We were just in town on a fall evening and walking Wisconsin Ave. as night was falling. We passed Bacchus Wine Cellar and immediately noticed its big picture window - or, more accurately, the scene it revealed inside...a tiny room whose walls were lined with wine and spirit bottles, and a small multigenerational group talking, laughing, and clearly enjoying some red wine. We couldn't resist and entered the shop exclaiming, "This looks like our kind of party!" and we were instantly welcomed into the fold. It was an unofficial wine tasting for a wine the shop was considering ordering (a pino grigio that was yum). We met some locals and the owners, and we felt like we had just made some great friends. The owner and his wife and daughter were lovely and so knowledgable about their wines. And so fun to talk to! The store opens out in the back, and they have quite an extensive inventory (and some very nice but pricey choices). Such a comfortable and welcoming vibe, even a wine novice like myself didn't feel intimidated because they were so helpful. Apparently, they host tastings from time to time. I loved this shop and look forward to returning. Very glad we decided to pop in! read more

Bacchus is much more than a wine shop, it's the heart of the Book Hill neighborhood. Living on the same block for more than two years gave me a great deal of appreciation for Bassam, Ryan and their little piece of Wisconsin Ave. One of the most memorable "wine classes" I ever learned from was offered in the beautifully-appointed little loft above the store. One of the most gratefully received gifts I've ever presented someone wasn't the result of my sophistication or wisdom, it was a solid recommendation from Bassam and Ryan. Always worth a stop. And once they know you, they'll always wave and cheerily call out, "Hello!", whether you're walking in or walking by. Flawless service, impressive selection and kindness. That's totally worth five stars (as are the ever-rotating, delightfully funny quotes in the window!). read more

Bacchus Wine Cellar - Impromptu afternoon wine tasting - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Bacchus, the God of Wine and Revelry would call this place, home. It's a charming shop at the corner of Wisconsin and Q that sells, higher end wines - while boasting that they always have great new selections every week for under $10 per bottle. I personally enjoy this place because I can find Domaine de Coyeux (the best Muscat de Beaumes de Venise I've had) for $19.99 a bottle. I first had this when visiting the town of Beaumes de Venise in Provence. Most people sip it, I prefer it sprinkled over room temperature sliced peaches and served with vanilla bean ice cream. Try it for yourself and get back to me. **OPINION PRINCESS HOT TIP** A great way to try out their wines and get a good look at the place is to visit on any given Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 6:00 - 8:30 pm when they hold free informal wine tastings. read more

Bacchus Wine Cellar - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Amazing shop and even more amazing service! The owner is a delight and great wine Connosuer They also have some really niche cigars All at great prices read more

I've passed the Bacchus Wine Cellar on several occasions and finally had time to stop in to explore their selection. Big mistake. I've never been treated so poorly. I asked for help and I was ignored. I felt unwelcome. I asked for help again and it was crystal clear. You are not welcomed here. Sickening. read more

Bacchus is my fav wine store in DC. Why? (1) Selection: They carry truly great wines and ones you really can't find many other places in DC. My only (baby) complaint would be that they don't carry Rosso di Montalcino, which I kind of crave when I can't have my bigger, more expensive Brunello. (2) Helpful service: If you aren't sure what to get, they're really great about talking you through what might be a good fit for your meal/mood/budget/preferences. (3) Loyal and cozy customer base: You can tell they have a clientele that looks to Bacchus as their trusted neighborhood wine shop. The staff recognizes people and goes out of their way to be welcoming (e.g., sip on wines for free Thurs-Sat evenings when you pop by the store). (4) Wine clasess: They do educational classes every few weeks in the home up above the shop. A great chance to meet some new wines and people - and learn about both. (5) The funny quotes in the window. read more

Convenient, but uber-pricey. Here's some facts, and I have the receipts to prove it: 1 bottle Merus 2007 Cabernet - Bacchus price $275; online price $120 (wow, do I feel ripped off!). 1 bottle Balvenie 12 y.o. doublewood - Bacchus price $59.99; online price $43.99 That sums it up. If Bacchus is going to survive, they can't fall back on the excuse that other local stores charge huge markups as well. That said, it's a short drive up to Montgomery County where prices are significantly lower. read more

