Uva Wines & Spirits

Impressed by the selection of this little store, we were able to find the wines we were looking for. They have a great selection of both wines and spirits in a pretty compact and efficient space. Prices seemed competitive, we were in other stores in Williamsburg that were pricier than here. Recommended.

The guy working there was being aggressive and shouting at his dog who he had tied up at the door of the shop. The dog is very friendly and seemed scared. I love a wine shop with a dog but I couldn’t buy anything here after that

Never thought I'd be reviewing a liquor store, especially considering I'm only visiting NYC, but this place was something. First thing that hits you is the odor, which is so pronounced. The bearded dude, who seems to be the manager/owner, kept staring at me with the meanest look and was straight up rude. Do yourselves a favor and go to New fine wines and spirits down the street.

It's pretty expensive for what it is, kind of across the board from what I could see. Also to me as a Jewish guy, it is pretty messed up that they sell wine from the Golan Heights which is occupied territory. It feels like buying Vichy cheese or whatever. It does also smell kinda weird and this one guy with a beard who works there was rude. Those two things I guess could just be explained by the guy or the manager having a bad day, but with the other systemic problems above it feels fair to mention.

Incorrect Deliveries: Customers have reported receiving the wrong products, such as a $13 bottle of Pinot Noir instead of a $50 bottle of champagne.  • Poor Customer Service: Many users have experienced unresponsive or unhelpful customer support, with some stating that their issues remained unresolved despite multiple attempts to contact the company. • Shipping Delays: There are accounts of significant delays in order deliveries, sometimes missing important occasions like birthdays or holidays.

I have been going here for a while and they have friendly service. I go for one wine in particular. But I was disappointed Friday when I stopped in and they don’t carry Stolpman love you bunches Rose anymore :/ Hope they bring it back

bad customer service and the place smells like cigarettes and dogs. I don't recommend walking through the doors of this establishment let alone spend more than 10 seconds in this place if you like clean air when walking into a shop

If you are Muslim or Arab presenting in any way, avoid this place. This dude Ben really seems to have something against us. Also, the place removed my review last time.

Great variety and decent prices considering other wine shops in the neighborhood. Great location to select a wine after visiting Whole Foods

Have purchased a few bottles of wine here on occasion when in the area visiting friends for dinner. Decent selection, variable price ranges, staff was helpful enough but didn't go out of their way. Works in a pinch if you just want to grab a bottle and head out if it's on your way to wherever you're going.

Under the new management - it is a totally different shop! Incredible wine selection, great pricing, and now they carry Spirits too! So glad it's back to being a real wine store again. Customer service is exceptional, 5 stars all around!

New management. Great selection of brands from small boutique natural wine to big hitters like macallan and 1800 tequila. They have everything for everyone. Highly recommend this place

Overpriced and the employee said, "it's ok not to wear a mask i here. We don't support sleepy Joe." Defying mask mandate in a major urban area is not patriotism, it's stupidity. Poor selection of spirits anyway. It was easy to walk in and walk out. Negative stars for this place.

What happened to this place? In earlier days of Williamsburg, it still had a distinct bro vibe (not a compliment in my book) but they were helpful, instructive, and well-stocked. In the last few years, they've gotten more attitudinal with less and less--this is going to sound weird--pride in their stock and inventory. The last few times I've been there, prices haven't been listed for a lot of the stock (aka no visible signs) and people working there have acted super put upon when asked about prices or recommendations. I know working any kind of customer service during Covid is really stressful but at this point the place feels like a front of some sort. As in--they can't really be seriously trying to sell anything. Out of some misguided loyalty, I've remained a customer but I think I'm finally....done.

New management - highly improved from the previous owners. Great selection and location right on Bedford.

They don't stock what they say they have on their website. They put you on hold and forget about you. If you finally get an ambivalent worker there to deign to talk to you, they don't really know much and don't try and find a solution. Go to D.O.C. on Broadway and Bedford, or Bottle Shoppe on Bedford and S 1st St. They know their stuff, they have a wide range of prices actually in stock, they are nice and helpful, and still have their souls.

