Had a lovely experience at J Emerson at their most recent Sweet Wine Tasting Event. I was able to…read moreindulge in tasting 15 different sweet wines from Vermouth to Eiswein for a very reasonable ticket price. In addition to the wine tasting, each tasting station was paired with a curated dessert as well created by Chef Eva Letteron, creating a very well rounded event. Walking in, I was immediately overwhelmed by the selection. The store reads like a treasure trove for both the novices and the wine experts, with every inch filled with impressive bottles. They even have a rare finds section for those seeking more elusive bottles. The owners and workers were all very kind with some appearing more knowledgeable about the products than others. They offered great insight in helping navigate all of the options. As a person who is new to the wine world, I greatly appreciated how accessible the tasting event was and how the information provided about the available wines was simple enough for even a wine newbie like me to appreciate. One thing to consider is that while the building is fairly sized, the walkways can feel a bit tight due to the numerous shelves and wine containers. Which may make it slightly challenging to navigate when the store is crowded, especially for those who may need more space. They did offer a discount for the tasting event which was a nice touch. I left with a bottle of Foi et Li, a delicious botanical forward vermouth that has only had 9000 bottles made. I'd definitely reccomend J Emerson if you're looking for a sweet wine or a rarer bottle to impress those at the next gathering!

We were seeking a wine from Turkey for a special evening with friends, and J. Emerson was able to…read morelocate a bright lovely white and order three bottles for us from their supplier at a cost of $19 each. They really do go above and beyond! While we were picking up our bottles, we strolled through the shop and ended up leaving with 6 bottles of wine from different regions of the world. The staff are extremely knowledgeable and helpful and want to please. In addition to wine, they sell cheese of hard-to-find varieties, like a hard Honey Goat Gouda that is wonderful! The shop is situated on a street with cute cafes. Free parking is provided in a lot in the back, as well as on the street. The shop also issues a monthly informative newsletter offers a wine club as well. We're so happy to have discovered J. Emerson!

Just got back from Portugal recently and so good to know that I was able to find a wine shop in RVA…read morethat carries a small selection of Portuguese wines. They are located in the Church Hill area of Richmond, Va. They also offer some cheese, canned fish and meats. The staff was doing a tasting with a vendor when I arrived and they did acknowledge me when I entered. Towards the end, one person stepped away to see if I was ok which I appreciated and she was very friendly. I mentioned that I had been across the street at the Cobra Burger but hadn't noticed them and she advised if you purchase a bottle from them, you can take in the restaurant to drink and they will open for you and waive the corkage fee. I believe they offer tastings but not 100% sure.

I am in love with Second Bottle. I find wine to be a beautiful thing. However, wine can be a little…read moreintimidating at times. Second Bottle takes away all these concerning things and makes it approachable and fun. As is true to wine, each bottle has a story. You have a chance to speed date your bottle by reading the beautiful detailed description around its neck made by the owner. Every bottle in the shop has a mini dive into what to expect from the wine. I think the way the wines are organized here are phenomenal. Marie Kondo would applaud the organization of this wine shop! Each wine is on a shelf labeled with which country or region it's from. There is also a variety of snacks to pick from (fresh baguettes included). Erin, the owner, is what makes this 5 star place deserving of 100 more stars. Her passion for wine and the winemakers is so inspiring. It's owners like her that make wine so special. I'm grateful Church Hill has a gem like Second Bottle. Be sure to try their free tastings on Thursday 5-7pm. Also there is no corkage fee if you want to have a bottle of wine with your burger at Cobra Burger next door. They also do a film and wine series with LC Cinema that I'm obsessed with. Could not recommend this place enough.

So I had time before my movie at the AMC Dine in and thought I pop in to try out some meads. Sunday…read moreafternoon I had the place to myself and was able to get videos and pictures of the amazing funky decor to go with the drinks. Guys . The Meads are made in house as well. I tried the flight of four but you also have the option of 10 which comes with complimentary nuts. I had to smell each of them before tasting as I do with fine to get the full flavor of each. They are actually celebrating there 4 year anniversary on 10th! My guide was amazing she walked through each drink, gave her recommendations of the menu. Razz actually delivers here if you want food options so don't come hungry unless you don't mind ordering in! Today they closed at 2-230 but I hadn't over plans anyway. Definitely if you are out this side of town pop in and try some meads!

