On a scale of 1-100, there isn't a wine below 75 in this shop. If you had a great cabernet last night at Lucas Confectionary, you'll be able to get a bottle of it here. If you're looking for a bottle of Muscatel or Boone's Farm, may I suggest the liquor store on Ferry St by the homeless shelter? This store sells the best at moderately affordable prices. read more

Here's the story: Went on a first date: went great. We stopped by a little wine bar. I picked out this super weird wine from the very back of the shelf and the owner couldn't tell us anything about it. Poured some drinks and it was so, so good- surprisingly so! Fast forward and it's that guys birthday a month later. I remembered the name of the wine and the image on the bottle, but that was it. I find it online. It's super hard to order. I get in contact with this beautiful company here, I email with Paula and talk to Shannon on the phone (they work here) and not only did they give me the kindest support and service, but they shipped the bottle of wine to me 9 states away in time for my guy's birthday! And it arrived early! I wish I could leave more stars- they deserve it. I am so grateful for the time, care, and quality they provided me. 8 states away or not, if there is a speciality bottle of wine, hell any wine, I need from now on- I'll be ordering it from here. Cannot recommend this team enough for going out of their way for me. read more

This place does sell wine. It didn't sell the wine I was looking for. That isn't the fault of the staff. Would recommend adding Montepulciano to the inventory. Otherwise, very nice place. read more

Am I first? I was compelled to come into this wine store on its opening day. Even though the shelves aren't yet full, there is enough product on hand to knock my socks off. This is the antithesis of those large we-have-whatever-you-want-at-the-lowest-prices-in-town wine warehouses. Sure, those have a place. But browsing these shelves is like looking through your cooler friend's record collection. It's a tightly curated selection, purposefully arranged in interesting ways, that will help you think about wine differently. New world wines aren't separated from their old world wine cousins, largely because this shop procures new world wines made in the old world style. I'm a bit of a wine geek, so if that last sentence didn't make sense to you, I'm sorry. But trust me, that's fascinating stuff. The wine here is inspiring. There is stuff from ultra small wineries, juice from grapes I've never heard of, and bottles from one of my favorite importers. When a wine store is this small, every bottle is special. And Heather, who owns the place, can tell you all about them. She's not snobbish. She doesn't judge. And she really knows her stuff. Prices are clearly marked on the front of the bottles in a chalk marker that wipes right off at the register. That way, as you're perusing the racks, you don't have to pick up every bottle to search for the price. It's easy to see what's in your everyday price range, and which bottles you might come back for to celebrate a special occasion. There are a lot of bottles between 11 and 19 dollars. There are a selection that are 10 and under. And there are plenty that are 20 and beyond. But for the most part, these seem to be bottles that are meant to be enjoyed in the now, and not put down for years. Ironically, given all the great wine in the store, I walked out with a bottle of French cider. It suited my purposes. But I'm going back as soon as they get in their shipment of Beaujolais Nouveau. Because it's been almost impossible to find anyone who carries versions of this wine from small producers that isn't filtered to death, and Heather tells me that she'll be getting the good stuff that's bursting with life. I love this place. I hope you do too. But it can only be good if you are open and honest with the wine merchant. Nobody expects you to know anything about any of the wines on the shelf. Period. Tell Heather what you like. Be honest with what you don't know. And together you'll find something marvelous. Happy hunting. read more

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I was fortunate to attend the Yelp wine class at Lucas Confectionery that Heather so generously hosted for us. She is so incredibly knowledgeable and willing to share. The store has a modest but great selection of small vintner wines, things you would never see in some of the bigger wine stores. The staff is helpful, taking time to make sure that you're happy with your selection. If you want to try something unique and out of the ordinary this is the place to go. read more

Paula's recommendations are SPOT ON! Beautiful ambiance and great, knowledgeable staff!!!

