Sara C.
Yelp
Time was, your wine options in Fort Greene and/or Clinton Hill were a motley assortment of ghettofabulous "lickah stoh" type establishments which carry only boring stuff like Goats du Roam and Yellowtail, or Greene Grape. Greene Grape hands down, every time.
Then a few other wine shops started opening up. First there was Thirst Wine Merchants, on Dekalb. Now there's Gnarly Vines, on Myrtle. Both of which are closer to my place and/or more convenient to the subway (for last minute dinner party pickups or stopping in on the way home).
But a loyal customer I shall remain. Greene Grape didn't even have to step up its game when those other guys came to the Hill -- it just kept on being the best wine store around.
The most important distinction is organization. Greene Grape is perfectly set up for browsing. Wines are separated and clearly demarcated by broad region, and then broken down quite organically within that section (reds, whites, different sub-regions or major varietals). If I'm thinking of an Alsatian white, I know exactly where in the store to go.
Secondly, they just plain old have a really awesome selection of very unique wines that are difficult to find elsewhere, which makes for great shopping for a party or a gift. Very easy to impress with most of these wines. A large number of their wines are organically grown, environmentally and/or culturally sustainable, and at the very least are from small family owned vineyards. And yet still very good -- I don't think I've ever been disappointed with anything there.
The prices are also great - especially like the small bargain rack near the door with wines under $10. Because sometimes you just want to grab a couple bottles of a basic, drinkable Cotes du Rhone and call it a night. And they get that.
Their tastings are very laid back, and incredibly well curated. I've discovered some very surprising wines this way.