USA TODAY 10Best
Wine lovers, rejoice! Explore the 10 best wine shops in the US
Best Wine Shop (2024)
Local and boutique wine shops offer a unique charm and personalized experience that large retailers simply can't match. They often serve as community hubs, where wine enthusiasts can discover carefully curated selections that highlight both local and international wines, engage in tastings, and learn from knowledgeable staff who are passionate about their craft.
These 10 shops — selected by an expert panel and voted by readers as the best in the U.S. — provide a sense of discovery and intimacy, often hosting events and offering recommendations that cater to individual tastes, making each visit a bespoke experience. Whether you're a seasoned connoisseur or new to the world of wine, these local gems are sure to enhance your appreciation for the finer sips in life.
- Hi-Time Wine Cellars - Costa Mesa, California
- Oakville Grocery - Oakville, California
- The Cave DSM - Des Moines, Iowa
- Katbird's Wine & Gourmet Shoppe - Abingdon, Virginia
- Village Wines - Woodinville, Washingtion
- Crush Pad Wines - Charlottesville, Virginia
- First Street Wine Company - Livermore, California
- Anfora Wine Merchants - Oak Park, Illinois
- Red or White Wine - Mobile, Alabama
- ta·ca·rón - Ridgeland, South Carolina
Photo courtesy of slpu9945 / iStock Via Getty Images Plus
No. 10:
This family-owned Costa Mesa institution has been in business over 60 years, and you'll often find three generations all working in the store on any given day. Hi-Time Wine Cellars boasts a collection of over 10,000 wines from around the world, as well as retail space of 24,000 square feet. Needless to say, Hi-Time's selection of rare and fine wines is unbeatable, and you never know who you might bump into in line here, as the likes of Dan Aykroyd, Cheech Marin, and Drew Bledsoe are just some of the celebrities that have made Hi-Time their go-to wine shop.
Photo courtesy of Sirbouman / iStock Via Getty Images Plus
No. 9:
Founded in 1881, Oakville Grocery is California's oldest continually operating grocery store. Their wine merchants deliver fantastic selections and service and have been recognized with a Best of Wine Tourism award by Great Wine Capitals. The shop features one-of-a-kind and rare selections from the best Napa and Sonoma vineyards, plus you can shop online and even reserve a tasting where you can make your own selections. Don't miss stopping in at this legendary Napa institution.
Photo courtesy of Joey Leaming
No. 8:
The Cave DSM is a Des Moines hidden gem, both a wine shop and bar that specializes in naturally fermented wines. Stop in to talk with the super-knowledgeable owners and select bottles to take home, or peruse the easy-to-use online shop. For discerning natural wine aficionados, it's worth a trip to Iowa just to visit The Cave DSM.
Photo courtesy of kieferpix / iStock Via Getty Images Plus
No. 7:
Katbird is southwest Virginia's largest established fine wine retailer, bringing personally selected and hard-to-find wines from around the world to historic Abingdon and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Their well-stocked cellar boasts a fine collection of Old World wines, which include investment-level classics from Italy and France, while the main floor features a huge inventory of wines from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Argentina, Oregon, California, Washington, and Virginia.
Photo courtesy of Sirbouman / iStock Via Getty Images Plus
No. 6:
Set in the heart of Woodinville's wine country, this Washington retail shop and community gathering spot is a favorite of both locals and tourists. Just 30 minutes from Seattle, Village Wines is a great place to try some of the top Pacific Northwest wines. There are over 50 bottles of wine available at the bar, and scores of others in the shop. If you join their wine club, you can enjoy handpicked selections from the owner each month, plus discounts on bottles to go and at the bar.
Photo courtesy of Emily Bolden
No. 5:
Crush Pad Wines is an upscale shop with a fabulous selection of fine wines curated by Charlottesville's most experienced wine buyers. Set in the heart of the historic Downtown Mall, shoppers can also enjoy a wine bar and bistro with a super knowledgeable staff.
Photo courtesy of Lindsey Lauffer | First Street Wine Co.