I had a wine emergency. My friends were coming in from across the country and I needed a private place to have an intimate gathering. I had heard about Bacchus from a buddy of mine in DC and decided to give it a shot. I wasn't disappointed. The event was only $30 a person for two hours and the wines were great. We had our own private sommelier who poured for us and explained all the wines. 4 people, five bottles of great wine, great little snaky things to stuff my face with, and two hours later I paid $250 and cabbed it back to Arlington. The space was gorgeous, the wines were superb and the service was outstanding. If you want a cute little shop to get some awesome bottles this is a fun place to visit in Georgetown. If you want impeccable service with a real VIP feel for a customized event - well, this may be the only viable game in town. I mean, doing this in a private dining room at any decent restaurant would have been 4 or 5 times as much and definitely not as much fun. Next time you want to have a special event and do something a bit different give Bassam a call and see if he can make something happen! read more

My fiancé and I happened to pass by Bacchus on a very hot day when we were in Georgetown. We love wine and we also love cool air conditioned places when it's nearly 100 degrees out, so we decided to check it out. This little wine shop has tons of wines to choose from and it's organized fairly intuitively. We ended up purchasing a bottle of rosato wine, which was reasonably priced and tasty. The shopkeeper tried to dissuade us a bit. I could tell he probably wanted us to buy a more expensive bottle, but we had our hearts set on a less expensive rosato. Overall, good. But I'd appreciate not having a shopkeeper try to change our mind when we can decide for ourselves. read more

If I could have given this vendor a minus rating I would do so.. I went in today to buy a bottle of whiskey as a gift for a friend who works next door to Bacchus in DC. I am not a whiskey drinker but my husband likes Nika from the barrel and this is what I chose.. I was in conversation with the owner when he rang me up and thought I had paid $65 dollars for the bottle, which I thought very reasonable as my husband buys it from our local wine store on 11th Street for $ 69.99 dollars .. It wasn't until the charge showed up on my phone that I realized the charge was $ 165.00 . We called the shop and asked was there a mistake but he said no, that was the price! When we asked how he could justify a mark up of nearly a hundred dollars he said he did not believe us and asked that we bring the bottle back ( I had already gifted it) .. He then suggested we go to our local store and buy the bottle and bring proof of the cost with the receipt. Fair enough .. We went to District Liquor on 11th but they were out of stock and waiting on a delivery .. We took a photo of the marked price, which was $ 69.99 and took a photo of my Amex receipt from Bacchus on it.. However, we only had a land line number and we called back and asked for his cell so we could send it to him and he started shouting that it wasn't his problem.. we said we would appreciate if he could accept proof from the photos he hung up.. After speaking with other who are familiar with his business we found out that he had price gauged before.. Consumer be warned.. read more

Very nice store, nice selection, wines and liquor are all laid out very nicely. Staff is informative and helpful. Troy helped me out with picking out wines. I was curious about the Ice Apple Wine but was on the fence about getting it. He happened to have a bottle open and let me sample it, which was a huge help. I'll be back again! read more

While checking out the French Festival in Georgetown on 4/20 around 4pm, alot of it had died down but the weather was beautiful for a leisure saturday stroll. Boyfriend and I saw that Bacchus Wine Cellar was conducting a wine tasting in honor of the festival and we hopped on in. The store looks like you've stepped in a wine cellar and there are bottles and bottles from floor to ceiling- awesome! We took a lap and there were tons of people there sipping wine. We felt kind of lost and really wanted to join all the cool kids and were directed to the front cashier. We paid $6 each for their "french festival" tastings and headed on over to the barrel by the front window to join the wine tasting festivities. We sampled three wines (white sauvignon blanc from portugal- huh?, rose, and merlot) Wines were not all that great (white was a cheap screw top and not to knock screw top wines but bleh and for $10 you spend on that screw top wine you can score a pretty sweet bottle (or two or three) from Trader Joe's, yes please!) but for a $6 tasting who can complain? Bacchus does alot of wine tastings and you can subscribe to his reviews and upcoming events. I may go if they're stocked with a wine I can't find any place else. read more

