Acker Wines

Acker Wines is the oldest wine merchants in New York City but they are staffed with young, very gifted wine connoisseurs who not only know about wines, they also value their customers! Today I walked in looking for something special for a friend who shops there. Cliff, one of the very dedicated and long time staff members told me exactly the kinds of wines my friend loves! I was also helped by Dylan and Olivia ! While today, I was shopping for a very good friend, I’ll be returning soon to stock up on wine for myself!

Lovely shop with a fantastic selection of high-quality wines, wines from unusual places, and (importantly) wines that are neither high- nor over-priced. There are some high-priced wines, of course, but they are worth it. As other customers have noted, staff members are both knowledgeable and friendly. I look forward to visiting again soon.

Giving Acker at 5 star review because Olivia K was the most wonderful advisor. Olivia has great depth of knowledge about wine. I am a novice, but she was patient, kind and helpful which I appreciated due to past experiences with advisors who are snooty and condescending. Olivia asked questions and listened to what I like in a wine. She then helped me navigate Acker's vast wine selections to find wine that was perfect for me. I am now a budding wine collector thanks to Olivia K. Thank you, Olivia! I am looking forward to your continued assistance on my wine journey.

Super helpful staff!! I’m not highly trained in wine tasting and describing but they answered questions and gave me attentive and kind service. I’m grateful to live nearby and excited to make this my go to wine shop!

What a great, accommodating place!! I was in a pinch & needed to get holiday gifts for work colleagues. Cliff at Acker was more than helpful in finding & suggesting a Bourbon that would make the perfect gift. The prices were fair & they were more than knowledgeable. An Upper West Side staple!

I am not from the NYC area and I bid on one of there weekly auctions. It was a delightful experience. I won a lot and there communication was assume! Easy to set up payment and delivery. No issues what so every, thank you Melanie!

Tyler is great and always willing to assist me with my last-minute requests. I have been purchasing various wines from them for about a year, and the only issue I had (heat damage during shipping), was immediately addressed by the them. I returned the bottle and received a full refund. Exceptional customer service!

Purchased two very high end bottles with Acker, a DRC, and an Opus one. David was extremely helpful with having the wines sent to the restaurants I was visiting while in New York. He offered all this without hesitation and the wines were properly delivered to their respective places. Both wines were in pristine condition as well. I’m certainly going to be buying more from them in future. Thank you

I passed by this quaint wine shop and thought I would stop in to just look around. Yes, it has a rustic vibe, but I truly don't understand the negative reviews about this place. I think the trick is to ask the person who will be the most helpful in describing what you are looking for, and that for me was Yuki! She was wonderful and took the time to hear what I wanted and didn't encourage me to buy something super expensive. I like reds and ended up getting two granaches. I waited as she pulled one from the back that had sold out in the store, and as I waited she quickly went through some other ones that were popular. I did notice that some of the others that were working there were not as friendly when I walked in, so maybe that is what reviewers are referring to, but the person I talked to seemed knowledgeable and let me know about their tasting events during the week. Apparently, it's America's oldest wine store...? Didn't know that walking in but kinda cool!

After my comments were received by Acker wine auctions, the missing bottle of Montrachet was found and is being returned to me The slow reply to my emails was secondary to staff vacations Everything has been set right I am pleased with the outcome George Rice

I took a trip to Acker to find an obscure bottle that I had been looking for. Wine-searcher.com helped me locate the 2018 Guidalberto that I wanted. I rode the number 1 train to 72 St, and I walked right in .I did some browsing while the staff searched for my wine. Acker stocks many of old Barolo's and Bordeaux. This place is a real score for vino-files with deep pockets. My Guidalberto at $45 was a real bargain. It's too bad that I don't live closer, maybe I would visit more often.