I went in with a positive energy, and asked a simple question about miniature wine packages: This younger guy with curly long hair and glasses replied with force: " No this is all we got" He points at for the mini bottle that was in view on the coun, and gave my card, and he snatched it out of my hand. No eye contact and throwing my card on the counter with my hand reached out to retrieve it. Racist and horrible experience in 50 seconds at most: I will never step foot inside that wine shop ever again.

I am into this place - best wine store in Williamsburg for me. Great selection of European joints without being overwhelming - also very up on the funky natural stuff which I love. Appreciate that i'm not smothered when entering - but have a friendly and knowledgeable staff when needed. Always have the jams playing as well - imagine the staff of Empire Records is running a wine store. Not sure about the bad reviews - must be dummies/wine trolls!

Bought a champagne here and it's corked. Emailed them 5 times what they could do with that bottle. Still no answer in 2 weeks. Shame on your customer hospitality!!!

Rude and snobby. My husband told me to never come here, he's from Europe where drinking wine is like drinking water. There's no snobbery. Wine is good so you drink it, simple. Well I did it anyway, perhaps he was mistaken I thought. No one greeted me when I entered No one asked me if I needed help My husband then walked in and same thing happened to him. He looked at me and said, "I told you so, snobby". This coming from a man who's been to almost every vineyard in France. We get to the counter to pay and sitting in reach for the customers to grab was a stack of "after 10 bottles ones free loyalty program cards". I pick it up and say out loud, "Babe, you wanna join the program?" I kid you not...the wine expert ;) aka cashier, SNATCHES the card from my hand. WTF!! My husband pays, I'm standing there in shock, and takes her time to punch the card then sets it on the counter in front of us. I literally almost made an outburst in the wine shop, I would have embarrassed her... So something in me walked myself out of the shop, still in shock I began to write this review. There are many wine stores in our hood now. This one is overpriced, snobby and rude. Don't give them your money. Instead go to the one on Driggs and N 8, the name isn't coming to me... They are down to earth and great wines priced reasonably. People you're only drinking wine to urinate it out later, why does it have to be such a snobby experience. It should be enjoyable and fun!!! It's just wine!!

I do feel like this shop is misunderstood by many in the neighborhood. As far as I know, this is the only wine shop in north Williamsburg staffed by folks who know about and love wine. They have a great selection of wines that are carefully selected and that most of the staff have actually tasted. They may not smile and hug you when you walk in, but they make excellent recommendations​ if you ask. An unusually​ eclectic selection of wines at great prices awaits at Uva, hugs ... don't.

Employees here care nothing about the customer. Getting someone to help you is virtually impossible. I have been shopping here since I moved to the area but today was the last straw. It is virtually next door but I will walk the extra distance to buy from a place that at least pretends to want my business. The service had never been good, a couple of times before I have either thought about walking out with nothing, or actually did, but this time, a younger ginger guy was exceptionally rude, and as I said, there is no need to spend money where it is not wanted.

I thought I was the only one, but it looks like other customers experienced the same kind of dismissiveness and snobbery when they're there. It's a wine shop, chill out, people want to get wine and drink and be happy. The staff was too cool to help you. I honestly don't expect politeness in this day and age but at least three times I walked in across from Whole Foods with my hands full of groceries and two staffers saw me and was on their phones. On the way out, no one helped me open the door. But whatever, I expected too much. Most recently a row of sake bottles were marked at a certain price, when it rung up way much higher I said no thanks and put it back commenting "oh they were all marked this price here" and the woman said "no, I'm sure it's this price." I walked literally three steps away and pointed out what they were marked as suggesting just a simple misplacement, and she shrugged. Am I in a bad 80s movie? I go there for convenience because it's near me but it really bums me out. I like the store but the staff is snobby and rude. Why? Little positive interactions between people nowadays really helps show some humanity left, even if you're just buying wine. The place is fine and carries pretty decent wine if you just want to come in and grab what you need and go. Don't expect normal human decency.