No. 4:
Livermore's First Street Wine Company is a family-owned wine shop and tasting bar. They offer Connoisseur and Collectors wine clubs, you can shop online, and there's a stellar shop collection ranging from Livermore Valley offerings to bottles from around the state, country, and even the world. With their huge collection and knowledgeable staff, you're bound to find something you'll savor here.
Photo courtesy of Chelsea Goodwin
No. 3:
Inspired by Italian enotecas, Anfora Wine Merchants is a place where oenophiles can sit, relax, and sample excellent wines. Set in Illinois' historic Oak Park, visitors here can take part in monthly wine classes, avail themselves of a store membership, or join a curated wine club, as well as just purchase bottles to bring home. Anfora focuses on small and/or iconic producers who engage in ecological winemaking practices, and there are some superb choices to pair with light bites in their cozy bistro.
No. 2:
Mobile's Red or White Wine is both a wine shop and bar, and with branches in three other Alabama cities as well, they use their buying power to get some of the best and rarest wines out there. Come in to drink by the glass or purchase a bottle, and note that Red or White Wine also has an on-site restaurant with some of Mobile's best pizza.
Photo courtesy of Jitalia17 / iStock Via Getty Images Plus
No. 1:
Bet you'd never imagine stumbling across a quaint wine and Cuban cigar shop in the heart of the Lowcountry, but that's exactly what ta·ca·rón is. Cuban-born owner, Juan Carlos Jiménez, combines the finest Cuban cigars and coffee with an outstanding stock of boutique wines, especially from South America and Spain — and not a single brand on the shelf gets there without being tasted first. They also offer a wine club, and you can arrange private tasting sessions.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Amanda O'Brien
Amanda O'Brien is a London based luxury travel... Read More
Amanda O'Brien is a London based luxury travel blogger. Her website, The Boutique Adventurer, has over 350,000 followers across its platforms. The site focusses on travel adventures that end the day with a high thread count on the sheets and a good glass of local wine. Amanda is WSET Level 3 qualified. Find her on Instagram, Tiktok, and Youtube.
Amanda O'Brien
Amanda O'Brien is a London based luxury travel blogger. Her website, The Boutique Adventurer, has over 350,000 followers across its platforms. The site focusses on travel adventures that end the day with a high thread count on the sheets and a good glass of local wine. Amanda is WSET Level 3 qualified. Find her on Instagram, Tiktok, and Youtube.
Dena Roché
Dena Roché is a wine and travel journalist and... Read More
Dena Roché is a wine and travel journalist and sommelier. She is a member of the prestigious Circle of Wine Writers and was a 2024 fellow to the Wine Writers' Symposium. She is the owner of Vin Roché, a company focused on wine education and wine tours in Phoenix.
Dena Roché
Dena Roché is a wine and travel journalist and sommelier. She is a member of the prestigious Circle of Wine Writers and was a 2024 fellow to the Wine Writers' Symposium. She is the owner of Vin Roché, a company focused on wine education and wine tours in Phoenix.
Jenny Peters
Jenny Peters – aka Jet Set Jen – is a Los... Read More
Jenny Peters – aka Jet Set Jen – is a Los Angeles-based freelance journalist, editor and party columnist specializing in travel, entertainment, film, food, wine, fashion and the other good things in life. She is a founding/voting member of the Critics Choice Association, who present the Critics’ Choice Awards every January. Her favorite places to be are on the beach in Southern California playing volleyball, scuba diving with the sharks in warm tropical waters or strolling the streets and soaking in the atmosphere of one of the world's great cities (New Orleans and Florence are her favorites).
Jenny Peters
Jenny Peters – aka Jet Set Jen – is a Los Angeles-based freelance journalist, editor and party columnist specializing in travel, entertainment, film, food, wine, fashion and the other good things in life. She is a founding/voting member of the Critics Choice Association, who present the Critics’ Choice Awards every January. Her favorite places to be are on the beach in Southern California playing volleyball, scuba diving with the sharks in warm tropical waters or strolling the streets and soaking in the atmosphere of one of the world's great cities (New Orleans and Florence are her favorites).
