The best selection and prices of the capital area. Online ordering is exceptionally well done.

Spectacular operation, sleek design, knowledgeable and helpful staff, wide range of choices, competitive pricing, in a safe and secure easy-to-find location. A great place to stock up any time you are anywhere near Albany. One of the absolute best in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions, and I travel a lot. Okay, okay, I also drink a lot. - Bob from DC read more

I think this is a scam. I ordered $200 worth of nonalcoholic beverages on the first. The listing said it would be delivered within four days. I did get two out of the 14 delivered still waiting for the rest. However, the website says everything was delivered down. I'm pretty sure this is a scam. read more

Empire Wine - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Albany, New York

Just coming back to say again how I love this store! The staff is so friendly and knowledgeable. Today I went in and asked a staff member for a recommendation for a decent $10 Merlot and he offered three suggestions right away. I walked out with a great bottle! read more

Empire makes shopping very customer friendly. I find ordering from their website very easy. I really like their carry-out service.

This is by far my favorite wine and spirits establishment in the area. There are many other places I frequent for location and other convenience, but when I need to get something those other places do not carry, I come here. Example, I am a big CC fan, especially their 9 year aged whiskey. Used to be a number of places in the area, but after the pandemic, this is the only place I find it. Also, their selections are HUGE with the best prices. They had a 1L bottle of Goldschlager for just $18. I had to get some. For you youngins, that don't know what it is, it is 10,000X better than that rock gut fireball stuff. Service is top notch. So many workers there that can find whatever you need so you are in and out in a flash. Love this place. read more

Empire Wine - Best Cinnamon flavored liquor, with real gold. - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Albany, New York

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Nice selection of alcohol. Online ordering and pickup is very easy. Liquors are separated by type with the higher priced and rare bottles locked up. read more

Large selection with decent choices. Its not my go to stop is definitely my preferred when over that way. There online ordering is very easy fast and efficient. They do train there staff to be helpful but please be patient with the newer people they are trying they just may not have the experience to be able to recommend what you would like. read more

Empire Wine is a great find. The prices are very competitive and they deliver to westchester for $10/ case. They have an easy to use website for finding the wine you're looking for and scheduling delivery is a breeze. You pick a date and window and the day of, you receive a specific time with regular updates. I have used twice to find specific wines and vintage. Excellent service. read more

I never review companies but my experience has been so poor that I felt the need. I ordered my favorite wine over a week ago. I was told it would be a few days late as they we're waiting for a shipment to come in. I was fine with that. This morning , on the way to a doctor's app, I got a text 5 telling me my wine would be delivered within the hour, so I called. The man who answered the phone couldn't find my name in the system, and when he did find it, I told him I would not be able to be home and I had not received any notice prior to telling you to me it was on the way. He said they emailed me at 8:30 am which was not true, no email in my inbox or spam folder. told me the next availble day to deliver was Monday and instead of considering the fact that they screwed up in their communication, when I asked for it to be delivered by noon, as I have a doctors appt, that day as well, his response was, I have no control over that. This is such poor customer service. When I said I'd like to cancel, he said there would be a restocking fee and they could not waive it. I'm thoroughly disappointed and will never order from them again. read more

Empire Wine is a warehouse liquor store with a great selection of wines and spirits; whatever you're looking for, they probably have it. The staff seems to be hit or miss with the folks on the floor being a bit more helpful and friendly than the cashiers. We've gone in with questions about scotches and whiskeys and have been referred to their 'experts' who appear to know what they're talking about. They speak with the knowledge of having tried many of the different bottles and offer some great insight into the differences between brands and individual bottles. Many of the sales folks, however, seem disengaged with customers and more interested in conversing amongst themselves. They're inconsistent with their policies such as some insist on scanning each bottle even if they're the same whereas others do not. I used my own canvas bag as my shopping cart for months, taking out the bottles at the counter, and only recently did one tell me I'm not allowed to do that. I like consistency and I like being able to use my own 'shopping cart'. Overall, it's a good store with decent prices. And the conveyor belt delivery system is pretty fun to watch while waiting in the checkout. read more

Empire Wine - a view of a wine cellar - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Albany, New York

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I continue to be a big fan of this store with their low prices and quick turnaround for out of state shipments. Their e-commerce business is hitting on all cylinders in my opinion starting with their low pricing, prompt handling of your order, good updates throughout process to include the all important shipping notification with tracking numbers, free shipping with case orders, and lastly their outstanding heavy duty packaging (some of the best I have seen anywhere) where you can rest assured your wine will arrive safely to your home. This store should definitely be on your short list of go to internet wine stores for all these reasons and will continue to be one of my sources for wine. read more