Low review for completely wasting my time ... and for being nonchalant about it. Customer service here seems great if you are spending a lot of money ... but if you are looking for a single bottle, you are treated like you walked in and asked to use their bathroom because the one next door is broken. They had a certain bottle of wine I was looking for and I called in advance to ask them if they were sure it was in stock. I told them I planned to come in from across town to pick it up, so I wanted to check before I walked all the way there. He assured me that they showed 20 bottles available. I get into the store and there are three employees working there. Two are BS'ing with one customer (sounded like a regular, so I get it, good practice to fawn over a repeat customer) and the other was tapping away at the register on a computer. After about 4 minutes of standing there, I asked the computer dude who didn't look up once, if his lane was open. 'They'll help you.', he said barely looking up. Almost 10 minutes goes by since I walked in and was #2 in line and finally the regular leaves. I told them I called earlier and what I was there to pick up. They walk to the shelf where it should be and it's not there. 'I don't think we have it.', says the 'hey brah'-ish dude. Um, I just called an hour ago and you said 20 bottles. 'Yeah well, if it's not here, we don't have it' Hey Brah dude says with zero remorse. The other guy must be the one I spoke to on the phone and feeling guilty so he picks up the phone and calls 'downstairs' and asks someone to check. I'm left standing in the corner like a pariah for 8 minutes while the person below 'checks'. Nobody says a word to me while I stand there. A few minutes later, 'hey brah' dude comes over and says, 'Like I said. We probably don't have it.' as if I am an annoyance at this point. In a last ditch effort, I show him the google search which shows them saying it is in stock. He says unapologetically, ' Our system must be confused with another product.' and walks away. First of all ... a sorry, or even a sympathetic tone would go a long way. Ubers are hard to find in NYC these days, so I walked all the from Chelsea only to be treated like a nuisance for not only believing their website but calling the store and being assured it was there. (Next time, walk the 20 feet to the wall and check when a customer calls!) From a pure business standpoint, maybe apologize for not having it and offering to help me find something similar there?? 4 weeks later, the website still shows that product in stock!! I should call every day asking for them to look to see if they have it until they actually update their site. Thanks for wasting my time and giving me terrible service. Here are your two stars.

Decent selection but a terrible ordering process and terrible customer service. Maybe 2.5 stars.

Acker Merrall & Condit aka. ACER WINES is my "go to" for all of my #wine needs. If they don't carry it, it must not be that good! I love when they have tastings and events, the staff is so knowledgeable and friends that it's easy to spend time wandering around and learning about their collection. The newest addition to their boutique is LeKOOL Champagne! A Grand Crú 2012! Which is a great vintage. Acker is a high quality establishment. Go with confidence! #lekool #champagne

I contacted the auction house regarding my inherited wine cellar of spirits after 2 manhattan liquor stores told me they were the best!! My items have been stored in a basement wine cellar in optimal conditions. I was referred to Hilary Decker who was in charge of the appraisals & Auctions. I had already gotten a appraisals from the liquor store so I knew exactly the ball park range of what my items would bid for. To my dismay I received and email with super low ball bid prices. I had already been told some of my bottles were valued in the thousands. I called and emailed for an explanation, and received no call back. For that reason I decided to write this review to share my experience with poor customer service. Some of my bottles are a 1961 Moma Champagne, a 1951 Hennessy, and a 1960's Vat 69. These are just a few bottles in my collection. I hope the auction house reads this and provides me with a response.

Whenever I stop in, the staff is unresponsive and acts as though they are annoyed to be serving a retail customer. They rarely have what I am looking for (which is not a problem at their competitors 4-6 blocks away).

It's getting better and better at Acker Merrall! They're working hard to upgrade and beautify this lovely store and still keep the charm and integrity of the space. You can absolutely get some great wine there for less than $10.00 (I know, because I buy them as well as the over the $10.00 ones), but it's really nice to be able to taste the super expensive wines at their wine tastings and not have to be charged to come in for tastings (so you are forced to buy wine and liquor there) like they do at 67th Street Wine (the only wine store in Manhattan that does this, to my knowledge - they make you spend $100.00 but then you can use it to buy wine & liquor- still I don't like it and won't do it). Going to an amazing Gaya wine tasting at Acker Merrall the other day was such a great experience and education for me because I am not as familiar with Italian wines as I am with other varietals. And, again, the staff is super helpful. They've been extremely busy with the upgrade and movement of the stock and always try to accommodate everyone, even when they walk in towards closing time.

Old fashioned store that feels musty and out of date, with limited selection of interest. Inattentive customer service unless you're buying $$ wines. and even then, you have to practically drag someone over to help.

