Uva Wines

I used to love this place, but in the past few months I’ve kept getting bad bottles here. Like, really bad wine at 30 and 40 dollars a bottle. I don’t know if something is up with their storage system or what, but I just returned yet another bottle of wine that was undrinkable. But the OUTRAGEOUS customer service I got when I went in to return it is what really put me over the edge. The employee basically told me (after sipping coffee) that the wine was fine and that I don’t know what I’m talking about. I’ve been drinking wine for a long time, and I do happen to know what I’m talking about. No customer should have to put up with shade from half-​knowledgeable wine snobs with bad palettes. There are plenty of other wine stores in the neighborhood, which I am looking forward to checking out.

Got here with a friend at 8.05 PM to get a bottle of wine for our night on a Wednesday or Tuesday last week of November.
We were here with open intention to make a purchase.
The 2 employees here were so rude and snob, we left and went to buy somewhere else.
We ask if they were selling wine glasses and they laugh at us while continuing sipping their glass of wine behind the counter.
Of course they did not even ask if we wanted to try it, tasting was ending at 8.00 PM probably.
I continued to get a look of their selection while they stood behind the counter sipping their wine.
We left and went little further to spend 50 USD of wine in a nice shop where we were properly advised and treat with respect.
Of all the wine shops I went in France and US, they are usually a warm and cosy place with people that love their products and love to share it. Employee in wine shop are super professional.
That time at Uva Wines we face tow snobbish kids whose UN-​PROFESSIONALISM was OUTSTANDING. I don’t even remember being treated with such UN-​PROFESSIONALISM in any shop I’ve been in to.
I’ll try another time to see if we were just unlucky that time.

Rude people working there. I’ll go to another place next time.

Still the best in the hood, hopefully they don’t have a wifi for any #ihavetoworkonmymacnowsippingmyicedlatte
Great selection, look for the german guy, he knows his wines, very helpful

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.

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.

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.

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!!).

My neighborood wine store. I usually come to pick up french bottles of wine, mostly white, rose, sometimes red and sparkling. They always have a good selection with prices right on the spot i look for. Sometime if i even want something more fancy, they usually have great options as well. The fridge as good white cold wines to go hang out (secretly) in the different neighboring parks. The staff is nice, quite knowledgeable and fast to check you out so you can go taste that bottle. I particularly like that they carry some organics wines. They are usually good.

Horrible customer service. Asked for a recommendation and the lady scoffed at me and proceeded in a very arrogant and snooty tone. Will not be going back.

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.

Seemed like a nice place. I’m not a wine aficionado by any means, and I’m just starting to explore wine culture in general. In any case, I though the store was well laid out (wines categorized by country/​region) and the prices were reasonable. For what seemed to me like a boutique place, I was pleasantly surprised. Pay this place a visit, you won’t regret it.

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

Great little wine shop, with an array of price ranges, offerings from different regions, and knowledgeable staff! Make sure you get a frequent buyer card!

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?

Went in looking for wine. Found awesome wine. Good selection and nice staff. What more do you want?

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.

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.

Great selection of wine oddities. Wine geeks paradise.

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