12/28/07: We grabbed three bottles of red wine, two cheeses (comte and heublumenkase) and two dry salamis (molinari) - the place has been significantly renovated since our days of visiting it. The atmosphere is now much more wide open and, to some degree, it's lost some of the charm and feel of a cramped independent store. Nonetheless, the selection of cheeses is still as good as ever and wine selection seems to be much larger. On site parking lot is very helpful for anyone running in/out- read more

My favorite liquor store! The staff are friendly and helpful. When I have gone in looking for something they find it for me. When I have questions about what I should buy for a gift they help. They are awesome. Their cheese is delicious! They are a little bit on the pricey side, but we have never been disappointed with anything that we have purchased from there. There is a parking lot. read more

This place is a hidden gem! Honestly this is one of the best neighborhood package stores that I know of and the cheese and gourmet foods are just a huge plus. While I have read some of the reviews complaining about dust etc ... Sometimes I think you need to look past those things and see whats on the shelves of this place. The Italian section of wines is fantastic .... I will be back read more

A neighborhood institution. Great selection of wine, cheese, meat, chocolate , beer and liquor. Staff is extremely knowledgable and friendly (unless you insist on walking in and asking idiotic questions or pull some "I left my ID at home but here's a photo copy of my library card" business. read more

Yes, wine. Yes, cheese. But, more exciting: bread! Wine and Cheese Cask carries all the delicious bread you can get at Whole Foods - like Iggys - and some that you can't (like Hi Rise bread) and it's delivered daily, so you never end up with one of those hard-as-rocks baguettes that you end up throwing away because you can't even slice it. And -- as if wine, cheese, and bread weren't enough -- they have a pretty good selection of gourmet cookies. read more

The woman behind the cheese counter was very helpful with selecting blue cheese. She showed a variety of cheeses, based on what my interest was and suggestions from her. The wine is in multiple rooms. It is a bit of a maze to wander through, but a wonderful browsing experience! Prices were quite fair!! read more

Also known as Wine and Cheese Cask. Large selection of very good wines and many many different cheeses. They also have pate and mousses at their deli. I recommend the Piave - like a parmesan but lighter and less salty. Only place I know of to carry a particular brand of sparkling red Italian wine (Brachetto). Limited selection of beers and liquors though. read more

Good wine selection. I came in looking for some kosher wine, and they had a whole row of bottles. I was impressed how much wine they managed to fit into that small building. read more

Guys: cheese, wine. Hop to it! (GOOD cheese, GOOD wine). I don't like it as much as Formaggio's kitchen, but then I don't actually like anything as much as FK. So..shrug. read more

Great little wine shop with some cheeses also. Bonus points for independence and location.

Really awesome in theory. I've had a fair bit of luck in the wine cellar getting good recs for bottles. Their selection is a bit overpriced, and geared towards the $12+ range rather than the $8-12 range that I usually kick it in. Their beer selection is also pretty good for its size, but still a bit overpriced. But it's quality and convenience to my home kind of balance out. read more

It is not pretentious, the staff know the wine they sell you and, if they don't, they will be honest about it. They have a broad, interesting selection and will give you an actual suggestion when you describe what you like--even if you use plain english and, like me, have no idea what it means for a wine to be "chewy." Yes, good beers, and they know their cheese (but not quite at the level of Formaggio). But its the wine that keeps me going out of the way to get to this place. read more

Love this place. I'm by no means a cheese eating, wine connoisseur, but with the people who work here, I can pretend to be. There has been many a time, when I was in need of wine and was helped, nay saved, by the people who worked there, suggesting very impressive wines. I can get bud light here and that $100 wine bottle with ease. I love this place. read more

This was my first time in here and the staff was super nice even though they were busy. They helped me find what I was looking for and they have a really good selection. This is by far the best wine store I have even been in anywhere in the country! read more

This place is just down the street from where I live, and I've been here already four times and I've lived here for about 2 weeks. The store has a great variety of wines, beer, and cheese. The prices are definitely reasonable and the staff is always friendly. read more

Pretty much the only store I've ever found which carries a good selection of high-value, racy German Rieslings. Good selection of other wines, cheeses. Willing to order just about anything, even if just a single bottle. read more

Reasons I Love the Wine and Cheese Cask: 1. Awesome selection of wines from $5 to $100+ from all regions of the world and of all types. The best selection of any wine store I've been to in Boston or Cambridge. 2. A helpful and knowledgeable staff 3. The best selection of cheeses in the area also at a variety of price points 4. There's not a whole lot better than a lazy summer evening sitting outside with a nice bottle of wine, a cheese plate, and a loaf of french bread and this is a one stop shop for making that happen. read more

I've been drinking wine for over 25 years. I've never found a better wine store than this. Although I generally don't ask for help, I've seen the staff here take an extraordinary amount of time and care to understand what customers want and to make sure they get it at a price they are willing to spend. Although the store is smaller than some others, they have a wide selection that accommodates a huge variety of tastes and incomes. read more