WOW! The WORST customer service ever! A tall dark, slightly overweight man (40 to 50) with glasses (his cashier code is TM) waited on me today. RUDE, and more RUDE!! 1.) He got angry when I asked him to reconfirm my understanding of the price . . . . 2.) He got angry again when I asked to see my receipt before signing off on my credit card. Don't shop here unless you are totally desperate. There are many other liquor stores in the area.

First walking in here I was taken back by the layout as I felt I was walking into a storage space. After coming here quite a few times I've gotten a hang of the way they work. I just walk up to the main counter and an employee is usually around to help. They have a wide selection of every single type of alcohol you can think of, including wine, and they have really good sales going on sometimes. They also offer to box and wrap your purchases. The one star is off due to the layout, but the staff can help you find whatever it is you may be looking for -- so be sure to ask them vs trying to find anything yourself.

I cannot believe I grew up right next to this amazing shop and never even knew it existed until after I moved away. The staff knows their wine, and rum. We stumbled upon this amazing establishment on accident, and were pleasantly surprised at their selection that seemed endless. They had a special rum tasting that I had no problem taking advantage of. The gentleman serving the tastings gave me more than I could handle. I walked away warm and heavily buzzed. The budget wines in the entrance were better than I expected, and perfect to take to a house party. They also had an awesome selection of dessert wine. I will travel to the UWS for Acker Merrall & Condit.

This UWS wine and spirits store has a great selection and delivers for free! The staff is really friendly, helpful, and so knowledgeable about the products. Salvatore has been a gem! I went in there a few months ago looking for a wine that would impress my Austrian guests. He picked out a really nice Gruner-Veltliner and my guest was really touched we had a wine from his region during dinner. Then, I went in last week needing a scotch present for a $100 price point. Without hesitation he suggested a really nice Highland for that exact price. I was in and out in 1.5 minutes. I use Acker every year for our corporate holiday gifts for a few reasons: 1. They have a great selection. 2. They offer a discount when you buy in bulk. 3. They have free city delivery. 4. They holiday wrap for free. 5. They ship outside of NYC for the cost of postage. 6. They make it easy. Keep on being awesome, guys!

I used to order cases of wine from Acker Merrall & Condit Company (AM&CC). The case was populated with wines that were fairly expensive (~$50 +) to less expensive very good values with assistance from helpful, unpretentious staff at AM&CC. I was informed by the staff as well as by reading WS, WE etc...Always felt like my business was appreciated and that they were looking to learn my palate to make future recommendations. I recently moved back to NYC and a friend was raving about a few inexpensive wines that he had purchased on recommendation from his person at Acker Merrell. So I went to Acker Merrell to purchase these wines and to possibly purchase other wines to makeup a case to be delivered to my apartment. Wow, horrible service. The person who approached me to help couldn't find the wine, when he asked a woman behind the counter she was so rude, both to him and to me, as if she couldn't be bothered for such an inexpensive wine, incidentally they had cases of it out on the floor so not sure why the woman was so coy with telling us where it was for me to make the purchase. I asked for Veuve Cliquot and also Prosecco. They showed me a few (prob less than 5 Proseccos) hidden behind the counter. Again, the woman scoffed and waved her hand in the direction of the Prosecco and continued to look at her cell phone. I have heard from others that service has slipped tremendously and clearly these reviews aren't unfounded. Not sure I will go in again to spend hundreds of dollars on wine when the people there don't value the potential of a good relationship for a regular client. Perhaps they are only hoping for clients who will spend thousands of dollars at a time. FWIW I don't think a wine shop who has built its reputation on knowledge and service should suddenly have a business model to only push high end wines; it reveals their ignorance and lack of appreciation in the full spectrum of wines from around the world and their values. Horrifying that people would be so rude and condescending.

One of the best wine shops in the UWS that many seemingly do not know about. And I am perfectly happy about that! The staff is are amongst the nicest and most patient you will find, and they are guaranteed to help you find the wine that suits your needs. Wines are fairly prices and offerings are very comprehensive for both reds and whites at any price point. Some of my favorites purchased from the shop include a bottle of Taylor Fladgate Tawny Porto (10 Years), the Chateau La Grange Clinet Cotes Du Bordeaux (2010), and a bottle of Bulleit whiskey (10 years). Happy Tasting!