Best (and most fairly priced) liquor store in the Hudson Valley. AND, they deliver to Rhinebeck, 50 miles away in Dutchess County, for $10. The two high-priced shops in Rhinebeck must really be feeling the "Empire Effect." read more

I haven't had any tracking for an order. No emails are being answered. They did take my venmo money so Im frustrated with this company at moment. read more

After the first couple of minutes in the store, I thought I was going to be writing an extremely positive review, full of excitement. But it turned out to be a bit more of a roller coaster than I expected, with highs and lows, fortunately more highs, and good prices. But evidently, somewhere along the way, decisions had to be made as to what to sell or not sell. Right away, I was impressed by the selection of NY State wines and liquors which essentially greet you as you walk in. At the far end you have 2 aisles of liquor, not everything but enough to more than adequately cover the basics. Being a fan of both rose wine and Riesling, I was surprised to see more than twice the number of types of rose from which to choose than Riesling. It's usually the other way around. If you are looking for any of these, you will probably be satisfied: NY State liquors and wines, wines from France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, red wines, rose, and chardonnay. Somewhat in the middle would be Greek wines, Pinot Grigios, and 1.5L bottles of the more mass-produced wines. You won't find sections for wines from other countries (well, maybe Malbec), or much of a selection from west coast states, though you might find specific wines of interest in the appropriate "section by type" - for example I found a Washington state Riesling I really like in the (small) Riesling section. The place is well staffed, with employees all over the place keeping the bottles in the shelves on order and asking if you need assistance. I'm not sure if the folks at Empire Wine would appreciate the reference, but having been to some Total Wines in other states (not something we have in this area), I find Empire Wine to be the closest thing to it in terms of layout, stock, and price, and it's not a chain. read more

Although they have a big selection of spirits they have a smal amount of friendliness by employees. They seem to think it is more important to stock shelves than help customers find a certain spirit. Their sign is wrong when you walk in stating Customer Service, it should say go on your computer to find what you want. I will go to All Star those folks are great at helping you. read more

I have been using Empire Wine online delivery service for many years now and have been more than satisfied with the wide selection of interesting and unique items. The prices are more than competitive and the delivery service has always been top-notch, including when I ordered items as gifts and they were delivered directly to the recipient on time as promised. Sometimes I use other vendors based on special offers, but Empire Wine remains my #1 choice for reliability and value. Maybe one day I will make the trek directly to Albany to see the store in person! read more

Haven't visited the store in person yet, this review is solely for their online ordering and delivery process. Years ago, I had a cocktail called the Paper Plane at a cocktail bar in Jersey City and it was magical. I had everything on hand except amaro nonino. I've searched for it high and low in liquor stores near me, but with no luck. But Google led me here and I was so glad! Not only do they have it, it's also a few dollars cheaper. I looked around their website and also picked up a bottle of cognac that's recommended by others. The ordering process was easy and I placed the order yesterday. I also got to choose the delivery date (today). They sent me a text this morning and I was able to track my delivery throughout the day. The bottles arrived safely and I couldn't be happier. Would order from them again. read more

Empire Wine - Amaro nonino, cognac - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Albany, New York

Great service. This was recommended by a friend and the service didn't disappoint.driver was friendly and polite. I will certainly order again read more

Good prices, amazing selection, staff so helpful they don't only tell you where to find what you want in the cavernous space, they walk you there and point! Plenty of parking, order ahead and pickup available, right off the Northway. So yeah. read more

excelllent selection of wines, best prices in area, efficient and organized. much better than Exit 9 Discount Wines-- certainly less expensive. Decent selection of French wines. read more

I have been to this establishment a few times and must admit they do have a huge selection of spirits but their customer service could use some work. This visit I walked into the establishment to 2 young ladies sitting on chairs without any type of greeting to anyone that walked in the door. While trying to read the Aisle Boards to find a specific liquor not one staff member asked if I needed any assistance, they seem more annoyed that I was in their way while they toted around a cart full of product. By the time we got to the cashier to check out we had decided to put back one of our selections and just purchase the 3 we had original planned on. We did not give it to the cashier to return my boyfriend went and did that so no extra work was given to the staff. I can't even describe the attitude from the cashier during the whole transaction because there were so many. Seemed annoyed, bored, rude and just didn't want to be there doing their job. After ringing up my order it was such a task to print out my receipt and ask if I would like a bag or box to put my purchases in. Thankfully I had an extra pair of hands to help me carry out my purchases. Cashier couldn't wait to just walk away from me. Unfortunately I will never return to this establishment even though it is only 5 minutes from my residence. I would rather drive the extra miles to All Star Wine & Liquor where every experience there has been pleasurable and helpful. read more

