On my way to a friend's home, I needed a great bottle of wine and a quick GPS search brought up Wine Cellars of Annapolis. Just a few minutes away. Easy choice. Tucked off the road in a small shopping center, so much that I thought I made a wrong turn. The sky opened up as I was pulling in so I sat in the car and waited for the storm to pass. When the rain let up just enough, I made a run for the awning and went inside. The wine cellar is attached to a wine bar, and I can already see how easy it would be to stop in for a glass and an appetizer while you figure out what you want. Putting that on the list for next time. What I will say is the store is more than just the first area you walk into. Take a right down a small open hallway and you find more selections with some discounted bottles and some great buys worth exploring. Four people working inside and one came over as I began to look around. She asked if I needed help finding anything and I asked where the pinot noirs and cabs were. Her first question back was where from? I was a little taken back since I usually like to browse by region once I get to the section. I asked for suggestions instead. Her next question really sent me. What is your pricing point? I threw out $20 and she pointed me to a few lower shelf selections that other people said were good. WOW! I took pictures of her suggestions for reference and pulled up Claude to help me make my own find that did not limit me to what others thought based on my pricing point. I made my selection and checked out. Tap to pay made it a breeze. While I was there, I noticed another customer come in and a different helper suggested wine based on taste and not pricing point. That contrast said everything. I did stop to grab the small bottle of bourbon sitting at the register since I do love bourbon and it is not normally a cheap liquor. Decent but not as memorable as others I have had. The Juggernaut red blend I selected was $20 and fine for the night. Not my favorite but did the job. Later at my friend's home I shared my experience. She is a luxury event planner and her, and her mom have hosted countless events for politicians and community leaders at their waterfront property. Their experience at Wine Cellars of Annapolis was similar to mine. Shocking for sure! A store this close to waterfront properties that host high end events should be the first call for every bottle on that table. That is a missed opportunity that matters. While this place has potential, leading with pricing point over taste cuts off the opportunity to help a customer expand their palate beyond what they can remember their last bottle cost. That is the kind of guidance that builds loyalty and brings people back. A cellar worth gathering at starts with how you make people feel when you walk in and that still needs some work here. read more

This is the nicest wine shop I have been in so far since moving to MD. It is clean, spacious, and the staff were very friendly! They greeted me right away, explained everything, and even carried my basket of wines to the register for me as I shopped for one last bottle. I loved the wine barrels all around that gave a winery feel, and they had a fairly expansive array of domestic and international wines. read more

Poor curation of wine selection distracts from the friendly helpful staff and weekend wine tastings. Reading their weekly flyer every wine they sell is promoted as the "best on earth" wine. In reality much of their wine, especially at the $20+ a bottle price point is a very poor value. They have cozy relationships with a few distributors/negociants and promote a lot of their very mediocre wine. I was a good customer throughout the pandemic when cases of cheap wine were essential to life, but then realized after buying many of their featured wine selections, that they didn't have a very good QPR (quality/price ratio). i.e. they weren't a good value for the money. So I am no longer a customer. I would advise anyone thinking about buying here to do your homework and check out the online wine reviews. Stay away from anything with no reviews and read between the lines when you do find reviews. Most wine reviewers are reluctant to say anything really bad about the wines they review, and keep in mind that grade inflation has long ago permeated wine reviewer ratings. read more

They get 4 Pinocchio's on wine pricing. Just about everything has a regular price marked and well as a "sale" price. Unfortunately, their regular prices are not real and their "sale" prices are higher than you would pay elsewhere. Carry your cellphone to price check when shopping. Why try to deceive customers? The associated restaurant Grapes is fine except for their so called "happy hour" wine garden. You can get a $5 glass of wine (6 choices) but all food items are regular price. Menu actually stated cheeses for cheese plate were $4 each, but we were told that menu was outdated, and price was $5 each. We were only customers there and server seemed bother that they had to come out to wait on us. Will not return. Go to Blackwall Hitch for happy hour, and you'll be a lot happier. read more

This place rocks. Amazing selection!! They also have a tasting section with discounted wines. You can actually taste most of these wines before you purchase. WOW! Many selections in the discounted section priced between $12 -$20. The staff is very knowledgeable and has always helped me pick out great selections. Many I have never heard of but I love picking out a wine I have not tried and having it be perfect. I am the designated wine selector for every Thanksgiving and Christmas family gathering. I purchase wine for 25 to 40 relatives. Most of them are self proclaimed experts in wine, so the pressure is on. They think I rock, really now the credit goes to Wine Cellars of Annapolis for making all of my wine selections a happy event for my big family. You must check this place out. They expanded their store and also offer cheese, pasta and some imported beer. They sell spirits which are displayed in the front of the store near the register. Get on their email list for all the information about tastings and price specials, you will not be disappointed. read more

I love the fact that these guys at Wine Cellar are friendly and helpful. Not a big surprise since they're connected to the awesome Tastings Market where you can get baguettes and cheese to go with your wine. There are a lot of higher end wines here- fine and dandy but I'm perfectly happy with a great $10 bottle of wine too. Good thing they have a few along with several that are always on sale. read more

Great sparkling wine selection. Had just what I needed. Good prices. I appreciate the staff suggesting their most popular wine.