Horrible. Came in here on a Saturday early afternoon looking to pick up some wine after shopping at Trader Joe's. Staff were rude, hanging behind counters instead of offering to help, choosing to help older looking whiter looking folks than a couple of younger looking (but 21+) Asians. No thank you. I can't help our good genetics. @Trader Joes - please open up a wine store here like in Union Square!!! Elsewhere just does not compare. Avoid.

Came here today with my mother to buy some wine for a party. She wanted a few reds and a few whites. I myself wanted a specific dessert wine. The Sunday manager (I believe his name is Tal) was incredibly rude to my mother and his staff. He pretty much told my mother to shut up when she asked him to help pick out some red wines and tell her some prices of the bottles which were unmarked. CHANGE YOUR MANAGER OR WE WILL GLADLY GO TO ANOTHER WINE STORE. There are plenty of wine stores on the UWS to chose from whose managers are respectful of customers. I cant speak for my mom, but I am never coming back. If you insult my mother you can kiss my business goodbye. Two stars (as opposed to one) because they ordered some wine for my father one time and the other two staff members were nice.

Literally the worst customer service I have had at any place/any time. Went in tonight and looked around for about 20 minutes. No one came and asked if I needed assistance....and they were not busy! I finally found a bottle of wine and went to pay. The man at register did not acknowledge me at all. I mean not even a hello . I paid with a credit card...not one word from the guy. Handed me my purchase. Not one word. Finally I said You're welcome. He looked shocked....yet still not a word. I really hope this place shuts down.

I was headed over to a friend's place for dinner not knowing what kind of wine they liked and not feeling like making a decision, so a guy that worked there (Harper maybe?) pointed me to a red and a white in my price range. They both sounded like crowd pleasers. Bought both. We had the white (Bellevue Touraine Sauvignon Blanc) and it was absolutely delicious. Thanks for the great help! The receipt also says the full name of the wines you purchased, which is really helpful.

Enjoy cluttered, impossible wine stores with holes in the floor and an absolutely discombobulated staff that is more interested in catering to the 1% ? Come on in! They're supposedly known for their burgundy section...well, good luck finding it. In fact, good luck finding ANYTHING in this place. Nonsensically arranged. No consistency in shelf talkers. if you like overblown Cali Cabs, they've got plenty of them. the store itself is filthy, cluttered, and looks like a hoarder has been running the place. Looks like it hasn't been cleaned in 20 years. The one redeeming quality is their whiskey and scotch selection. For as little shelf space Its too bad they're only concerned with selling (likely fake) old Bordeaux s to Hong Kong...this store could be a gem. Instead, its a dud.

Staff wasn't helpful or knowledgeable about prime offers. Went For help And came back Without answers and said this isn't my department. I will say that the staff at the checkout was wonderful

Fantastic selection and wonderful customer service. I came in looking for very specific wines for a CMS blind tasting practice and Chris was knowledgeable and helpful!

A fantastic wine store. Maybe the best in New York City, their stock is humongous, the great first growths, the great vintages, if you love the ultimate wines then you will be in heaven there. They have their full list online if you just want to spend time looking through it searching for a perfect bottle for a gift or a special gathering.

Ok so thanks to my dad I am MORE than familiar with this store. I am so happy it is still here. I remember going as a kid, so it's been here for a while, and for good reason. OVERALL the wines are on the inexpensive side... I guess that's subjective so I'll just say if you're looking for a decent bottle of wine for $15-20 come here. Plenty of choices. DISCLAIMER: I only drink white wine so I can't testify for the reds. Reds to me need to be more than $20 or they taste like vinegar to me. And let's be honest, I'm too vain to stain my teeth. Usually the staff doesn't ask you if you need help so if you have a question just ask and they are more than willing to help. Tried my first German wine thanks to the help of one of the employees who has the same taste in wine I do. Love you guys! And stay open, because this is also a childhood memory; more so than the playground.

This place is awesome (and affordable)! We came in for a few bottles and ended up doing a tasting. Salvo helped us and everyone was awesome!