The best sandwich I've ever had. Delicious bread and cured meats, crisp and fresh vegetables, buffalo Mozzarella, all for five or six bucks. Makes my mouth water. read more

"In my younger and more vulnerable years, my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since. "Whenever wine and cheese are united in one place, there the true magic of life is found..."" -The first lines of The Great Gatsby, if I had written it. Seriously, The Wine and Cheese cask is just a happy place. The interior looks (and smells) like your grandparent's house circa 1986. And it contains happy things: wine and cheese as advertised, but a very respectable beer selection as well. The beer selection is not exhaustive, but it's varied enough to provide solid selection for any occasion. They also have a good selection of all types of whiskey. The wine selection is incredible, with a great focus on French wines (an entire room dedicated to them, in fact). However, they also have solid representation for all other wine regions of the world, including up and comers like Portugal and the Finger Lakes of NY. In addition, there are many specialty provisions beyond cheese, including olives, spreads, crackers, and other accoutrements--and you won't have to mortgage the farm like at Savenor's. That said, the prices are moderate but far from unreasonable--and they're open until 10, which is not always easy to find in this tiny corner of Somerville without trekking to one of the squares. All told, W&CC is a fine place. One final bit of advice--check the monthly specials. Usually these include phenomenal discounts on a good selection of stuff. read more

A knowledgeable staff member helped me find the perfect wine bottles for a Christmas gift. Reasonable prices and a fun selection of drinks.

This is definitely my go-to wine shop. It's great to have a quality selection of wine, decently priced, right around the corner. The staff are very knowledgeable and helpful if you ask. I have always gotten good recommendations and advice. True, the counter staff aren't super friendly, but that's ok with me. read more

I like this place. Its close by and, for its size, pretty well-stocked. I like that they sell singles of interesting beers from around the world. It is a good way to broaden my beer horizons! I find the staff knowledgeable and personable. As for the cheeses, I love that they have an interesting selection of goat and sheep cheeses, because I can't eat cow products. For those who don't think they carry enough cheese..well, are you sure you saw everything? Not all their cheeses are in the open case...some are behind the counter and you can order them from the chalkboard menu. This place is great whether you are looking to get a nice cheese spread for a party, to pick up a great bottle of wine, or merely need to re-stock the liquor cabinet after a heady weekend. read more

could pass for younger, but I'm fifty-something and was carded this past Wednesday, whereas I was in the store the previous Monday and many countless times, without event. What offended me was that not only was the carding arbitrary, but also that the clerk was ready to scan my card in their "new" system, and up went "whoa". I ended up returning my beloved value-added bottle of french red sadly to the shelf, now resolved to rethink whether I should ever set foot in the store again. I would encourage the store to seriously review a policy that more than vaguely resembles totalitarian Soviet Russia in its tack. If someone had been forthright with me over the nature of the policy as originating from a ATF "sting", I might have been more understanding. The fact that this store affronted Jason P. in similar manner does not say much for the store coming clean with why the new policy so late in the game. I observed on a second try for a beverage(non-alcoholic) that a customer my age was not carded for his alcoholic beverage purchase, leading me to believe the policy is being followed inconsistently. read more

Great alcohol and cheese selection but the counter staff couldn't be more salty.

I love this place. The prices are good, the selection (for wine at least) is fantastic, and the staff are generally knowledgeable and helpful. =) EDIT: I have since dropped a star off of this place. The last time I went there I was looking for something very specific. Angelini Pinot Grigio. It's delicious. In any event, I went in looking for this and try to find it on my own first. I couldn't. Previously when I'd gone in someone had always come up and offered to help find what I was looking for. Not so today. I had to find someone today. No big deal. Apparently I found the wrong person because when I said Angelini Pinot Grigio he thought Angeline Pinot Noir and handed me a bottle of that. When I expressed this was not the right one and repeated politely the name of my new favorite wine, he looked at me like I was an idiot. In short, he insisted somewhat rudely that it didn't exist and that what I wanted was Angeline Pinot Noir. I've never felt more like this man thought I had no idea what I was talking about and couldn't care to waste his time on a plebeian. The only reason I didn't lower this more... everyone has bad days, maybe this was his? ...and I found my wine elsewhere. read more

I gave it only 5 stars because that's the most that are allowed. For wine, the place is simply the best.

