Fermented Grapes vs. my wallet

ar

Ok,
This will likely be a unpopular opinion but,
Fermented Grapes is overhyped and overpriced. I know that it's nice to have an actual wine shop in PH but the extra $5.00 or so a bottle they want compared to other stores doesn't work for me. And Talk about a limited selection. Even though it's a much longer way, I go to Red, White and Bubbly in PS over FG. and NO, I DON'T WORK THERE OR KNOW ANYONE THAT DOES! I know this will be unpopular to the people who like the idea of a PH wine shop ( I do wish it the best and it is a great idea) but it's got a ways to go.

hal

AR, to see what a specific wine is selling for at various locations, try www.wine-searcher.com.

To read what wine geeks are saying about particular wines, go to www.erobertparker.com and find Mark Squires Bulletin Board.

I recommend a retailer in Manhattan with a great website www.pjwine.com.
If you spend a certain minimum, (sorry I forgot what it is) they deliver to Brooklyn.

Cheers!

alafairnadia

R, W & B is pretty overpriced, too. almost all of the wine stores, actually, in our area are overpriced. I might get excited about something being $7.99 a bottle -- but that doesn't mean I can't get it in Manhattan for $5.99. I'm just too lazy to carry it. so it might be cheaper to live in Brooklyn, but being an alcoholic is cheaper in Manhattan.

ar

Yeah, Now I kinda feel weird talking about wine @ 10:00am, and yes I agree about purchasing wine in Manhattan. Beer, gotta go with Brooklyn.
Carnivore mentioned a liquor store in PH that has a reasonable selection, but I can't remember where.

whyfi

Nothing wrong with thinkin' 'bout wine at 10am!!!

I guess that I never really noticed one store being more or less expensive than another. Since moving to NYC, I've just expected things to be a little more spendy than what I'm used to, and I've accepted it... and now that I think about it, I don't think that I've ever bought wine in MH- I guess that I'll have to check it out! But are we talking the big stores or the mom&pops? Or both?

Also, does FG carry a lot of bottles that other stores in the area would stock? I've only shopped there a half-dozen times (and not at all w/in the last 2 months) but I got the impression that they tended to carry... off the beaten path kinda stuff... or maybe my mind just blocks out the bigger labels...

I kinda flip-flop on what wine stores receive my patronage... right now, for the special occasions, I'm really in to Champagne, so Shawn Wines and Spirits on 7th in PS has my attention. They have a really broad selection of grower/producer Champagnes... by "really broad," I mean 6-8 to choose from. Most stores don't have any and it's really rare to find a store with more than 2 grower/producer Champagnes (you can tell by the 'RM' in the serial number on the front label of the bottle, the BIG producers have an 'NM').

Oh, and thanks to Alafairnadia, Segura Viudas (sp?) @ GPL will always have a spot on the wine rack!

sweet tea

Is FG really all that over-priced? (I mean, considering it's a small store and not a big ol' discount place?)

An extremely unscientific survey of the bottles in my house on the wine searcher site put FG's prices pretty much in the mid-range.

Sometimes I do wish they carried more wines in the under $10 range, but on the other hand, all the (many) bottles I've had from them have been really good, and I almost never spend more than $12. (I admit, I shop almost exclusively from those boxes on the floor, not from the shelves.)

Plus, they're really nice in there.

dougheights

No question that FG prices are higher. Maybe not $5 though. They have a small but quirky selection(quirky is good.)Good wine tastings, good hours and for me a 3min walk.
The best prices that I have found in the area are at Steling Grapes & Grains(115 5th ave.) And I have tried every store including it's new neighbor Sip on the next block. Red White and Bubbly does have a good selection, as does Shawn and Gary's on Flatbush.
Of course, you can save big $'s by shopping in Manhattan.
My first choice is Astor Wine & Spirts(12 Astor pl.) They have been selling all wine at 25% off recently. And their prices are already among the lowest.
Next, Wharehouse Wines & Spirits one block away(735 Broadway)
Finally after a check of it's web site I'll go to Garnet Wines & Spirts(929Lex)

ar

I also think they are very nice , but I do think they are overpriced. Some of the deals on the floor for $9 - $11 are about $5-7 at other shops. What I think they really lack is a selection of good $ 12 - $15 bottles.

pitu

I'm a big spender . . .

$15 for a rather nice bottle at Sip last week. It's new, it's on Fifth Ave not toooo many blocks in from Flatbush. They are nice, they know what they are doing, etc.
I am totally over Red White and Bubbly -- none of their budget wines are good and I'm not getting near the really expensive stuff, so who cares. They have good service and my dog LOVES to go there, but I swear I've yet to get a great bottle from their recommendations. They are over priced. It's a bummer.
But they do have that giant designy dTour chef-endorsed canister of chardonnay...and it does not suck. $40 for 3 or 4 liters

Sterling Grapes on Fifth Ave across from Key Foods has some good stuff, and I like them. Ditto the place on Flatbush at Seventh. One of those guys really knows his under $10s, and can show you what sucks less!