Wine tasting at Whole Foods at Rookwood Commons used to be a weekly staple for my friends and I. Then it got super-crowded and we stopped going. A few weeks ago, shortly after returning from a few days spent in Napa, I was craving wine. And I wanted to try something new. A friend suggested Oakley Wines. I'm so incredibly grateful she did! Oakley Wines is probably the most barebones, laid-back wine store I've ever seen. The fact that they didn't spend extra money on fancy shelving or a register or counter means that they've been able to keep their wine costs down! This I like :) As far as wine tastings go, this is probably one of the best. If you get there early there are very few people (the first time we got there around 6.) You get to taste 6 wines for $5. You also get an education about the wine you are tasting. The two times I've been there there has been a theme: French wines the first time and Spanish wines the second. Also 3 whites and 3 reds: something to please everyone. And the best part: all wines in the store (with the exception of a very small rack of about 8 different wines) is under $20, with several bottles of good wine under $10. Many of their wines are directly imported from all over the world. The bottles are simply resting atop their cases all over the floor, with price signs beside them. I felt at home here - no snobby pretentious win-os here! read more

Loved the service, the cocktails, cheese board! Wonderful find and great place for a pregame

Wonderful wine, cocktails, food, and atmosphere. They are taking necessary and legally required precautions during the pandemic. Unfortunately, they were recently visited by some covidiots who disrespected the staff and fellow patrons and tried to punish them with a bad review (like things aren't hard enough already for bars and restaurants). So yeah, if you want to recklessly ignore public health regulations and spread the plague, not for you. If you would like to support a responsible, high quality local business, they deserve patronage in person or via pick up/delivery. read more

I like this place because I only live a block away. I like being able to support local businesses and Oakley Wines allows me to do this in two different ways. It is a small locally owned business that carries craft beers from local breweries. And did I mention it is only a block away from me. They also have beers from around the country and the world. But lets not forget that they are named Oakley Wines. They have a great selection of wines in a variety of price points, something for everybody. On Fridays and Saturdays there are wine tastings with a selection of meats and cheeses to enjoy while trying wines. They draw a good crowd and are a good way to start your night out on the weekend. The owner, Zach, is knowledgeable and friendly and happy to help you make your selection by recommending choices based on what you like. I usually come here for beer and sometimes I am looking to head home and enjoy a beer immediately. If that's the case, Zach lets me know which beers he has already chilled in the cooler so that I don't have to wait. After a long day at work that is exactly what I am looking for. read more

I love this little wine spot. It's not big in size, but has a great selection of wine and craft beer. The Friday night wine tastings include 5 generous pours of always very good wines with a smattering of gourmet cheese and charcuterie. The staff is really friendly and knowledgable. Great way to start, or end, your Friday night. read more

I had a wonderful experience here for the first time on Saturday 1/19. The service was excellent and friendly. We sat at the bar top near the fire and the bartender was knowledgeable, conversational and had great recommendations. We did a 4 pour flight and ordered a spiced rum cocktail after that will be a new favorite! read more

This is a great wine shop that really believes you don't have to spend a ton of money to get great wine. Every bottle in the shop (minus maybe one small rack) is under $20. Joe and Lois really know their wine and have traveled all over the world visiting various wineries. They know a lot about wine and it's so clear they love what they do. They also have wine tastings on Friday nights for $5..so it's a great place to have a little happy hour and then buy a bottle to take with you to your next stop. Buying a bottle really helps them keep the price of the wine tasting down..so buy a bottle! read more

I've been trying to get to this place since it opened. I walked in around 7:30 on Friday to a loud, vibrant atmosphere. Walked downstairs to a second bar, equally busy. After about 5 minutes I found a seat at the bar. It looked to be clearing out, but one of the bartenders told me that there was a "bar-crawl" coming in soon with up to 100 people flowing in. My fiancé showed up and we ordered drinks and then it happened....large groups of people swarming the entire place. This review is not about the food/drink execution. Impossible to get orders out quickly with that kind of volume. But the bartenders stayed engaged, did not ignore us and made things calm through the chaos. After it slowed down a bit, the owner/GM? stopped by, apologizing for the vibe in there, etc. We had zero expectations, but he insisted on comping our entire bill! We are both in the industry, and it is so refreshing to see that true customer service and exceeding guest expectations are not totally gone!! We will be back and will recommend this place to all our friends! Great Job! read more

