Great selection, warm and knowledgeable team that always has great recommendations. Both locations are wonderful.

I wish DC had a Wine Thief! We stopped by to grab some wine bottles as a thank you gift for friends. They had recommendations for exactly what we were looking for, and in multiple price ranges. They also beautifully gift-wrapped the bottles if asked! We glanced around a bit while they were being wrapped and the gentleman manning the store was able to answer all of our questions, and with honesty. There's more than wine -- we had our eyes on some local craft beer and some botanical gins. Next time :) Oh, and the wine was an absolute hit with our gift recipients! read more

Not a "find it all" type liquor/wine store, but very curated. They might not have 70 tequilas, but the 15 or so that they have are all excellent. Love going to their tastings on weekends. Staff are always super friendly. read more

Great selection of wines. I wish they had less flavored lagers that tasted like peanut butter and more milk stouts. Great selection of hard liquor. Some of the staff is really nice; some of the staff really isn't. Like deliberately high school mean. And they're all in their twenties. High school is over. I try to be nice, but...no dice with these people. As a result, I think I'll be going someplace else. But overall, a good place in East Rock. p.s. Don't bring your dog. They say they're dog friendly because apparently they have dog treats behind the counter? They're not. I saw a woman bring her puppy, and she was treated so meanly by the mean high school posse. It was really sad and uncomfortable to see. read more

Cute, fun, no-frills wine store with lots of delectable options to choose from. The decor and set-up is simple, and there are no signs to give personalized reviews about the wines, but there are people there to help, and they definitely know their wine. Small selection of beer in the back, as well. Prices are maybe a smidgen above average for the same bottles, but I'd pay the dollar or two extra to keep this around the neighborhood. Parking on the street is a cinch! read more

Perhaps someone can relate to this... My relationship with the Wine Thief (Whitney Ave Location) is like the one you have with a friend, or even acquaintance, who introduces you to a really hot girl (or guy) that you end up dating and experiencing one of the greatest romances ever. The Wine Thief played cupid to me and the Berkshire Brewing Co beer. So I will forever be grateful to them. I love going in and simply say what we are cooking that night and have them throw out suggestions. Hardly ever a miss. As for the people, as good as it gets. Always helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. If the place is empty, they're always up for small talk, which makes me want to stay and pop a bottle. I like the other location as well... but this one, smaller and with less selection, is dear to me. read more

The Wine Thief - the front of the store - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

I love this place. I have many fond memories of starting my journey into the world of wine tasting here. The owners are super nice and helpful, and their selections are always top notch. there is a reason why The Wine Thief has won 'Best of New Haven' ten years in a row. And, in case you are wondering, a Wine Thief is 'A wine thief is a glass or food-grade plastic pipette used in the process of wine making. It may be anywhere from 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 centimeters) in length and may have a bend near one end. The wine thief is used to remove a small amount of wine from a cask, carboy, or other fermentation device for testing.' (Source: wikipedia) read more

So, you can visit the other Wine Thief reviews from their other location to get the same impression. This shop is amazing. I've been in New Haven for 4 full days now, and this shop has now become my beacon on my walk home from work. It is the kind of place where you walk down the aisle and spend time looking at every bottle, knowing that each one was ordered with purpose. The shelving system provides an easy assay of region, price, and grape variety. My budget sticks me on bottom shelf pricing, but the options have been incredible and very unique. It's nice to see beer cases that don't even bother with the Coors and Miller. Perhaps this kind of shop is more common to New Haven than I realize, but regardless.. love. read more

Loved this place! The staff were incredibly helpful, and they had a huge, unique collection of wine, all at reasonable prices. Worth a visit! read more

Over priced. Poor selection. Spirits are 40% more expensive than Total Wine. The store does not provide a receipt for purchases. Is it legal? read more

The staff are friendly and helpful- they really love their wine. Their stock: moderately priced and tasty- simply divine! read more