Very knowledgeable staff! I walked in and needed a bottle for a specific occasion and I was greeted right away and given excellent advice on some french reds. Thank you!!!! read more

Just like they would never steer you wrong in a bottle of wine, they will also not steer you wrong on BOXED wine! If you need to go for quantity without sacrificing quality, their selection of box wines are limited, but they are all good! Maybe do a boxed wine tasting? read more

Wine Cellars of Annapolis - a wine shop - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

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The best place to buy wine with knowledgeable Matarrita, wine tastings and grapes wine bar/ bistro adjacent, as well as gourmet cheese..

I don't live far from Wine Cellars but would travel to come here! This is the best place to get your wine, at least those that care even a little bit about quality. The staff is A+, always there to check in and offer advice/recommendations without hounding you or following you around. They're always doing something but take time to ask how its going and whether you need any help. The wine selection is amazing. The offer detailed explanations about a lot of their offerings so us novice folks understand what we're getting. They buy in bulk and from smaller vineyards, giving you access to high-quality and unique options. And usually at a discounted price! Hungry for more, its attached next to a wonderful restaurant...but thats another review! :) read more

Great selection and extremely knowledgeable staff. Need a recommendation for a good pairing with the meal planned? Done! Want to build your meal around recommendations to pair with the wine you fell for at the regular Saturday wine tasting? They have you covered there too. The barrel room provides helpful tasting notes for each of the wines and you are always sure to get the right level of guidance you want/need, whether you are a wine expert or a total novice. read more

This is a great store that I've been going to for years. Great service. I always appreciate the recommendations of staff on wine, the wine tastings, and the many specials offered. read more

It's always a treat to find that wine store where the staff knows EXACTLY what they have, what it goes with, and has a story for every bottle in the place. When the place is as big as Wine Cellars of Annapolis, though, it's flat-out amazing. It's not Corridor (the local Wal-Mart of booze) but it's certainly not a lotto-selling hole in the wall either. It's very well laid out, decorated, and stocked to the gills with rotten grape juice. The staff here is incredibly knowledgeable and active in the wine world. They travel, taste, buy, and bring back some fantastic finds, many of them bargains. Go in, talk to them, and you'll come away with something that you will enjoy. While the bulk of their stock is wine, there are some spirits available. In terms of the scotch and whisky selection, they were just as knowledgeable as they were about the wine. Note -- I didn't see any beer but I wasn't particularly looking. read more

I wanted my first Yelp review to be about a business I really love--and here it is, my local, neighborhood wine shop. Easy enough to bike to so that I can shove a six-pack and a cab-sryah in my bookbag without breaking a sweat. Wine Cellars is the perfect place for newbie or wanna-be wine lovers due to the rotating selection (and cornucopia of regular favorites) of every wine you'd need. WC has free tastings every weekend hosted by wine distributors and owners who can tell you more about the wine than you would ever care to know. Although... when I'm buzzed on wine I'm tasting I tend to be more interested than usual. Let's not forget that the staff is always friendly and very knowledgeable as well. The Barrel Room features the el cheapo wine that my partner and I always gravitate to immediately upon entering--that and the always delicious wine of the week or wine of the month. Many of the BR wines are open for tasting 7 days a week. And possibly the best part--the little signs that hang over top of the BR wines. They describe (in alarming detail) the wines themselves in order to help you decide what you're interested in, usually something to the effect of: "A wine with subtle hints of chocolate, apples, red velvet cake, and 3 day-old honey poured from a blue mason jar around 3:00 PM." Again, alarming detail. If you want delicious wine--come to Wine Cellars, and give me a call! read more

My first 5 star rating for any place reviewed, and this one truly deserves it. Ditto the accolades of previous yelpers. I love to drink wine but am not a wine snob. So I appreciate the casual, patient, unpretentious staff. Plus, you don't even have to ask for help, someone is always ready to take your purchase to your car. A very nice plus. Besides selection, presentation is very important. Often times I will walk into a wine/liqour store and it will take me a long time to figure out where anything is. Wine Cellar's methods of organizing and displaying their wines keeps my head from spinning and makes my wine choosing a fun and enjoyable experience. The barrel room is the best. I've never bought anything there that I haven't enjoyed, and the prices cannot be beat. It's sure nice to support a local place that's also a star in its field. A win win for everyone. read more

Wow wow wow! Maybe I live in a crappy wine store area, but this is like the Mecca of all wine stores to me. They're doing it right. Went for a double wine tasting day which actually ended up more like a triple wine tasting day. House wines were available, another winery was there giving samples and they picked out a bunch of different wines from around the store for another tasting area. Few things make me happier than being buzzed before noon on a Saturday! They have a wine bar on one end of this huge store and a specialty cheese shop on the other end. I went on a day that they had cheese tastings as well. All the cheeses were well developed and so different. The staff in the wine section of the store were incredibly knowledgeable about their wines and adorably funny...or maybe that was the wine! They have a vast inventory and were able to make a range of suggestions based on my favorites from the tasting. There is absolutely nothing bad I can say about this store. I wish I could live there! read more