This place is awesome and not just because of the wines! They moved right down the street and are under new ownership. I had the pleasure to talk to the owner Zack and his answered all my questions and made honest recommendations. He worked in the restaurant/wholesale industry, so he knows his stuff. I can tell that he is passionate about wine and the Oakley neighborhood. I will say I'm not a wine enthusiast, so the extent of my knowledge is telling if it's red or white. What i do love is the personalization and help the owner provides, he's like your own personal sommelier. They have unique and rare selection of wines. Amazing prices!!! The atmosphere is so awesome here, when I stop by I don't want to leave! They have a wine tasting on Friday for only 10 bucks... Oakley Wines even carry craft beer and they have a decent selection. They carry local breweries, and will try to order one of your favorites. Whenever you're ready to pop some bottles, pop by Oakley Wines! read more

What a cool wine shop! We were headed to a dinner party and my friend insisted that we stop at Oakley Wines on the way. Being not from Cincinnati, I wasn't really sure what to expect. I was happy to find an excellent selection and really good service. My friend that I came to Oakley with is a regular. When she noted that she was looking for a couple of good bottles of red, they already knew her taste and suggested a couple bottles. Being curious, I also purchased a canned rose' (gimmicky, yes, but still tasty). We were in and out in about 5 minutes but the wines we grabbed were unique and delicious! Glad I got to check out Oakley Wines on my visit! read more

The staff is super knowledgable about the wines they are selling, which is really nice because its so hard to know anything about a wine from just looking it. They will ask what you like and then they are able to give notes about all the wines they have and help guide you in the direction that you want to go. They have the best selection of rose around, way better than The Party Source which is my usual go-to for wine. The upstairs is so bright and welcoming. The cellar is very cool - in both senses of the word, a great place to escape the heat, but also the vibe is perfect for enjoying wine. The monthly wine classes run $40 per person right now and are lead by the owner, Zach, who is very well versed in all thing wine. I would definitely recommend indulging in a class for a special GNO or date night. Weekly they feature: Wine Wednesday $2 off glasses and flights Thursday live music in the cellar (6-9) Friday wine tastings (5-8) Sunday light brunch (they don't have a full kitchen so that's why its called "light") Another interesting thing to note is that Zach shared with us that in Ohio there is a law against allowing big box store to undercut smaller stores on wine prices, so that means that you're not paying a premium to shop at this local wine shop. You're paying the price that Kroger would charge. read more

Great service with interesting wine selections at fair prices. The small plates are also quite good. Excellent atmosphere. Relaxed vibe.

My girlfriend and I came here for their Friday night wine tasting. Good selection of wine and cocktails (in the cellar). The tasting was $10 and included 5 generous pours and delicious cheese and crackers. We also had the classic flatbread which was amazing. Highly recommend for date night or drinks after work. read more

Hidden gem of Oakley! Really appreciated the nice, low key atmosphere. Seemed to have a wide variety of wines, both traditional and unique. Enjoyed two rounds of wine tastings-red and white. The whipped goat cheese dip was super yummy! Bartenders were welcoming, kind, and knowledgeable. Will definitely be back! read more

I am not a wine expert, but oakley wines has a great selection of wines under $20. Joe and Lois, the owners are knowledgeable, friendly and honest about their wines. The also have $5 wine tasting on Friday which is a good place to start your evening and get to know some new people. read more

Oakley Wines - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Awesome place for happy hour. Great atmosphere, cozy basement bar with a fireplace. We were there on a Wednesday and the deal was $2 off flights or glasses of wine and a $1 off beer or cocktails. Pretty decent deal. The highlight for me was a prosciutto flatbread, so good! I wish on their website that they would offer a little detail about the snacks / food that they have. I wasn't sure they even served anything until we got there. read more

The bartender recommended some great wines, so I got a flight. They were all very good. I loved the vibe in the basement. It wasn't crowded at all. Now I wish I would've tried the pasta. Sundays are sauce sundays with homemade pastas! read more

Always good wine deals here and I love the ambiance. The staff is always very friendly. I have yet to try food but it always looks delicious! read more

this is of the side and we'll hidden small, cozy, and intimate. very open and friendly towards a diverse range of people large selection of wines and at reasonable prices read more

Oakley Wines - nice cozy place for a glass of wine - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Great service, good wine selection, wish they had more small bites then they'd get 5/5!

