Seven Places To Enjoy Wine Tastings In Fort Greene-Clinton Hill
While none of us need an excuse to seek out a new or favorite bottle of wine, we certainly wouldn’t pass up any extra incentives to get us in the door. Cue free wine tastings.
Wine tastings are a chance for wine shops, sommeliers, and casual drinkers alike to bond over a mutual appreciation for wine while also learning more about what makes them special and unique. Fortunately for us, Fort Greene and Clinton Hill are full of fantastic neighborhood wine shops that carry pretty much anything we could want from around the world. Here is a list of the regular tastings that they offer.
Corkscrew Wines (489 Myrtle Avenue, between Hall and Ryerson) hosts a free weekly Thursday wine tasting from 5:30-8pm to explore different grapes or a region each week. There’s also a more premium tasting on Saturdays from 6-8pm. “Discover what makes your favorite wines unique. You are the expert of what works for you,” says owner Karin Torres. Corkscrew features primarily women-made wines from around the world.
Gnarly Vines (350 Myrtle Avenue, between Carlton and Adelphi) offers free tastings every week, on Thursdays, Fridays, and/or Saturdays from 5-8pm. Wines tasted could be anything from Spanish selections to deep reds, and while you’re there, check out the sakes and ciders, too! Sign up for their email newsletter or call 718-797-3183 to find out what’s to be uncorked that week.
Grapeshot Wine and Spirits (64 Washington Avenue, between Flushing and Park Avenues) is a hidden gem in Wallabout that, when you walk in, feels as if you’re entering a gorgeously ornate cask of whatever your wine-loving mind dreams of. They offer Friday tastings from 6-9pm; follow their Facebook page for the theme of the week.
Greene Grape Wine and Spirits (765 Fulton Street, between South Portland and South Oxford) is hosting a Fall Tasting Series every Friday from 6-8pm, through the end of October, featuring the likes of apple brandy from Neversink Spirits, a brand new local producer (Friday, October 16), cool weather reds and whites from Portugal (Friday, October 23), and two local whiskeys from Breuckelen Distilling (Friday, October 30).
Leon and Son Wines (995 Fulton Street, between St. James and Cambridge Places) is a recent and charming addition to Clinton Hill, with a weekly Friday wine tasting from 5-8pm. Sometimes they have tastings on Saturdays, too, so follow their Facebook and Instagram accounts for updates.
Olivino Wines (905 Fulton Street, at Clinton Avenue) also does regular tastings, such as tonight’s tasting from 6-8pm ofMister Katz Rock and Rye Whiskey, Ragtime Rye Whiskey, and Chief Gowanus Gin from New York Distilling Company. Follow their Facebook page for updates and details on the when and what.
Tipsy (584 Myrtle Avenue, at Classon Avenue) hosts regular tastings on Thursdays and Fridays from 4-8pm, as well as guest speakers and demonstrations. They also deliver and have a fantastic email newsletter with meal-pairing recommendations. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter for more frequent updates.