I called the store last minute to get a gift basket created and delivered. Dawn was more than helpful and she worked with Tastings Gourmet to create and deliver an amazing gift basket. The recipient loved the gift! This is definitely my go to wine store for Annapolis, thanks for all your help! read more

Wine Cellars is amazing! They have a FREE wine tasting every Saturday from 12-4 and a very helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable staff. This place is great if you want to learn more about different types of wines. They have a wide range of wines from around the world, and different wines on sale every month. Their website is also great, including a "Recipe of the Month" to go with a selected wine. Attached is a small cheese and bread shop which has delicious bread! Wine Cellars is a great place to learn about and drink great wines on a Saturday afternoon. read more

Amazing store. Everyone do lnowledgeable and the service whether you buy a $10 bottle or a $1000 bottle. And dont miss Grapes! Wonderful food!! read more

I actually went to a cheese tasting next door and Wine Cellars was having a tasting as well. Now I am no wine connoisseur, but there seems to be a large selection. The customer service is outstanding and I love that they offer tastings on a regular basis. They even sent me a handwritten note in the mail thanking me for my business! Love that. read more

Pretty dope spot to wine and dine or just get your wine to go. The folks are friendly and professional and knows their wines. The selections are really good plus they do have events and free wine testing every saturday AFAIK. read more

This is a charming location that has a fantastic selection, helpful staff and a fun ambiance. They frequently have wine tastings and are a great option to see the seasonal selections! read more

The staff is very knowledgeable and helpful. Julien special ordered two distinctly different wines for me and I was able to pick them up two days later, at a very reasonable price I might add. The only down side is I live 40 minutes away. read more

Great selection of wines, very knowledgeable and friendly staff, and lots of wine tasting events. Can't wait to try the Grapes Wine Bar.

Love this place! Staff is always helpful. Great selection of wines. Good place to pick up a quick present, they will wrap the bottle for you! read more

The end of an era... I have bought my mother a case of wine for Christmas from this establishment for many years....often ordering it from California. Previously I have had friendly , accommodating, attentive service. Not today...while Kristy was friendly and attentive, both of her managers were arrogant, condescending, and borderline rude. I attempted to order some special wine for a dinner party, but was treated like a deadbeat by the manager who insisted on having my credit card in hand first... When I asked if I could taste another wine they had been sampling the day before as a possible substitute , I was flatly told no. I spend thousands of dollars on wine every year... But won't be spending any of it here anymore. I don't know if this place changed ownership, but my mom and I left here feeling terrible and called back and cancelled our order.... Need to work on customer service, big time! Never again. read more

This is a great establishment with a large selection of wines across the spectrum of prices. They also carry a wide variety of quality brandies, whiskeys, and other alcoholic beverages. The staff is very friendly and responsive to questions and requests for special orders. The store location is excellent as it is located adjacent to a fine foods delicatessen where one can shop for an amazing variety of items. It is a sort of one stop shopping experience. read more

I've never had my legal totally valid Id rejected since I got it at the mva in 2006, but that didn't stop the staff and manager from not allowing me to purchase one of there wines.if you have scuff marks on your id you might want to go to bay ridge instead, where they keep it real and can tell the difference between a 20 year old and a 30 year old. read more

The food is excellent, however the service is hit or miss. Water & bread guy very good, waitress barely knew we were there - until time for the check. Food 4-5 stars, service 1 star at best. read more

I was in the area yesterday and went for a quick bite. The staff was very helpful and I got a great sandwich fresh made that had my mouth watering for more I will return in the near future to checkout the wine selection . read more

Nested between a wine bar and a cheese shop you could really make a one stop shop for preparations on a nice evening with friends or a romantic evening with your special someone. I have to say I was impressed at their beer selection as well as there range of wines from great table selections to very high end gift or age worthy. They offer wine tasting events. read more

Stopped by looking for wine. Was approached by some lady Dawn. Totally rude and only said what do you need. No hello..how can I help you nothing!!!! Much better service from the folks at Bay Ridge right down the street! read more

Great place to start off your Saturday. Enjoy complimentary tastings from around the world from 11-4. Staff is knowledgeable and friendly. Reasonably priced wine to meet all occasions...from sipping on the porch to romantic dinners. If you can't make Saturday tasting, the "barrel room" is always available for tastings as well. The best wine store that we've ever been to. read more

The best customer service. Vern went above and beyond for me. I will be referring them!!

I see the other reviews and perhaps I just caught the staff on a bad day. Felt they were rude and impatient which was odd since the place wasn't even busy. read more

My husband and I love this store. Not only is it well organized, clean and full of helpful staff but their mixed cases are full of gems.

I went into the Wine Cellars of Annapolis on 12/1. I have a vertical license (I am over 21!) and the cashier did a bunch of double takes on it. He then called over another worker to "make a decision on this" and I was treated very rudely and was told in a very brusque manner that they weren't going to sell me anything. I understand that you don't have to sell to me, but that is no excuse to treat me so inhumanely. and I encourage others to avoid this store. read more