I visited on Saturday with a group of 5 celebrating my mom's 60th birthday. Even though it was St Pattys Day, they reserved a table for us in the corner and honored their Friday Night Wine Flight for us. Both Robby and Joe helped us and were extremely knowledgeable about the wines and definitely sold us on this cozy spot in Oakley Square. I can't wait to go back! read more

Sexy atmosphere! Love the vibe! The staff were super helpful in their wine selection and seemed to know how to please the palate. read more

Oakley Wines - Love the Reds! - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

This is such a cute little spot. I don't know how I'd never been before, but last week was my first time going. It had just finished raining, but luckily the staff wiped down the outdoor tables and chairs for us to sit at. Since we are still in the pandemic, it was pretty necessary for us to sit outside. There was only one staff member working the inside and outside, but she never missed a beat. She was constantly coming outside checking on everyone while also working the inside. She also was clearly very informative about the wines. She was able to answer all questions that came up without missing a beat. What they had that a lot of other wine bars do not was craft cocktails. It gives everyone the ability to enjoy something even if it's different from wine. Their cocktails also had names fitting to what's going on in today's world. For instance- one focus on Covid and one focused on condemning racism. Loved it all! I'll for sure be back read more

Great wine, cocktails and service. I feel safe in here because they follow the mandates and don't let it get over crowded.

Favorite bar in Oakley. Great service, large food and drink menu and great atmosphere. We and our neighbors love it here! Highly recommend. Very cozy downstairs in the winter. read more

I went to Oakley Wine last Friday night for a wine tasting. What I was expecting was the experience that my friend had last week.... $5 for 6 tastes (all free-poured) and abundant cheeses & wines... But this time, we walked in and the price has doubled for half as less to taste! The greeter actually said "Last week was so cheap just to lure you in..." She was joking, but still!!! There was a bottle stopper on each bottle, and as the pourer was telling us what we were drinking, she was talking too quickly and too quietly so I had no idea what I was drinking most of the time. So for $10, I got 6 oz of wine (which equates to approx. one glass)... in my opinion that was not worth it. There were some good things- the food stations were set up by the door, and another in the main part near the wine station. There was plenty of cheese & crackers to go around! Also, the selection of wine they have looks pretty expansive, and I bet if it was less crowded, I would have received excellent service. The decor itself is pretty nice - hardwood flooring, and aged wine barrels as tables. I doubt I'll go to another wine tasting at Oakley Wines, but maybe I'll stop by for a bottle. read more

This place is always amazing and I've always had great service. And during covid I have been mindful with my friends about the mask mandate regardless of signage as my friends and I are aware of being respectful to all when dining out. Also the mandate has been in place for a while so this is something we just knew to do while enjoying our amazing wine selection and cheese platters! read more

Great local wine bar with live music on Thursday nights, wine shop upstairs and bar area downstairs. Great friendly service. One of our new favorite places for a drink. read more

Oakley Wines - Oakley Wines - the downstairs bar area - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I LOVE Oakley Wines! They just opened The Cellar and it is SO cool down there. The staff is really great. Definitely check out the Friday night wine tasting, it is a blast. They also have nice wines at affordable rates so if you need a good bottle stop by and have someone help you pick it out. I love going here and I don't even like wine that much! I will say that their new cocktail menu probably has a few bugs to work out (I had a presecco drink that was overly sweet and the bar tender didn't know how to fix it) but I have confidence they will because the pay a great deal of attention to detail. read more

This place is awesome! The gentleman working the counter was very friendly and knowledgeable. There is not a large selection, but the wines here are unique and diverse enough that there's something for everyone. The prices are reasonable, and vary from under $10 to more in the $30ish range. Abby and I picked up a delicious dry rose for back-porch drinking in the nice weather, and we'll certainly be back here to check out their other offerings! read more

