Uva Wines and Spirits
199 Bedford Ave. (6th St.) Williamsburg
718.963.3939 www.uvawines.com
Subway: Bedford Ave. (L)

Pros: Friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable staff that convey passion about their inventory. A quick perusal of the shelves will tell you that they have a love for stocking wines made from uncommon grapes, made in uncommon ways, or imported from uncommon regions. I always feel a bit like a kid in a candy shop when looking around. Their selection is fairly high quality across all prices. You're unlikely to get a poorly made wine here and frequent in-store tastings allow you to sample the goods. The new location is much larger than the cramped original location, which allows for a larger inventory and a more balanced selection than before. They have a good offering of organic and biodynamic wines as well as wines under $12. The interior is bright, clean, organized, and gives shoppers some elbow room. Uva is located one block from the subway and street parking is relatively easy to find in the area. There is a 10% case discount and local delivery is free.

Cons: When comparing prices to other wine shops in NYC their prices are even to or slightly higher than the average. You're certainly not getting royally shafted, but you may pay a dollar or two more per bottle for the convenience of not having to go to a larger store in Manhattan that has as a selection of similar quality. Their tendency to stock a selection of out of the ordinary wines means that on occasion you may get a wine that, although is very interesting or unique, is not all that spectacular.