This is absolutely, hands down my favorite place to get wine. If I have wine in my house, or I have bought you wine there's a 99% chance I got here and here's why: 1.This shop is small, which means you don't get overwhelmed with a massive amount of different things. This also means that a lot of thought has gone into what bottles are on the shelves, and for the most part whoever is behind the counter can probably tell you about each wine. 2. The price cannot be beat. I'm not kidding, I won't lie at first I was worried about it breaking the bank but when you do a side by side comparison of prices you are not spending more at all! Oh and you are getting a much higher quality of product. I've definitely gotten big old bottles of wine for 12 dollars here, and how to do they compare to the random 12 dollar bottle I got from the run of the mill liquor store. 3. It's locally owned, and it's a beautiful downtown business. It would honestly break my heart if this was to go out of business. read more

My favorite wine shop in the capital district, you literally can't get these natural wines anywhere else in the area or have such an enjoyable experience doing so. They get a steady stream from winemakers big (think Martha Stoumen), small (too many to count), and local (think Liten Buffel). Chat them up when you go in, chances are they'll pour you something interesting and help you find that perfect bottle. P.S. their instagram is the best way to stay up on new inventory. read more

Hidden gem in NY Capital region. You can often find rare selections here although some of the wines are not so much of mainstream style. If it is your thing, then you are in luck. read more

As it's just a hop, skip, and a jump for me to get down here, I thought I'd meander over to 22 2nd and see what I could pick up. I was assisted right away by Steve, and my first impression was that the visual was just as important as what was inside the bottles. It was like going onto the floor of a very fancy dealership; not a lot out on the floor, but there was no need for volume, because the relatively small stock on display was quite fetching. I wanted to pick up one of two things - either a Txakoli wine (which I had first had at Peck's this summer), or a decent Rosé. I asked after the Txakoli first, and was told they didn't have any ---- but, there may have been a reason for this. In the ensuing conversation, Steve told me that Heather (you all know Heather and Vic, right? Without them, Monument Square is still filled with protests, porno theaters, empty, clanking bottles of MD/20-20, and crushed styrofoam cups migrating like lemmings to the Hudson. Maybe I exaggerate, but not too much...) will personally try all the wines, after reading up on them, and only decide thumbs up or thumbs down, Lucas or Peck's or 22 2nd, after sampling. Because maybe what works at Peck's won't work in the store. *That* is knowing - or anticipating, at least - your audience. And it makes me all the more aware how lucky we Trojans are to have in our midst proprietors that care to that extent about the experience they create for their clientele. So Steve told me about the one of the two Rosés in stock, from Forlorn Hope (Kumo To Ame 2013), and sold me on it. I love the prices on the bottle in chalk marker (in good penmanship!) - it matches the aesthetic of the place. We chatted a little about the tastings they are planning, forthcoming classes (stemware classes! the proper glass for the proper wine!), the upcoming newsletter, how granite and shale make for different kinds of soils (forgive me, I was a geologist once), and new methods for in-situ carbonation of grapes. Not bad for a twenty minute stopover. At the risk of repeating myself, it's clear that Heather and Vic care about their product, and once again, they've given Downtown Troy and its citizenry something that they can "nyah, nyah, nyah" Saratoga, Chatham, and Albany about. Because we have it, and they don't. But those folks are free to visit and purchase any time, I'm sure. Once again, Heather and Vic, thank you both for your efforts. We all benefit! read more

Stopped in here today on my way to the Farmer's Market. I'm not from around here and I was very happy to be welcomed by such cute signage to start. I absolutely had to check it out and was very happy to find what I found. A small, selection of delicious hand picked wines. I formerly worked at a very similar wine shop in Connecticut and I recognized some of my favorite bottles, and then some. I really enjoyed the laundry tags with tasting notes of some of the bottles as it adds an extra charm. A must see if you're a vinophile!!! I purchased a 40 oz bottle of Muscadet as a gag gift for a friend. I'm very excited to hear about it ! read more

Love the selections and the prices are amazing for the quality of the wines that they have. Service is fantastic. Steve is usually there when I shop; knows his wines and a great conversationalist as well. The store ads to the charm of Troy . "Big and Discounted" is not always better. read more

I had such a wonderful experience here! All the wines were displayed so nicely that it was easy to find what I wanted. Heather helped me decide on a wine in a way that was informative and made it fun. The hours are so convenient for me as well. A great addition to downtown! I'm going back today! -Arlene read more

Stopped in to see the new shop and were met by the always lovely Heather and Vic. We pranced in with our small dog and were happy to find Charlie and Groucho behind the register. I love visiting pet-friendly stores! The store has a wonderful vibe and beautiful set up. Heather has curated a great selection of eclectic wines that line all the walls of the shop. I will be visiting to pick her brain about new wines. We enjoyed the wine shopping and talking experience as much as the delicious cava we got. read more