I never visit Dortmund without making at least one trip to go to Rudat. They have a very good…read moreselection of beers from different parts of Germany, and elsewhere in Europe _and_ even North America, not just the local beer varieties. I've always been able find Rauchbier from Aecht Schlenkerla here, whereas in many places when I ask for this beer people have no idea what I'm talking about. The wine selection is ok but certainly could be a lot better. After all, Germany does make a fantastic amount and variety of wine. They also have a fair selection of glassware to pick from.

The shop is on the busy Ruhrallee but the location is not the best as finding parking spaces can be…read moredifficult. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. They are happy to give out recommendations and always have an interesting story to tell. They have a small selection of different wines and champagnes and and a huge selection of liquors. Even the rarest bottle you may find here. Japanese and Taiwanese Whisky's have become very popular in the recent years, those you will find here as well. For me one of the best liquor stores in Essen, suiting everybody's budget!

If you're a wine lover, you should visit this place. It is located in a quieter neighborhood of…read moreDusseldorf. Hartwig the owner is a wine encyclopedia and will make sure to recommend the right wines for you. They have a wide selection, concentrating on Germany and the old world. It suits every budget!

The Vindega is located in the hip neighborhood of the Medienhafen. The setting is modern, clean and…read morechic. This is the perfect place to try different wines and of course to buy them if you feel like it. They have at least 20 wines showcased in an automatic wine dispenser. You insert a kind of credit card and choose how much you like to try, a sip, half glass or full glass. Afterwards you pay accordingly. They have a nice long table where you can sip your wine, have a piece of ham and bread to go with it. It is a very relaxing atmosphere and it's easy to meet new people who share the love of wine. They concentrate on German and Spanish reds and whites. They have a small selection of new world and french. Here you can even find some rare vintages especially of German Riesling or Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir). I have been here twice and already I'm a fan of this place. The staff is very knowledgeable especially shop manager and sommelier Björn is like a wine encyclopedia. Giannis the other manager likes to open different bottles for his customers to try. You easily can come here enjoy a whole afternoon or an entire evening. I have compared their retail prices and overall they are inexpensive. Have a try!

We randomly stopped there on a lazy Saturday afternoon. Franck was running the store that day. What…read morea great guy! Very nice, super knowledgeable about wines, good conversationalist (we spoke English)... The store itself is well-equipped, has a great choice of wines - from Germany and abroad - and is located in a cool neighborhood.