Solomon W.
Yelp
The Austin Wine Merchant has been around for quite some time, and it offers a fantastic selection for anyone looking to dig into the grape-based beverages for an evening of wine time for the best time of your life time. I coined that phrase from someone--look it up.
Not offering too much fanciness, the quarters are tight, and the old-school decor keeps the space nice and quaint. It is chilly, but for good measure; you'd rather have your cellar cold than hot, no?
The staff is extremely knowledgeable here, and though some of the employees have similar taste, they know what they are talking about when they refer you over to a specific varietal or aisle or price point.
In terms of non-fermented grape liquids, there is a small beer selection, and the liquor could use some fine-tuning. All in all, I found that the wine was well... what the Wine Merchant was best for. No knock on the booze or piss-water though--I came for wine, and I left with wine.
You would do well to check out this longstanding 6th street shop made for wine-o's. I know traffic here sucks and parking can be a mess, but do give it a shot if you are at all intrigued by local wine shops. Spec's is great, but it isn't the same idea as shopping local! Spec's is from Houston, mind you.