I've unwittingly driven by Oakley Wines many times, and am so glad I know it exists now! Oakley Wines has a great collection of wines, most very reasonably priced, as well as some craft beers. I love that it's a curated collection, with descriptions for every option, since I'm not an expert by any means. I went for a tasting with girlfriends after work- $10 for 5 healthy pours, plus some crackers, cheese, bread and olives is a great deal and nice way to end a week and start an evening. The space is fairly small, and it's just a bar, wall of wine, some beer, and a refrigerator case for champagne, etc, so it's standing room only and if you don't get there early on an evening it gets pretty crowded! read more

Came here for a quick bottle of wine and received excellent customer service! Went back on a Friday to discover they do a wine tasting for $10 where you enjoy 5 fabulous wines, cheese, bread and crackers! We live extremely close by and this will definitely become our go to spot for great wine at a great price! Definitely looking forward to going back, especially on Friday after a long week at work! read more

Lovely place to relax and try different types of wine. It's a little tucked away but not difficult to find and the parking wasn't a problem. The service was good but not great and that's the only reason I docked a star. read more

Nice, they don't have unisex private bathrooms like it says....lame, it's 2019 hello. But nice place, need more wine selection on menu. Would recommend read more

Wow, I cannot believe the blatant lies this place posted on FB that lead to a news report. First of all, that group did not damage any property on purpose. The 1 wine glass that broke was broken accidentally as someone tried to get up from the seat. Secondly, no one said anything about spitting on anything or at anyone. This group is a group of professionals who you are making out to sound like a group of thugs. There was no signage nor multiple warnings. They placed the food a yard away from the table so it was pretty inconvenient to put on a mask to move a yard. Why didn't you put food on table? The food was horrible anyway. If you don't have a mask on at the table, 1 yard away from the table wouldn't put anyone in danger. Everyone was seated when Kimberly came over and the first thing she said was, "GET OUT!" That is totally out of line. Maybe this place needs to train their employees better. It was shocking at least. read more

Exceptionally charming neighborhood spot to try various wines with the bonus of cocktails and snacks. Arrived on a rainy Saturday with my friend at 3:30, I actually really wanted a Bloody Mary to start (rainy days = Bloodies) - what luck - Stephanie at the upstairs bar had a spicy delicious mix that she was willing to bring up for us to make these savory cocktails. We followed with samples of light white wines before enjoying another glass or two, adding the charcuterie board. A great place to while away the afternoon, a super chic and relaxing vibe, with Stephanie as the most accommodating host. Looking forward to enjoying the cellar later, after dark, into the fall. read more

Great wine and beer selection, very friendly and knowledgeable/helpful staff, and very fair prices. Lovely interior perfect for a get together with friends or a romantic date. Small yummy bites to pair with your drinks. What more can you ask for?! read more

This place has helped me get into wine. When I first started coming I had no idea what kind of wine I liked. The staff is very friendly and helpful in choosing a wine to drink. They automatically give you a glass of water which is nice cause I hate bugging bartenders for water. They also have beer and hard liquor. The ambience is amazing with a fire place down stairs and they continue to improve their space. They also serve light finger foods like cheese boards. The s'mores are awesome. read more

Okay Oakley wines....we came in for the first time tonight. My husband and I love wine and doing tastings around town. To our disappointment, the cellar was closed for a private event, which I truly wish you would advertise on your Facebook so people are aware they won't be able to use that space. I tried to be patient, but come on, one bartender on a Saturday night? It makes no sense! We waited about 20 minutes to get the attention of the one bartender. I don't blame her, but it was insane. I asked for two flights of 3 so that we could taste all 6 of the red wines. I got two flights of 4 of the exact same wines, but the bartender was busy and flustered after making some very intense cocktails so I didn't say anything. Our cheese board came out after we had already slowly sipped through two of our tastings. The woman who brought the food was very apologetic. You get three stars because the cheese board was amazing, I am a lover of wine, and the concept of the place is good. BUT seriously management-you do not staff one person at a wine bar on a Saturday night. Spend the money and staff appropriately. Private events should not hurt the experience of regular customers. read more

First visit to Oakley Wines. Great vibe and atmosphere. Drinks are a little pricey; however, spot on in flavor and creativity. We will be back. read more