"Cask Strength"..."Robust Burgundy"..."Matured in 2 Woods"...these are all phrases used to describe the Scotch at Bacchus wine cellar. As a rule I drink nothing but Jim Beam, in the way of spirits, but some of these bottles would make great gifts. "For my brother-in-law's 50th birthday," said one patron, bottle in hand, last time I was here. I like to come here because it's a sophisticated place with friendly ownership, in a wood-paneled, eye-pleasing interior, plus they have some good cheap bottles of wine. Be sure to check out the map of the champagne region of France in back, and then choose your bubbly accordingly. Veuve Clicquot is the beverage of choice for the Georgetown nobility. read more

I come here on and off the decade I've lived in Georgetown. Bought a $15 bottle of rose to bring to a party the same night, and it was spoiled. Brought the cork back today, and they refused to give me another bottle. (A cheap bottle, I didn't understand why this was an issue.) There is clear decay on the side of the cork. I had a photo of the bottle and the charge recorded on my credit card account. The man kept asking why I didn't bring the bottle back, too, and said he could do nothing for me since I didn't bring the bottle, as well. He said there was nothing wrong with the cork, and then said I was raising my voice (was speaking in a hushed tone at first) when I explained why I didn't carry the bottle around with me all night to return to him. Plenty of other wine stores. read more

Bacchus Wine Cellar - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Best wine/liquor store in Georgetown and probably all of DC. I've been here a few times for wine & champagne and not only is their selection great but the staff are super well educated and will help you find the perfect bottle within your budget. They stock some really fine high-end wines but also have a large selection of great value picks as well. Fantastic selections of Italian, French & Spanish as well as lots of great new-world wine as well. Wether you already know exactly what you're looking for or you need help choosing the perfect bottle (at a great price!) for a special occasion, Bacchus really is the ultimate place to go. Six Pack selection is awesome too! read more

I came here tonight with the girls for a wine tasting. They're free every Friday and Saturday!! We tried a white and a red, and the owner and his friends knew everything about wine! It was super fun, and the store itself was well organized and just so cute. Highly recommend for people who want a quick wine tasting to start the night! read more

The Perfect Wine Store! Right in the heart of Georgetown. The customer service and selection are excellent. I always ask for advice on a choice and the recommended selections are competitively priced and just what I was looking for. A must visit for anyone who wants to choose the best wine in the best atmosphere. read more

Great wine selection I stopped by to pick up some kosher wine for Passover. They have a nice selection of red wine from Israel and the merlot I got was fantastic. Beyond the wine being good, the owner is extremely kind. He let me borrow his umbrella because I live in the area and was pouring outside. I was extremely thankful and I will make sure to recommend them to everyone I know. On top of that I still need to return the umbrella ... so I'm going to buy another bottle today. Thank you again! :) read more

This is our favorite wine and liquor store in DC. Bassam and Max are so helpful and always make me feel like a member of their family whenever we stop by. They often do wine or whiskey tastings which is nice for us to find new things, and fun. There is a negative review about his prices, which is factually incorrect; Bassam's prices are comparable to Total Wine. Regardless, you cannot put a price on the sense of community and trust that we feel when we walk through Bassam's doors. read more

I love this place. Cozy and warm environment with a tremendously helpful and friendly staff - not to mention a wonderful selection of fabulous wines! read more

Convenient and a nice selection of bourbon -- but way overpriced (even for Georgetown). I am willing to pay a premium for hard-to-find items, but these folks are just ridiculous. Pearson's right up the street has a decent selection and much better prices with friendlier service. read more

I am a wine and whisky club member here and cannot speak highly enough of the service provided by Bassam and Max. This is an excellent wine and liquor store. The selection is much different than a more generic store (e.g.,Total Wine). Lots of small batch whisky and lots of wine from all over the world. If you aren't sure what to get, Bassam and Max are always happy to help. If you're in Georgetown, stop in and check it out. read more

Horribly overpriced. HORRIBLY OVERPRICED!!! They are selling a Bordeaux for $45 that one can buy on-line for $28!!! They are selling a liter of Montelena for about $30 more than what one would pay elsewhere - and calling it a good deal. While i understand that on-line purchasing is not as convenient as visiting a store, it is still true that doing a search for prices on-line provides a guide to what one might reasonably expect to pay. There is no excuse for the ridiculous mark-ups at Bacchus Wine Cellar. Do yourself a favor, and visit Cork Wine Market, or Ansonia. You will find more interesting wines, at better prices. read more