Can't believe they don't have all five star reviews! We have ordered from them for years and never had a problem! Very reasonably priced, even with shipping. Two day delivery from NY to FL. Great variety of offerings. They answer questions promptly too. We highly recommend Empire Wine! read more

Sadly, this was my first visit to Empire. Considering the size of the store I was quite surprised they didn't have the two wines I wanted. I intended to purchase several cases of B&G (Barton & Gustier) Chard Reserve and Tisdale Pinot Grigio. The young man said the only B&G they had was Vouvray. He said they didn't make a Chard. As for the California bottled Tisdale, he said they didn't carry it. He seemed indifferent as did the customer service person I spoke with. Their TV commercials seem so inviting. I did find a wine shop that does have these wines with a discount for volume purchases and will deliver. And they're closer to my home to boot. Empire Wine? Fuhgeddaboudit. read more

This place sells wine for $3 to $5 cheaper than other places. The staff are awesome, not to mention knowledgeable.

Ok. I went in there on a Wednesday to purchase a special bottle for my son-in-law. They did not have it but told me they would be getting it in the next day and to come in the morning. I went back there in the morning. They told me it was there, but they couldn't find it at the moment, so come back this afternoon. I went back that afternoon. Third trip! They said I'm sorry it's sold out. "The only way to guarantee it is to order it online." They told me they were getting more tomorrow. So I went home and went online and reserved my bottle. It said it was "in stock" so not sure how it could be in stock when I was just there 10 minutes prior. It also charges you $2.99 to order this way. I called this morning to see if it was there. They said it would be there around 2 o'clock. I called at 2:30 and they told me their supplier sent the wrong item and they won't be able to get it till next week. Since Christmas is in two days, I asked for a refund. Horrible business! I won't be going there anymore. I called another place and they are happily holding it for me right now. They pushed the charge through a couple days after so I called to check on the refund. She said she could see it was flagged for a refund so that she would process it right now. After I hung up, I got a text saying click this link when you arrive and we will bring your order to you. WTH? read more

Excellent selection and great price. I picked up two bottles of bourbon and a flask for under $65 which was awesome. Plenty of staff working and willing to assist you in the selection process, etc. read more

Amazing selection, helpful service and quick checkout process so you're never waiting in line too long. The prices are fair as well.

I'm a big fan of Empire, they've got a great selection, their prices rock and their staff is extremely helpful. Right now, with social distancing, I really wasn't up for crowds. That's where their online order and outside pickup comes in. I can sit in my family room, browse their selection, read the reviews of both the staff and other customers and place an order. They text me when it's ready and I can pull in the lot, click on the link in the text and let them know what spot I'm parked in. A few minutes later, out they come and put it in the back of my car. It doesn't really get any easier than that. read more

Empire wine is a large space. Like a "Home Depot" for spirits. I was very impressed with their selection. Especially when it comes to wine. They have massive aisles organizing the wine by region (Spain, France, Italy, etc) and by grape (Malbec, Pinot, etc). They also have a fancy fridge for the pricey stuff. They were also well staffed. Plenty of cashiers to process customers quickly. Plenty of staff to keep the shelves stocked and the sound of glass clinking in the background. Plenty of people asking you if you needed any help. I recommend visiting this place if a large selection and good customer service are what you want from a liquor store. read more

I'm sorry. Service is great. Staff. Excellent. You have such high volume business, but $70 for Buffalo Trace and $90 for Eagle Rare? Full disclosure. I don't drink BT at $30 let alone $70. But Eagle Rare at $60. That's a fair price and a solid 10 year bourbon. At $90. Nope. Blantons price? Can't even go there. Now you're just being greedy. You're not gouging everyone on every item. 98% of the store is FMV. But do you really need that extra juice? Extra star is because I haven't met an employee I didn't like. They're 5 STARS! read more

I have searched for months for a certain wine and finally found it in Albany, NY. Empire Wines was a wonderful experience! I placed my order via Fed Ex. their tracking must have been off that day. Plus you could only talk to robots ...no humans.....errrrr! I contacted Teressa at Empire within the hour, she contacted Fed Ex, found my order and made my day.. Great experience, great business I highly recommend! Thanks Teressa! Great name... Theresa read more

Okay so not only do they have a huge selection. Not only can you preorder and pickup curbside with no contact. Not only do that have the best selection of pretty much everything. Not only the fact they have shopping carts at a liquor store. Not only do they have boxes for all your bottles ready to go and free ... THEIR PRICES AND BANANAS Long story short read more

Empire Wine - Entrance to happiness - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Albany, New York