Lived on uws for over 6 years and used to love this place, but I haven't been there for the past year due to terrible service. They were out of stock of this special whisky and said they would reorder for me and call when they received the shipment..1 year later and still no call. Went in yesterday and was still disappointed! Not a wide selection of wines to choose from and the guy behind the counter was watching a movie on his iPhone the entire time. Beacon is much better!!

the other day went in on Tuesday to buy a couple of bottle early morning 2 employees look at me weird thats when I snapped on them they were thinking I was so kind of low class shopper the icing on the cake is that my wife told me told me the same they are very rude low class manners .

This place is pretty great. Been coming here for years and they usually have what I'm looking for (or they can order it easily). And delivery! They even put up with my orders of cases of cheap red wine. But what, no Goldschlager?

Great selections and staff is knowledgeable as well as daily tasting which are great for someone like myself who is new to wine . They also own an offsite warehouse facility where they store many more wines so if you can find something in store they can easily order or bring it in for you.

Knowledgeable staff, well priced wines. You gotta look for their great wine selection under $10 near the front of the store. I don't know how they keep their prices down but it keeps a smile on my face. Their variety changes so it's not always the same stuff like Trader Joes will stock. Management is great and I know other wine stores have actually bought from Acker Merrall as well. They ship to Fire Island even and have frequent tastings in store. Paul (co-owner) gets a star from me too.

At last. Knowledgeable, relaxed, approachable, un-pushy staff. Wide selection of wines, smaller selection of whiskys. Both well curated.

Good selection of both wines and liquors with a decent sale bin and free wine tastings as well as other free events in-store. Not as big as others in the area but worthy nonetheless. Convenient location next to the 1/2/3 trains.

This store has a great selection and obviously a knowledgeable staff, but I think it needs to be said that the person who ended up assisting me (initials on the receipt are "HW"- I think his name was Harper) was incredibly rude. (I should've let the older gentleman who initially approached me to help as he seemed friendlier, but I ended up having the 2nd guy, HW, help me.) There is a wine that I was looking for and he looked it up and said no, it wasn't in their system. He continued to click away at the computer, and after an awkward minute and a half I realized he wasn't searching for a comparable wine but rather was doing something else. I had to ask him " Well is there anything else you recommend? ". He said yes, and then led me to some wines. During this, he seemed annoyed and curt, almost being facetious as I asked questions. I have never been treated so rudely, especially in a store where I did end up buying something. Checking out was just as cold, as he just basically tossed the receipt at me. I was initially excited about this shop as it had good reviews and the selection was good. However, after my experience this weekend I could never recommend this shop to someone in fear that they'd be treated the way I was by Harper. Not cool.

Love them. Ian is the best. great prices and fantastic choice of reasonably priced wines. You can find any wine you need here from very basic, every day wine to high-end, delicious and priced accordingly options.

Being on the UWS and having stopped for a bite to eat close by, I thought why not stop in and see this place that I've heard of for quite some time now. Being the oldest wine shop, and being acclaimed for their selection I wanted to see what they were like. When I walked in my first impression was... eh ok..... The place is kind of small and with the low ceilings it makes it feel that much smaller. The salespeople there were very nice and knowledgeable. The selection of wine was decent, the only thing I have to say is that the areas are not designated properly and sometimes you can get lost or confused on what wine you are buying and where it originated from. To me it felt a little tight and cramped and the layout of the store dies not flow well. But it does have good wine though. Oh and by the way, for all those who are wondering what wine I bought, it was Juan Gil Jumilla, a 100% Monastrell from Spain, a 2010 vintage. The wine was delicious, dark rich, deep in flavor, multiple layers which play on itself and adds more complexity the more you drink it. Would I go back?? Yea, if I am looking for a special wine I can't find anywhere else.

Awesome wines and they open up crazy wines everyday! Came in Friday and they helped me put together an excellent case and delivered an hour later for free.

Definitely the worst sales clerk I ever had. She was was so rude to me and made me feel like an idiot. Would not go back. They can keep their low prices. I will go somewhere I am treated like a person.

Wide variety of wines at great prices. The employees are knowledgeable, really friendly and excited to share suggestions !