Review just for friendliness and the amazing scotch whiskey he picked out for me. Just stopped in to pick up a bottle of wine, so I'll update this if my review is any different after that. I went in saying I'd like something for someone who likes Macallan 21 but at a much lower price tag. The answer - Edradour. I swear I don't work for either company, but wow. They have a great selection of interesting and different liquors and wines. I don't think it's on the budget-conscious side, but so far it's been worth it. read more

Went in while in Georgetown today looking for a Meiomi (standard stuff), which they didn't have and was recommended something similar, the Sineann 2014 Pinot Noir. Just opened the bottle and my god I had to come write a review! It's perhaps BETTER than the Meiomi which has been my favorite Pinot for the past few years. THANK YOU to the owners for the FAB recommendation based on my taste preferences; i'm so impressed! read more

Bacchus Wine Cellar has great wines, friendly staff and fabulous ambience. The selection of wines is stellar and if there is anything that they don't carry, they will get it for you. It is a place to pick up a bottle of wine on your way to a diner party, or just to stop by for a leisurely wine tasting. read more

I just visited Bacchus for the first and last time. The man at the register seemed quite annoyed that I wanted to give him money. And after I did, he couldn't be bothered to say thanks. Why return for more disrespect? read more

Awesome selection in a great location. Extremely friendly and helpful proprietors. I would recommend Bacchus Wine Cellar to anyone!

While I wanted to like this store as my husband and I just moved here from Boston I will not be back. While I like the funny sign in the window and the store was cute, it I was treated like an unwanted intrusion --- not a customer. While the gentleman behind the counter with the fancy (frankly cool) mustache tried a little to pay attention the other gentleman at the register seemed annoyed I was cashing out, after he very happily cashed out the man in front of me. I paid for my 2 $20 bottles of wine but had to listen to the man behind the register huff and puff like he was frustrated as my credit card ran like "how annoying she buy something from me and use a credit card" and when it ran he just put the receipt on the counter and left my wine on the counter and didn't give me a bag,....he never said thank you and just left me standing there. Then he cashed out the next customer, was super friendly to him, bagged up his 2 bottles of wine and thanked him. Then as I asked for a bag he let out a huge sigh and waved to his partner and said get her one of those small ones...I guess maybe he doesn't like Notherners ( his partner was joking with his friends there is no good food above the Mason Dixon line ..are you kidding me! ) or maybe he just doesn't like women as he was friendly to the man before me and the man after me - they both got very different service! ....either way I was in a good mood this evening and one visit to this store ruined it!!!......it took me the walk home to shake off how rude I was treated after spending $42 there ....I will not be back and nor will my husband and we LOVE WINE! Hopefully I find a store that makes new customers feel welcome in this area! read more

I went here with friends for the Saturday wine tasting and the owner was extremely welcoming and knowledgable on the wines we sampled. I would definitely go here again! read more

***CAUTION*** Ripping off customer. This guy has a good selection, but he's ripping off his customer by charging double market value. I unknowingly paid $140.00 for a bottle of Barter House Bourbon, which I later learned sells for $75.00 dollars. Anybody who's ripping off the local customers should know better. read more

Picked up a bottle of Alma Negra ($25.50) today and searched online subsequently ($12 - $18). What a rip off !! With that pricing i'd expect the service to be impecable. It wasn't and in fact the sales clerk was a bit rude. Not impressed at all w/ this shop. Stay away. read more

LOVE! LOVE! this hidden gem in Georgetown, DC, A true specialty store it is! I was so impressed with the knowledge and their eagerness to share and educate me on my choice of wine that was to be a gift. I'm thrilled have a go to place where spending money is an enjoyment. The owner is doing things right! I look forward to coming back again and again. read more

My favorite wine shop in DC! It is beautifully organized with an excellent selection of elegant,old world and new, funky boutique wines as well. read more

Bassam is fantastic and thus far his recommendations have never fallen short! I highly recommend popping in, when in Georgetown or even cutting across town to discuss wine and much more! read more