I honestly do not know quite to expect from a wine shop. Coming from a country with monopolized sale of wine, we are spoiled with large shops offering a wide selection from many regions, and the necessary knowledge to go with. In comparison this selection is quite limited and the prices are surprisingly high. However, I found what I needed, so it served its purpose. Also the opening hours are great and I like the way the shop has been designed. Reading the previous reviews, I feel I do have to make a comment on the staff. I do agree that they aren't very helpful, and that they seem rather arrogant. No one was rude, though.

some new management and twice the selection now! really great prices! and super friendly staff. Always there to make a recommendation

As a person who works in the wine industry, this place is...MEEEHHH. I find it quite funny that a decent amount of yelpers have been complaining about their rude customer service and how no one is offered any help. You'd think that a wine shop which stocks a majority of natural, geeky wines, that the customer service would be much better than a wine shop that stocks more conventional wines since not everyone knows about natural wines and uncommon varietals. I cant really speak on their customer service, though I wasn't offered any help. As for the store itself the only good thing I can say about it is, they have some good organic, bio-dynamic wines. But that's where it stops. Most of their wines were above $20 and not much of a selection under $20. Not only did they not have much of a selection under $20, the store itself looked empty, dirty and SO disorganized. Judging from the other reviews nobody really works here and if you're lucky you'll get help only at the register where they'll gladly take your money!

Seriously. I have been a customer of Uva's for far too long, but I believe I can finally say: ENOUGH. Do they have a wonderful wine selection? YES. Do they have wonderful long time employees such as Hari and the friendly young woman that knows her way around the finest chablis for purchase? Indeed. Where did the rest of the ingrates that work here surface from? No clue. The outstanding lengths that their core employees go to to be unfriendly, no eye contact, wine swilling SNOBS is truly unbelievable. After the past fall, frequenting the store several times, I will never go back. The staff was mind-blowingly unfriendly; I was the only one in the store on a late weekday afternoon, and the two associates were behind the counter swilling wine (which they didn't offer to anyone that came in while I was shopping). I shopped for two bottles, a white and a red, while they continued their conversations about local bands, not once offering any assistance. THEY CONTINUED THE CONVERSATION WHILE I WAS PAYING FOR THE WINE AND BARELY EVEN SPOKE TO ME! Honestly, it was comical. It took everything I had to not look at them both and burst out laughing, they were like bad Portlandia characters except it wasn't a joke. I would like to say that I'd go back simply because I am used to this nonsense in Williamsburg, at least to a degree, but I sincerely don't think I could keep a straight face. If you like the antithesis of friendly customer service, to the point of laughable outcomes, UVA is just the spot for you! ugh, barf.

I have no idea what the negative reviews are about. The folks at UVA, all of them, have bent over backwards to help me find THE drink of the night. I'd say they hit it on the head 85% of the time. And I mean, "GREAT -hit it on the head". Not just "Okay". Which anyone that buys wine regularly knows is a pretty impressive record. Better than Vine Wine, waaaay better than Natural Wine Company. Bibber and Bell are a close second, but UVA has em beat on sheer selection. Really, just don't be afraid to chat em up. Everyone there LOVES wine and loves to talk about it. Also, they are really big on natural, funky, organic and biodynamic offerings. I think its one of their strong suits. If you aren't familiar with them, ask for an introduction. Their inventory will prove a huge payoff for folks that are into these kinds of wines.

***DOUCHE ALERT*** Small, unimpressive storefront, staffed by hipsters and prolly caters solely to them as well, since finding help with our wine purchases in this disorganized store was like pulling teeth.(Were our jeans not skinny enough or something?) With so many beer and booze options in the area (read: Brooklyn Brewery, Radegast, Spuyten Duyvil, etc.) I think I'll stay away from buying bottles of wine when I'm in the 'burg...or at least from this place. 2 stars only for selling Hendricks, though...cause I'll give credit where it's due.