Lovely, thoughtfully curated selection of wine! More than anything, this location is remarkable for its truly spectacular, generous people. They are, unequivocally, the best. Whether they are recommending a rose that pairs well with seafood, recounting global adventures, or supplying us with moving boxes (!!) the staff is exceptional. read more

I'm lucky enough to live nearby, so I drop into Wine Thief all the time. The Whitney Ave location is on the small side, but they have more than enough selection to meet your needs (provided you're not looking for a 30-rack). I've never had a bad experience with wine I bought from the wine thief. They have great wines at any price range, their staff are very knowledgeable and they always ready to help. They have an interesting beer selection too, lots of local and more exotic brews. read more

Fabulously friendly staff who will always ask and give great advice if you need it. Good solid selection of wines, beers, liquors etc. One time we were looking for a particular type of cider from the uk, which they didn't stock but they did go out of their way to check if there was a possibility of them getting it in. read more

After looking on Yelp for package stores in the area I decided to give The Wine Thief a try. The layout of the store was a little crammed and confusing. However, the staff were helpful and informative. Wish they had a wider variety of chilled whites. Also, I couldn't find much in the lines of 1.75L bottles. Wasn't looking for anything too fancy. Just a bottle large enough to host a few friends. Definitely a nice shop, just not sure if it's the right one for me. read more

My personal opinion is that the people Make this store the success that it is. Yes, I am almost always able to find even the most obscure things when I want them (i.e. Brennivin from Iceland) but it is the well spoken, knowledgeable, polite and invariably friendly people who work at and manage the store that cause me to return. It's just a simple pleasure to go in there. In my experiences their prices are always fair and often a bargain. read more

A large selection of wines, especially French wines. They also carry some pretty good Argentinian and Chilean wines. Price is fair. However, the staff is not much helpful when it comes to guide you on choosing a wine bottle. read more

Always an impressive selection of wine and craft beer, and service is above and beyond. Online ordering is a breeze. Today I placed an order for partial ingredients for a Manhattan. They called me to confirm my order because they figured out what I was trying to make and wanted to make sure I didn't make a mistake and was disappointed when I picked up my order. I am so impressed by their attention to detail and initiative, but not surprised since I have always gotten great recommendations from them in the past. read more

This place has stole my wine loving heart. I'm thrilled that its only about a stones throw from my home, but if I'm driving home the street parking is free and super easy on Whitney. But I digress, I do enjoy my wine. And this place is perfect. Nice staff who instantly ask what you are looking for when you walk in. They will match to your mood, what your doing (moving in & unpacking on a hot August eve -- scored a nice light bubbly number for a mere $8 that was awesome), or whatever your cooking. Pretty sure this will be a regular stop during my tenure here in New Haven. Delighted I found it right when I moved in and looking forward to getting more tailored wine suggestions for me. Definitely stop in here to grab a lovely bottle of vino, even if you're on a budget! read more

Great wine collection and a friendly knowledgeable staff. Decent craft beer selection too, although, they were mad sketch when I asked of they stocked Gandhi-Bot. Lol. Good place... check them out! read more

I was visiting a friend on Willow Street and needed a bottle of wine for a dinner party later that evening. She brought me to The Wine Thief and the staff was so friendly and attentive, they helped me pick out an affordable, beautiful wine. read more

OK, so wine stores. Intimidating at times, because there is a lot out there, and if you get the wrong one, you look like a dick. I didn't make the rules, I'm not a player, I just crush a lot. And one way to do that is to get the experts to pick you out something. And when I say they can pick the bottle, I mean it. Seriously go into the Wine Thief and tell them about your dinner party, your back yard shindig, your christmas party, whatever. With a little detail on what you're looking for, or what you want it for, these guys will show you to what you want, from wine, beer, I've had grappa and ports suggested. And everyone of them was a home run. Good value for money here, and they really know what they're talking about. Excellent shop. read more

I must share my experience with The Wine Thief after I posted my negative review about their service. The manager contacted me, apologized, and offered a gift certificate. I did not expect any of this. After our conversation, I must change my opinion and say that this business does care about all their customers. I believe they do their best in making sure that everyone who enters their store enjoys the experience. Thanks for reaching out. read more

