastings (as do most of the wine shops in Astoria), and the couple that owns it is very friendly and helpful. This place is as bit smaller than Grand Wine (well, then again, what isnt?), but they're more focused on a diverse selection of quality wines, as opposed to just putting out a shitload of it. read more

This wine store is great! Great selection and wonderful people to deal with. As a business owner I would like to say that there are all types of people and some who think their way is the best and only way and they could do it much better no matter what is is. Anyone who gives this store any less then 5 stars should have their head examined. Go there and give this store your business. They well deserve it. Joe from Astoria. read more

Love this local business. You don't know exactly what wine you're looking for? Well guess what - JP knows what wine you're looking for and it will be excellent. We have never been steered wrong by his suggestions and while the stock does rotate fairly regularly it is a good excuse to try something new. They have a great selection of small batch bourbons and whiskeys that you won't find at the corner liquor store. The Saturday night wine tastings are a great way to try new wines out so you aren't blindly spending money on an unknown commodity. Do yourself a favor, stop in and discover your new favorite shop in the neighborhood. read more

Great place. Wide selection and very helpful staff. Reasonably priced. Also found some 1921 tequilas.

This is the best wine store ever! Not sure what Harris B (below) is talking about. We go to the tastings all the time and have never felt like the people serving the wines (by the way- who are employed by the distributors, not the store) are snobby. They take their time to walk you through all the different wines and answer any questions. It's like a mini little lesson. Also, the owners are so nice- their parents are always there too, so you know it's a family run place. The owner's wife makes most of the snacks for the tastings. And, the owner himself is really nice and has never suggested a bad wine. We walk in, tell him what's for dinner at home, and ask him to tell us what wine to get. He'll give you one or two options and tell you a little about each. He's NEVER snobby or judgmental. In short, go here!! read more

I have been here six or seven times before going to see my parents. It's a small, family store but they have really great wines from around the world. I love that the owner recommends wines from every price range and they are always spot on. Why go anywhere else? read more