I can't believe this place only has one review! This place is a goldmine for wine and spirits in the UWS. They have a huge selection of wines in a wide range of prices. I managed to score 4 bottle of wines (which all ended up being fantastic) for $22. $22!! Ok, so maybe I'm getting a little too excited about this because I usually get my stash from wine shops in my 'hood (the financial district) and I'm sure I'm getting ripped off. Nevertheless, if you're in the UWS or a short subway ride away from the 72nd stop on the 1/2/3 line then it's worth a trip. They also deliver for free in the surrounding neighborhood. Bonus: I confirmed with someone over the phone that they'll even deliver all the way downtown for $6.95 if there's something they carry that you can't find in your neighborhood.

Acker Merrall is my favorite wine store in the Upper West Side, if not in all of New York. It doesn't dumb down like Best Cellars, price-gouge like Beacon Wine & Spirits, or have a fussy air like Sherry-Lehmann. Simply put, they have a great selection of wine at reasonable prices with very knowledgeable salespeople. They have bottles from every wine-region, from Bordeaux and Burgundy, California and Oregon, Argentina and Chile, Australia and New Zealand, Spain and Germany, and even Greece. They have a remarkable selection of under-$10 whites, reds, and roses for everyday drinking; $10 -$30 wines in the bins for dinner parties, and considerably more expensive wine for special occasions. I have frequented the store for nearly five years, and have been always impressed with how friendly and informed the salespeople are. They can talk equally well about a under-$10 malbec as they can about a $100+ Bordeaux; they can also recommend a wine for any taste, regional, or price preference. Acker Merrall is America's oldest wine shop; it also likely one of America's finest.

The sales staff - in particular the one who so proudly stands in front of the framed Wall Street Journal article about himself - are so smug, rude and cocky that I hate to buy anything from this place. Yes, it has a good selection of inexpensive wines, but I'd rather give my business to a store where the staff actually says "Thank You" once in a while.

This is the oldest wine store in Manhattan. It has old wines, but also good choices for a picnic or kosher or sulfite-free or a Tuesday.

Decent prices and selection but the staff is rude and condescending. Avoid at all costs.

A classy wine store, with knowledgeable workers. Not only do they have budget-priced wines that aren't yellow tail (eeek) right near the entrance, but wines are divided into grape and/or country. They have a few older, more pricier, more desireable bottles, but also a generous helping of the kind of wines I buy for everyday (and I mean every day) drinking, i.e. $15-20 a bottle. The prices are not *amazing* but generally fair for the UWS. They also have a good selection of bourbon, grappa, and scotch, as well as half-bottles and dessert wines - I found a delicious Uruguayan Tannat dessert wine - which is a little unusual for the average wine shop, surprisingly. Feel free to talk to the staff, they're friendly and helpful, and knowledgeable. They'll also refer you to another member of the staff who might know more about a particular area, which I like. They also offered to order a bottle of something I was looking for (Scotch: Laphroaig Quarter Cask), which seems to be not the norm in NYC. Props for being the oldest wine store in the US!

I'm a curious man and when I came in looking for a new whiskey to try, the clerk was extremely helpful, knowledgeable and didn't try to sell me something that was more than I wanted to spend.

Half a year later this has become my first stop when looking for wine for a weekday night and special occasions. Why? Because the staff is incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful; they've never steered me wrong when I've asked for a pairing for X dish we or friends are making. (Matthew has been especially helpful recently, but they all know what they're talking about.) And because they have such a thoughtfully chosen selection in all price ranges, and are usually less expensive than at the many know-nothing stores in the neighborhood.

Very nice selection of wines, all kinds of variety & all price ranges. Staff is helpful. Easy to get to, a block from the 72nd subway.

Good selection, knowledgable, has the cheapest wines you could want, and the most expensive. In terms of the more "affordable" wines, they can go as low price as you want, but their selection isn't the best. If you wanna spend under $20 on a bottle, then don't go here. Otherwise, go here.

I understand that space is at a premium in Manhattan, but this particular store is very tiny and the selection is small. It is chosen with care, however, and that makes a difference. Prices are reasonable. Go to their internet site for some really serious wines, they are one of the larger wine merchants in the whole country!