Not only does Astor Wines & Spirits have one of the largest selections of wines and liquors in the City, but they also have sales representatives who are extremely knowledgeable as to the wine and liquor carried. The store itself is huge, to the point where it can be overwhelming at times due to the vast selection of alcohol. However, the store is also organized extremely well. The wines are organized by region. There are also areas for wines under ten dollars, sparkling wines, etc. At the end of each aisle you can typically find wines that are on sale at that time. Towards the back of the store is the liquor section, which is organized by the type of liquor you are looking for (i.e. - vodka, tequila, etc.). I am not a huge sake person, but they also have a great sake selection from what I have been told.
As I mentioned, the sales representatives are extremely helpful and know what they sell and know it well. At my most recent trip to Astor Wines & Spirits, I was looking for a red sparkling wine that was dry rather than sweet, and not a Rose. The sales representative I asked led me to a whole section that was devoted to sparking red wines. He then proceeded to explain each that was available to me and match me with one he thought suited what I wanted. He even said to let him know how it was because they would explore additional dry red sparkling wines if it was too sweet! The wine that he recommended was great and it was exactly what I was looking for that day.
In past trips, I have been looking for good vodka to match with bloody mary's and they hit the nail on the head with their recommendation (for anyone wondering - Absolut Vodka makes a "Peppar" vodka that helps to make a superb bloody mary). They have a unique boxed wine section too that has a lot more than your typical boxed wines. The sales representatives really know the wine and liquor that Astor Wines & Spirits carry and do not hesitate to give a recommendation when asked. I have yet to be disappointed in any recommendation received - wine or otherwise.
Astor Wines & Spirits also has frequent "free tastings" where you can try the type of wine and/or liquor they are serving that day. Another bonus, they have a great online database as well (www.astorwines.com). On the website you can check out their "wine of the month clubs" or view their upcoming events and scheduled tastings. On the website, you can also search their inventory by a bunch of different factors, including: color, grape variety, price range, vintage year, region - to name just a few.
In addition to Trader Joe's Wine Shop located near Union Square, Astor Wines & Spirits is my go to alcohol store when I am looking for reasonable prices, a unique selection, and helpful recommendations.
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