This place used to be better. Don't go there if you have dust allergies, The items in food department seem like they been sitting there for a long time. The cheese i bought was old and dried out. Not cool. Also don't ask any questions about beer, you just get talk to like your stupid. Go to Central Bottle. read more

I have to agree with some of the other 1 and 2 star ratings...the staff, with one exception, is rude. There is one older man usually in the wine section who is very nice and helpful. Anyone else I have encountered here is so un-friendly it really puts me off. I have shopped here over 20 times and have never heard a 'please", "thank you" or "have a nice day". Sounds like small beer but it irks me every time I leave. There prices are not great and so many places sell good beer now I see no reason to shop here unless they have a hard to find cheese! read more

great sammiches, great selection of beer and wine. too bad all the workers are snobs or else I'd go there more often. Edit: Changing from 3 stars to 4 stars. The staff is coming around, and have been nothing but pleasant my last couple visits. read more

Excellent wine & cheese selection. As an added bonus: the dirty-sock-like smell of cheese hits you like a wall when you walk in. You know it's going to be good. read more

great place to have on the way home. their wine selection is one of the best in cambridge-somerville. i was particularly pleased to find more than a few chateauneuf offerings the last time i stopped in. the breads and cheeses are also nice for those needed quickies in between market trips. maybe an unusual comment, but i also appreciate that they have enough staff people around to answer questions and help find things. im tired of walking into so many understaffed places where the only employee is the one at the cash register. read more

Yay, hooray! Moving from Central to Harvard was tough times, but now I've found the Wine and Cheese Cask!! My boyfriend took me here, to try and cheer me up. The liquor store across from my old apartment was so, so convenient, and I mistakenly thought that the only close liquor selection to Harvard was the Broadway Market, or C'est Bon. But the short walk to Cask, passing lovely Darwin's and a number of useful pharmacies, brightened my spirits. The Cask- right across from blue Dali- is indeed a delight. I love the way their wines are organized-- by location, red or white distinction be damned. They have a very nice selection of beers as well, available in many bottle sizes, and of course all the liquor you'd ever need. The crackers are too expensive, but they go great with the delicious cheese for sale behind the counter, cut to perfection!! Otherwise, the prices seemed quite fair. I can't believe I never discovered this place living in Central...but living in a place overrun with college yuppies just got a little bit better. read more

Love it here! As a big wine drinker, and somewhat of a wine snob, this is a great place to go, get great wine suggestions (and not the most expensive ones either) - the staff typically know their regulars and will make suggestions for them. They have a great beer selection also, and they don't sell cheap wine - so you don't have to sift through a collection of disgusting wine to get to the good stuff! While they do have a lot of wines that are inexpensive, they are great with avoiding the cheap stuff. Their wines of the month are great - they always have a selection of wine for around 5-10-/bottle, and they tend to be interesting and great wines to try. Their quarterly sales rock - 20% off cases - and they have great cheeses and cured meats as well (salami, etc.). The one criticism I have is that the people who ring you up tend to not be the nicest. But who cares. This place is awesome. read more

What a great place. They have so many eatables and drinkables that tickle my fancy: Lindemans Lambic beers, Pimms, Ritter Sport, hunks of comte, fresh crusty bread, tasty party crackers. Booze, chocolate, cheese, and bread, all in one convenient, neighborhoody shop. If the cashier looks a bit sullen on occasion, I don't take it personally. read more

Excellent place! Wine selection is quite large and the staff is knowledgeable. This place is a full Liquor store with beer and spirits as well. They have a HUGE selection of cheeses and meats and all the crackers, spreads, accessories to go with your charcuterie. Also, they will make up sandwiches for lunch but unfortunately only Monday thru Friday. Between the prime cheeses and meats, and great breads, this is quite possibly the best Italian sandwich I've had in Boston! Hey owners.... Make the sandwiches on the weekends too please!!! read more

This possibly is the must fully-articulated neighborhood wine shop for which I could ask. The space itself is delightfully cozy, and the employees are professional, knowledgeable, and efficient (when necessary). I've never been disappointed when I've asked for a recommendation, and although I've moved away from the neighborhood I will go out of my way to still stop by from time to time. Quite good. read more

I have been in there a couple times, i bought tuna, first time i was there the person working there said the price was actually lower, due to the fact that the owner raised the price, to drive away a customer. Next time i went in there it was about 8 dollars a lb, very very sketchy, wont buy it again read more

I love the Wine and Cheese cask! The cheese there is fantastic, and the cheese people know their stuff. I asked for a good cheese pairing for a fig compote I had made, and the woman there pointed me to the perfect cheese. A staff member in the wine section also made a great suggestion for a delicious reisling. The beer selection is good, and there is chocolate. What more do you need? read more

I haven't purchased anything other than wine, port, and chocolate from here, so I am only rating my experience with those. First of all, the place is pretty charming. Crammed little deli-like set up in the front, different rooms that feature liquors, ales, and of course, the wines. I always walk out of here with twice as much wine as I come in for. There is a great selection of half bottles which are good for tasting a variety, and when in doubt, the gentleman who tends the wine area (and from what I understand has been doing that for years) is incredibly knowledgeable, very approachable, and isn't pretentious at all. In other words, if you need help picking out a cheap wine he is just as helpful and spends just as much time with you as if you were buying an expensive bottle. I often come to him with a menu and he picks out great wines to complement. Ok, chocolate. Not a huge selection, but great choices! Cote d'Or, a personal fav, hard to find. Goes really nicely with port; oh did I mention the wall of ports and sherries?? 10 years, 30 years, it's all there. I bought a cooler bag with wheels and a long handle because of this place. read more