Seriously fantastic. We went in on a Saturday night...I was looking for a nice sauvignon. I figured they would just point to the appropriate shelf. NOT SO! The wonderful gentleman (I did not get his name) walked us over and asked us what we were looking for- I explained. He reviewed the shelves and suggested a couple different ones-priced very reasonably. He knew his wine. Then, as we were checking out,we got into a conversation about CT wineries and LI wineries. He was discussing the various price points and how some of the CT wines are overpriced. Then he mentioned that they also have CT made vodka and brandy. He asked us if we would like to try some. Ummm..Hell yeah I would! The CT made vodka was 21 dollars and seriously smooth (I forget the name). We ended up also buying a bottle of raspberry brandy for my brother in law. I am kicking myself for not walking into this store sooner. Mt Carmel can be helpful--but they are more stuffy. Amity is huge--and often cannot help with wine specifically. In fact, after going here--I want to knock off stars at other places. This is THE store that all other wine stores should try to be. Side note---The gentleman was spot on about the New Zealand Sauv Blanc---It was minerally with a grapefruit note. I can't wait to go back and ask what else they recommend. read more

Good selection and a fun staff make the wine thief the place to shop beer, wine, and spirits in New Haven. The have a very decent range of old world and organic wines. read more

Although I'm not a wine guy, beer for me, this little place is great. The staff is the most friendly and helpful you'll ever come across in any kind of store. And being a beer lover, i.e., no Budweiser please, I love trying out new brews. They always have obscure stuff you wont come across elsewhere. I also love how the beers are arranged by style within the fridge even though they are not labeled that way. For instance, all the IPA's are bundled up together. Prices are a tad high but you get what you pay for. The only reason I give it four stars instead of five is because of the small area devoted to beer. I know, I know, the place is the named the Wine Thief but it'd be nice to have a little more brew room. Highly recommended. read more

What an incredibly knowledgeable staff! Helpful, but not pushy or annoying, and able to talk the talk to those who can follow, and explain complicated ideas to those who have no clue (me). I love that they're also honest when they don't know, and happy to refer you to another staff member who might know more about a particular genre of alcohol. I've always gotten wonderful recommendations from the array of boozes they carry. Yay! read more

These guys are lovely and they run a tight ship. Come with an idea and they'll help you out.

This is my favorite place to buy wine in New Haven. The workers here are very friendly and offer helpful suggestions

Always can count on the best recommendations from this place. You may want to bring a notepad to write down their descriptions so you can sound smart with your friends later. Tastings are hit or miss but fun. Cannot recommend this place enough read more

I appreciate when the staff knows their products & they didn't disappoint. Offered suggestions and didn't try to sell me something that didn't meet my tastes and wallet. I'll be back again to hear more about their eclectic wine selection! Thanks guys...see you soon. read more

Like everybody else on Yelp, I'm a huge fan of the Wine Thief. (Their other location is also very good, but this one's closer to me.) It's open later than almost EVERYTHING else in East Rock, for one thing, and the atmosphere is always really friendly--it feels the way a neighborhood store should. Of course, they also have a selection of good and affordable wines. Plus, once I tied my dog outside so I could go in, and a staff member noticed and said I should bring her in next time, because they're big dog people. Come on, you've gotta love that. read more

I always get great recommendations from the staff at the Wine Thief. Not a regular because I don't drink much but they always help me pick great things for dinners + parties. The other week I went in just before they closed (aaagh!) and they told me they were closing but still were able to recommend a red quickly that went down well at the dinner I went to. Highly recommended, especially for any wine novices like me. Just tell them and they'll hook you up. read more

great wine and liquor selections as well as cold white wines and specialty beers. they have a rotating selection of wines including reds, whites and dry roses. they have a mind knowledge staff. the place is pretty small and a little cramped sometimes. the price range of all their offering is really good and affordable. read more