Small funky place to try a lot of good Meads. Not too many places serve these so a welcome…read moreaddition to Midlothian. The bar tender was extremely knowledgeable and talked us through options. No food service here but can order from great restaurant next door (Taza Kitchen).

Fantastic ambience. It has a great vibe. Great service and…read morethey went out of their way to find a pour we requested.

This cute little gem is hidden in the back of Bombolini. It is a distillery/ABC store and they have…read moreso many exciting things to try. I stumbled upon them one day while just hanging out on Lombardy and I've been a fan ever since. They are known for their Limoncello which can be used in an Lemon Drop or poured over gingerbread if that's your thing. They also have a few flavored vodkas, moonshine, whiskeys and gins. During my recent visit I tried the Yule Mule and it was delicious! I am a huge mule fan and this is the best one I had this holiday season. The mix of grapefruit, moonshine and ginger beer was very light and refreshing. The service is amazing. The owners and distillers are very friendly and knowledgeable. They don't mind sharing their "trials and errors" and no idea is too big or small when it comes to distilling. Outside of being a distillery, they also have wine, meat, cheese, smoked salmon and all things pasta that can be purchased onsite.

Love this little wine store a good mix of wines at various price ranges. Also have some wines you…read morecan't find at other stores. Friendly customer service and they great wine tasting events.

I loved this wine shop! The artwork was cool, the atmosphere was chill, and the gifts were unique…read more I purchased some really nice stemless wine glasses made of sturdy plastic for those rosé nights on the deck. The wine prices were ok, some were a little steep- (but I'm used to grocery store prices lol!) but I did get a couple bottles to try! They also have a café and music on some nights! This is a cool hang!

Absolutely loved our experience and Kevin was great at explaining the background of all the…read morewhiskeys. For sure will be coming back in the future. We ended up leaving with the Holland Ghost!

Love Reservoir spirits and their tasting room. The tasting…read moreroom has a large bar with ~7 seats and two community tables. You can see into the distillery from a couple of large windows. They offer both cocktails and flights Their founders series Wheat, Bourbon and Rye are single grain (100% wheat, 100% corn, 100% Rye respectively) perfect for sipping. Hunter Scott is for mixing and then they have their speciality Hollands series They have the standard versions of Manhattan and Old Fashions, as well as a rotation of seasonal specials Everyone who works their is super friendly and will take the time to talk about their spirits - Mike is our favorite!

Every time I move somewhere all I can do is hope for the best in terms of bottle shops. Namely,…read morethat the owner(s) is actually knowledgeable on craft beer, so that they can consistently order good stuff. I have to say, this place truly knows what it's doing. Since moving here there have been all kinds of crazy top-tier drops: Cantillon, rarer 3F's, Fidens, Trillium, in addition to ongoing deliveries of highly rated beers (you're practically guaranteed to find a handful of beers rated 4.2+ on Untappd any time you walk in here). There's a good mix of local and non-local beers as well. I find it can be detrimental to focus TOO much on local beer. I also think they've nailed the size, both in terms of inventory and physical space, because product seems to move at an ideal pace. I've rarely come across too-old beer, which happens quite often in many beer shops. This is THE place to get beer in the area.

Corks & Kegs has a great selection of beer and wine. The service was also friendly. I visited so I…read morecould pick up some beer. The only downside to me was that their build your own six pack area was pretty weak when I visited. I would have liked to pick up a few different VA beers instead of a 6-pack of one kind. If you are in the area, check this spot out.

As a recovering alcoholic, this store was the best one in the outlet. Not only was I offered a…read moretaste of all the best selections, but I was walked through the steps of why this healthy alternative is making such big waves in the social drinking community. Even if you're not in recovery, I think this is a wonderful way to have something to drink at an event in place of alcohol. Charlotte, thank you for making us feel at home also.

As someone getting into mocktails, this was a great place to pick up some non alcoholic liquors.read more