In response to RC and my own "last straw" minor incident yesterday afternoon I felt I had to write my own review. I have frequented UVA since they opened in the Mini Mall years ago. I buy cheap wines, mid-range wines and sometimes 4-5 bottles of $50+ champagne around the holidays for clients and I honestly think this 'new' attitude started with the new locale on Bedford. Since they have moved, I have been privy to watching the staff jam burritos in their faces while people wait in line, chat idly with each other behind the counter simultaneously ringing people up with out uttering a word to the customer, drinking wine and congregating near the check out with friends when they have tastings ignoring everyone else as well as general unwelcoming behavior towards their customers. Don't get me wrong, I don't expect to be treated like gold when buying a $15 bottle of Pinot, but dude would saying hello kill you- or thank you- or acknowledging your customers existence? It's amazing. Are you all from Boston? I used to try not to let their "shop style" bother me. I am tough, been in the hood for ages and honestly I am pretty used to this lousy attitude. However, wine is something I really love and as much as it pains me, I will go to Bottle Shoppe instead. Their selection is not as educated as UVA but I can't support the assholes at UVA any longer - so Bottle Shoppe it is. RC, just so you know- it's not you. I am a white woman in my early 30's and get the same unacceptable treatment.

Extremely rude service! Asked the girl for help, she apparently responded for me to wait a moment (which I didn't hear) while she finished her inappropriate phone conversation which was overheard by everyone in the store. The when asked again for help she responded "I said wait a minute, are you deaf!" I was appalled and left the store immediately. How do these people even get jobs?

Sweet little wine shop on my way home. They carry a nice selection of moderately priced bottles. I have always been very happy with the descriptions of the wine and the quality of the wine. I prefer to hang in the Rhone Valley region of France, particularly the Cote du Rhone, always delish and they have a nice selection of bottles for around 20. The shop is organized by country and region within the country. Behind the counter they seem to have a nice selection of booze, I haven't purchased anything but wine here, however. They seem to have some interesting whiskeys and bourbons and some domestic absinthe (who knew?). The sales people are quite knowledgeable and helpful, and very friendly. Love having this place on my way home, it makes entertaining simply lovely!

Really odd, disappointing anti-customer vibe. The guys in here are young hipsters who - on each of the 3 times I've tried this place - didn't greet me, didn't make any kind of eye contact or friendly rapport and generally left me feeling like I really don't want to go back. I love young hipsters, but the friendly open-minded kind. (In fact, like the guys in the wine shop on Lorimer). The wine selection is OK but not mind blowing. Very odd vibe. Won't be going back.

Because I'm an alcoholic, I'm pretty soothed by this place I'm not really soothed by the people that work there though. One time there was a dude who was talking to his girlfriend (in person) and he was bitching about having to work there while I was waiting to pay Probably for almost 10 minutes he just made me wait while he chatted with her and I stood there watching then he said "what's up dude?" DUDE I WANT TO FUCKING PAY

Most unacceptable customer service ever. The rudeness of the little, short haired guy that works there is mind boggling. Dude, you work at a wine shop. Learn something about wine instead of snapping at customers when they ask for assistance, as the sign that's posted on the wine fridge requests they do.

Wow, people aren't lying when they say Uva is awesome. This is a wine shop that clearly cares about creating value for its customers. Having heard about the shop's great cheap wine, we spent $40 after taxes for 4 bottles, and all of them were a hit. The descriptive tags make it easy to buy, and the friendly and courteous employees make it even easier. I thought hard about whether or not a wine shop could ever offer what you'd call a five star experience, and I have to say that yeah, Uva really does. Very cool.

Awesome selection and customer service! Some friends and I were sending quarantine birthday wine to a friend and Benjamin was SO helpful, knowledgeable and kind- and even wrote out my obnoxious birthday note for our friend! :) So so appreciated the time he took to make our friends day a little brighter.

Best Wine shop Off Bedford On the way to The bottom of another well-loved glass.

This place while charming has awful customer service. My wife and I weren't even greeted when we walked in the door. They have no sense of customer service. We were just left to roam the store while the employees stared out to space.

