I'm not usually the review-writing type, but Sara's comments about Gnarly Vines inspired me to come to the defense of the best wine store in Brooklyn. The thing is, Gnarly Vines only opened last year in November when she went there ( I live on the same block and nearly cried out of joy when I found this fabulous store that provides me with an opportunity NOT to patronize the overpriced snooty Drink up on DeKalb), so it seems a wee bit unfair to not give the Gnarly boys a little bit of time on their feet. Additionally, I live on the same block as the store and stop in at least once a week. I have been greeted, nearly every time, by someone (usually the owner) within 1-2 minutes of arriving. The lighting is more than fine--it's actually pretty bright in there. It seems I'm lucky enough to stop in when there's a wine tasting going on almost every time, too, which is fantastic. Last night I walked in, was offered a taste of several different wines, and as a result I bought 2 bottles of a Portugese white prosecco-like wine for 7 bucks each that were unbelieveably tasty. Brian, the owner, even remembers my name when I come in, and we have the kind of happy neighborly conversation that seemed to die off in our culture around the same time WalMart was born. Last, but not least, I have NEVER seen the place dead...not once. And, if it was Thanksgiving , it would seem obvious that perhaps, just perhaps everyone was home piling turkey on their plates. It's also good to know that the selection is fabulous, the prices cheap, and the computer tracking system is surprisingly helpful. read more