I don't drink a lot of alcohol (beer, wine, spirits), so I can't judge this place based on its pricing. I rarely buy the same thing twice and don't price shop. Instead, when I go to a liquor store I expect to find helpful staff and have a pleasant experience. I can't say I had that here. I went on a Monday evening around 7:00PM and they were busy. They had at least four registers open and still there was a long line of people waiting to check out. From the outside, I expected the interior to be much more spacious then it was. Instead, it looks like the two neighboring stores expanded and left a small area in the middle that this place assumed. But, if they had what I needed then I would be okay. I was interested in purchasing some Port, and really wanted to talk to someone about it. The staff member that helped me used his smartphone to find the right aisle with the Ports, but he wasn't knowledgeable about it nor offered to find someone who was. Many of the spots on the shelves were empty: I don't know if there was a Port rush right before I came or they just didn't bother to restock. Working on my own, I found something I think I will enjoy at a price I thought was reasonable. Many of the reviews discuss this place's huge selection and great prices as drawing points. I can't say if the price I paid was better than anywhere else, and there wasn't a huge selection (but perhaps there might have been had the shelves been stocked). What I will say is that I enjoy going to Exit 9 and All Star Wine a whole lot more. The staff seem more helpful, it isn't as crowded, and the ambiance of both places is much better than here. If you shop solely on price this might be a good choice; as for me, I am not convinced. read more

Incredible wine store for those living in nyc. Superb selection of Italian wine. Barolo, Barbaresco, Dolcetto, etc. I do wish they had more brunello. They carry high quality, small vineyards. Shipping to the city is very reasonable. Wine arrives quickly after an order is released. Can select release date (and so avoid shipping when weather is warm) As a result, one of my favorite stores in New York. read more

I've watched Empire Wine improve a lot over the last ten years. Their selection of locally distilled spirits is significant. They may not have everything, but they are making a valiant effort. Really, their selection of everything has grown. Like sherry. I can now find some interesting sherries on the shelf. And the amaro selection has plenty to explore. There are even some very interesting box wines on the shelf, and that's a good thing indeed, because box wine doesn't have to be awful. Oh yeah, and there's a large rack of half bottles too! Prices are competitive. You might be able to do better on some of the higher end single malts scotches elsewhere. But if this store is convenient to you, those savings might be eaten up by the gas for the drive. All told, this is my go to local wine and spirits shop. That said, if I'm looking to get a special bottle of wine, or a curated case from a thoughtful wine merchant, I'm going elsewhere. Those are purchases where you might want the staff to take it slow, and really consider some options. For better or for worse, the staff at Empire Wine are very efficient. It's a real bonus when the store is crowded, all cashiers are open, and the line snakes around the store. Because these people can crank through a line like nobody's business. But sometimes, efficiency isn't always what you want. For those shopping trips, I'll go elsewhere. All the same, I've really warmed up to Empire Wine, and am glad to have such a good store so close to home. read more

Unprofessional, rude and racist staff, plus a floor manager with very limited capability and bad sense of judgement. It's sad and ridiculous to see such absurd attitude exist in 2021 New York. True shame of Albany. PS: IDs were provided. My original comment never mentioned ID was the issue. Seems that your business is using this excuse to distort many problems in the past, and very likely in the future. read more

This place became a staple in my life in March 2020... remember that MK th? Things shut down, we all stayed home, and like many... I went through my usual 6 week allotment of wine in 1.5. So, I ordered delivery. Guys, their selection is AMAZING. As a self-admitting California wine snob who in all likelihood knows just enough about wine to be obnoxious, they've had almost every single bottle I could possibly think to crave. What's more, you can't find a place in Albany that beats their prices (trust me, I've tried). Have also had good luck getting any hard liquor, including a particularly lovely floral summer Hendricks, and an assortment of Japanese whiskey in a back-and-forth present battle with a friend. Staff are super friendly, and their new location is epically spacious. Special shout out to the delivery men ($10 for local delivery, are you f*cking kidding me why are you still reading this), who reliably delivered my favorite margarita fixin's and red wine necessities during the pandemic disaster that has been the past 21+ months. Though They may have been judging the frequency of my (large) deliveries, they were kind enough to never show it- we appreciate you! read more

Liquor store. Great variety. Even if they didn't have exactly what I wanted, they had stuff to satisfy me. Prices at market. I recommend.

Racially profiled by racist blonde woman at the register per her Demand I had walk out with my son in my arms just to get my ID while my husband purchased our wine selection, she insisted she had to card me although I was not the person purchasing my presence was enough to intimidate the poor thing.. meanwhile no one else (white patrons) were carded by her coworkers. We still supported her paycheck and purchased our wine to expose her ignorance and policy. I came back threw down my ID and showed her my culture do age gracefully again I was not purchasing but here we are in 2021 asked to do more the neighboring patron for no reason at all. Karma will do the rest. read more

Empire Wine - Facts - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Albany, New York