If you do your research (which I did after having felt fleeced the last 3 times I went in here), you'll find that they are very overpriced and that their selection is sub-par. Also, most of the staff are pretentious, too-cool-for-school, and, ultimately, unhelpful. Furthermore, I don't think anyone is expecting hugs, but rather a baseline of courtesy and good customer service, neither of which this shop provides. Plenty of other options in the North Williamsburg area; no need to spend your money here.

A near perfect meal can be had by strolling into the mini-mall, grabbing a few cheeses, some olives, chorizo, and a baguette from the Bedford Cheese Shop, then heading across the hall to Uva, where the extremely helpful staff can tailor their suggestions to what you'll be eating. If your pseudo-picnic will be taking place the next day, they'll even deliver. Now if they could just conjure up a sun-dappled field of green grass to enjoy all this on...

I used to live right above this place, and it quickly became my go-to wine shop for obvious reasons of convenience. Luckily, it's also a really good wine shop with a well-curated selection of affordable wines and also some pricey (but often worthwhile) independent whiskeys, plus even the odd bottle of sake and shochu. In terms of price and selection, Uva just soars head and shoulders above the other nearby wine shops on Bedford, Berry and Driggs, all of which are some combination of overpriced, under-stocked or just depressing. Some of the staff at Uva can be a little more-oenophile-than-thou (dude in the chunky glasses, I'm looking at you), but in general everybody's really friendly and helpful. The regular tastings they do are another plus, as is the variable discount if you live in (or near) the building. I've since moved to Greenpoint, and the several solid wine shops in my new neighborhood have rendered my visits to Uva less frequent, but if you live in or are visiting friends near the Bedford L, Uva is the obvious choice.

This is one of my local wine stores, and the most convenient as I need to walk past here on the way home. Unfortunately the staff here seem to consistently recommend bad wine for me. I've purchased enough wine there to fill 3 of those 'by 10 get 1 free cards' so I have had at least 33 bottles, and with the exception of Vrac Rose (which served me very well over Summer), I don't recall ever getting a great bottle. Granted the wine I drink at home generally ranges between the $10-$20 mark, so I am not drinking amazing stuff, but honestly the $3.50 bottle at Trader Joes is so much better than any of the Reds that the staff here have recommended. Also the shop is missing the neighborhood wine shop vibe as the staff aren't really that friendly (Admittedly, I have been incredibly spoilt by having the best neighborhood wine shop near my previous home with the most amazing people - hello Jones Street Wine in West Village!!).

Absolutely loving the new customer appreciation card; and it's working out well for them too-I'm now biking two miles to Uva for my wine rather than buying it at the shop right downstairs from my place. Thanks guys! You always have a well curated selection in any price range.

Terrible customer service. They didn't even acknowledge the fact that I was there and it felt like I was a bother to the cashier when I asked a question.

I really like this store - the location is convenient, the staff is very knowledgeable and friendly, and they have wine tastings several times a week. The prices are very reasonable & they have a great selection of wines for under $15 and under $10. I've never been disappointed by anything I've purchased from here & have really enjoyed the wines that the staff has recommended. The store is also roomy enough that I feel comfortable browsing around for wines without being paranoid about bumping into someone or dropping something.

First time at the Uva, which apparently means grape. Limited time, limited budget meant only a quick run through the space. The sparkling wine selection was a smash hit though, with quite a few lesser knowns, particularly the Billecart Salmon and the Diebolt Vallois. As well, the sparkling chenin blanc we tried for New Year's had a new texture, a very nice surprise. Open feel through the store was lovely, no oppressive wine racks littering the room, hemming customers into lemmings. There's only one point off for the 10 minute anti Veuve Clicquot diatribe by the erstwhile staffer. There is nothing wrong with a wine being popular! It does not mean it is Santa Margherita. Update: I added another star... the website is fantastic, clearly marked, well laid out and it has a searchable list! Really, fantastic!

