New York Vitners

Well folks, I'm officially a NY Vintners groupie. I've been to more classes than I can count (thanks to awesome discounts from Groupon), and I think my personal best experience there was recently topped after my mom, who was in town from Los Angeles, and I attended a Pizza and Wine class there last week. If you don't already know how much I love this little wine-shop-turned-event-space already, it's about time you figured it out for yourself. And figure it out at the next Pizza and Wine class. We walked into NY Vintners at about 3:45 on a Friday afternoon (yay for taking off work early!) and were each instantly handed a bubbly glass of prosecco -- a perfect way to kick off the weekend. After all the other people arrived, we were welcomed by the owner himself, Shane Benson, who you can really tell has a lot of passion for teaching the public about the joys of wine and food. For the next two hours, we were schooled in the proper technique of swirling, sniffing and sipping and well, we really didn't need to know anything about chowing down on pizza. Pie by pie were ushered out of the kitchen to our tables and I was enthralled by the many different varieties the creative kitchen staff came up with -- buffalo chicken, pulled pork, artichoke and one of the most awesome white pizzas I've ever had. We sampled the different cheesy concoctions with five different wines from all over the world and at the end of the night had the opportunity to take home some of those bottles at a discounted price. I'm definitely looking forward to my next experience at NY Vintners. Hmmmm, will it be Bubblicious or Bad Ass Reds? Stay tuned! more

I've lived in Tribeca for a few years and never actually set foot in NY Vintners until last month....oops! Whenever people came over and asked where they could pick up a bottle of wine, I always sent them there even though I'd never been. They were always happy with it and said the people there were helpful so after I added them on facebook I got an invite to one of their biodynamic and organic events and actually went. It was great! Everyone there is super nice and knows what they're talking about and they're friendly. They seem to really enjoy working there and just have fun with their jobs. I especially like Gerard! and Daniel! and Shane! And I'd probably list the others but those are the 3 who I've talked to when I was there. I've been telling everyone about it and recommending the classes. The set up is so unique and I wish there were more like it (but not really because I like those guys and don't want them to have competition). It's fun for a date night or with friends. Pros: People who work there more

I became a fan of New York Vintners when a friend held a private party there. The food and wine was great and the atmosphere was perfect. New York Vintners has a wonderful selection and provides fantastic help in planning party beverages or a dinner for two. All of their recommendations have been a great success. The special events are a lot of fun too. Pros: Atmosphere, selection, events more

great store with helpful, knowledgeable staff that's not pushy or snobby. they have lots of inexpensive wines for everyday drinking and nicer stuff for gifts or special occasions too. i love that even the cheaper wines they sell are still good quality wines, not the trendy junk wine you see at so many wine stores in the city! great neighborhood store, and definitely worth stopping by even if you don't live in tribeca. Pros: friendly, knowledgeable staff Cons: downtown if you live uptown (but they do deliver) more

I love wine and am always looking for something a little bit different that I can actively participate in. This place is a one of a kind NYC gem! The guys here (Alex, Rob and Derrick) really know everything there is to know about wine. The shop also doubles as an event space. Their public events are a great way to learn about wine and food or just to meet some new people and have a little fun. The events usually include a 5 course menu with paired wines. They also do Saturday cooking classes if you're ever looking for a day time activity. I highly recommend coming in and checking the place out if you're in the neighborhood. If you're looking for something a little bit different try out an event. Pros: Ambiance, Service, Laidback, Knowledgable, Events are great for Groups. more