Jillian Dara
Jillian is a lifestyle journalist with a focus on... Read More
Jillian is a lifestyle journalist with a focus on travel, wine, spirits and culture. Growing up in Bermuda, Jillian quickly became comfortable on planes and intrigued by the concept of the unfamiliar. Traveling, eating, and imbibing may be part of the "job" but Jillian truly believes in the whimsical power of a local experience or meeting over a traditional spirit to bond strangers in the most chance of circumstances. Outside of 10Best, Jillian's work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, Decanter, Wine Enthusiast, Forbes, Elite Traveler and Hemispheres.
Jillian Dara
Jillian is a lifestyle journalist with a focus on travel, wine, spirits and culture. Growing up in Bermuda, Jillian quickly became comfortable on planes and intrigued by the concept of the unfamiliar. Traveling, eating, and imbibing may be part of the "job" but Jillian truly believes in the whimsical power of a local experience or meeting over a traditional spirit to bond strangers in the most chance of circumstances. Outside of 10Best, Jillian's work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, Decanter, Wine Enthusiast, Forbes, Elite Traveler and Hemispheres.
Lynn and Cele Seldon
Lynn and Cele Seldon make up the team that is... Read More
Lynn and Cele Seldon make up the team that is Seldon Ink and have spent more than 25 years covering all aspects of culinary and travel writing. With a keen focus on the Southeast and a particular love of the Carolinas, they have written dozens of magazine and newspaper articles about the area and have become self-professed experts along the way. Their work has appeared in Southern Living, Taste of the South, The Local Palate, Cruise Travel, South Carolina Living, South Carolina Magazine, TrailBlazer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Charlotte Observer, various in-flight publications and many AAA magazines. They are also the authors of 100 Things To Do In Charleston Before You Die from Reedy Press. Follow along on their adventures at www.seldonink.com or @seldonink.
Lynn and Cele Seldon
Lynn and Cele Seldon make up the team that is Seldon Ink and have spent more than 25 years covering all aspects of culinary and travel writing. With a keen focus on the Southeast and a particular love of the Carolinas, they have written dozens of magazine and newspaper articles about the area and have become self-professed experts along the way. Their work has appeared in Southern Living, Taste of the South, The Local Palate, Cruise Travel, South Carolina Living, South Carolina Magazine, TrailBlazer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Charlotte Observer, various in-flight publications and many AAA magazines. They are also the authors of 100 Things To Do In Charleston Before You Die from Reedy Press. Follow along on their adventures at www.seldonink.com or @seldonink.
Sarah May Grunwald
Sarah May Grunwald is a wine, food, and travel... Read More
Sarah May Grunwald is a wine, food, and travel writer originally from California She is a certified sommelier and former professor of wine. She gardens and keeps bees in the Roman countryside and has seven rescue dogs and three cats. She leads wine and food tours in Rome and the country of Georgia. She co-owns a Tbilisi food and wine tour company called Taste Georgia. Sign up for her Substack newsletter Contadina, and find her on Instagram at @sarahmaygrunwald and @tastegeorgia.
Sarah May Grunwald
Sarah May Grunwald is a wine, food, and travel writer originally from California She is a certified sommelier and former professor of wine. She gardens and keeps bees in the Roman countryside and has seven rescue dogs and three cats. She leads wine and food tours in Rome and the country of Georgia. She co-owns a Tbilisi food and wine tour company called Taste Georgia. Sign up for her Substack newsletter Contadina, and find her on Instagram at @sarahmaygrunwald and @tastegeorgia.
Tamara Gane
Tamara Gane is an expert panel member for 10Best... Read More
Tamara Gane is an expert panel member for 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. She's based in Reno/Lake Tahoe and in addition to USA Today 10Best, her work has been published in Travel & Leisure, Fodor's Travel, The Washington Post, SF Gate, Houston Chronicle, Lonely Planet, and more.
Tamara Gane
Tamara Gane is an expert panel member for 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. She's based in Reno/Lake Tahoe and in addition to USA Today 10Best, her work has been published in Travel & Leisure, Fodor's Travel, The Washington Post, SF Gate, Houston Chronicle, Lonely Planet, and more.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