Place is pretty good. Moderately hard to find the wines you are looking for, but just ask someone and they will help you out. They are friendly enough and have suggested good wines to me in the past.

Great selection of wine oddities. Wine geeks paradise.

Shops like this are great if they have great people who can tell you about the wine -- they do. He was very helpful and helped me pick out a nice Chianti as a gift for some local friends. It is not the cheapest, but then again you don't get the same level of wine nerd atmosphere and conversation. The true test is to come for a wine tasting at a joint like this.

My go to place for wine. A very nice selection of varietals from all over the world. There is something in every price point and palette here. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff is one of the big reasons why I keep coming back. I would give it a 5 star rating if it wasn't for lack of said helpful staff during peak hours or seasons.

Best wine shop in Williamsburg. Really can't go wrong in the place, even in the $10 to $15 range. Most of the staff is really good and some are awesome at helping you find a bottle, especially the dude with long hair. I must pass at least 5 wine shops on the way from my place to shop here.

Wanted for a long time to like this place because it's cute, on my way home and sells wine. However I've been really disappointed in the last 8-10 bottles I've bought, all in the $30-40 range, which tasted like under $10 bottles. I don't think the staff does a good job of highlighting either good tasting or good value wines. The only exception is they have some good Rieslings but otherwise can't recommend.

The staff didn't bother to look up from their smart phones when I entered this tiny store. The disregard continued throughout the entire transaction. We bought 2 bottles of wine because we had no choice but I guess that's what they depend on.

Cool wine store in Williamsburg. The store is actually quite small (hence a rather limited selection), but choices are good, and I did find a good bottle of French wine that I wasn't even able to find at Astor wines. The prices are very reasonable. The store is quite nice: brightly lit, with elegant modern shelving, which makes it pleasant to browse through. They also carry a small selection of sakes and hard alcohol. Friendly staff.

I used to shop at UVA a lot when they were in the Mini Mart down the block. The staff were nice, the owners made a good-hearted attempt to have a decent selection of items under $10 and over $30, and while the markups were a little high -- for a neighborhood wine shop they were pretty reasonable. The shop was also far more education oriented, full of people who were really excited about wine, and eager to gett others to explore their tastes. They used to stock so many bottles for $7-11 that tasted like $30 bottles -- that was their thing. But one day the ownership changed and the prices started to inch up. Instead of having 80% of the store focused under $15 a bottle, the shop focused on $15+ bottles. The wines themselves oddly didn't change, just their price tags. When they moved, price tags and focus inched even higher. The shop that once focused on bottles under $10 now barely had any bottles in that range. I tried to give them another shot this week and went in with a friend - I was utterly disgusted. Their 'low end' wine selection is abhorrent, asking for $12-18 for bottles that: a- are $7-12 down the block or in Manhattan b- not even good to begin with. Their higher end wines in the $30+ range are mostly $15-25 bottles elsewhere. My friend and I walked out, and just grabbed a bottle from my 'cellar' -- i paid $14 for it at another shop, they wanted $28. If I'm paying a premium price on a bottle from a local shop, it's because I'm trusting their judgement and guidance -- they're doing the work of trying and searching out stuff, so i drink less bad wine. There's no judgement or guidance there anymore, and anyone who buys wine regularly would see the pricetags on 5 bottles in that shop and immediately know not to trust them. I moved to Williamsburg before it started to become "Condo City", and have done my best to support neighborhood shops -- but when retailers lose their trust and become predatory in pricing, I honestly can't imagine shopping there ever again. For the convenience of a single bottle, just about every other shop in the neighborhood is less, for the same stuff... even the generic looking shop that is just-outside-the-L. There are ton of shops on Grand and Metropolitan, some off Lorimer and Graham, and Bottle Shop down Bedford. If you need quantity or can wait, Astor wine and PJ Wine both deliver to Williamsburg FOR FREE on the weekends if you order $100 or more. WineLibrary.com ships UPS and ends up being WAY cheaper than them too.

Love this cute shop. The staff is very knowledgeable and polite. I love how the wines are divided by country/geographic location.