Had a great experience with the owner, despite him being a CU Buffs fan! I walked in looking for a wine that would pair well with the take out pizza I planned on in my hotel room (he assured me this was a normal and very regular request) and quickly found a bottle within my taste and budget. I was even able to buy a glass so I didn't have to diminish my selection with a plastic hotel room cup. read more

Love this wine store. Be sure to catch their wine tastings; they always have something interesting and someone knowledgable to talk about the wine. They do a great job stocking their liquor, too. Their displays always make me want to buy something, but be sure to ask for advice, too. It'd be a shame to miss out and not score the perfect bottle. Prices can be good - especially with their case discount - but sometimes it feels like the good prices take some digging around. read more

I popped into this place looking for some local craft beer after reading a review that this place was a good option. That was extremely wrong. The craft beer selection was very paltry. The local CT selection of craft beer amounted to a tiny display. Shame on me for not looking at canning dates. The IPA's I bought were old. Canned on 12/19 and 7/20. What a waste of money. Save your cash and spend it at a place that knows about beer. read more

Great experience buying a bottle of wine as a gift there on a Sunday afternoon. Staff person was incredibly helpful and politely friendly; I especially appreciated the free gift wrap. Selection was great, with a range of styles and price points. They also have cheese and beer available for sale. Highly recommend stopping by. read more

Most reviewers have already covered what a gem of a place this liquor store is. Located conveniently in downtown New Haven, it's easy to get to from the areas surrounding the Green and even Wooster Square. The staff is very knowledgeable. I recently called about a bourbon that isn't well known outside of my home state, which also happens to be the birthplace of bourbon. Most people don't know the small distilleries very well, but Wine Thief did. They immediately knew which bourbon I was referencing and they actually had it in stock! Even better, they held it behind the counter until I could come and packaged it nicely since it was a host gift for a recent dinner party. If you need a drink in New Haven, check out the Wine Thief next time and you won't be disappointed! read more

I went to the store on Friday night to pick up a bottle of wine for myself. I had trouble finding the kind I liked and was looking around for a good two minutes. The manager was watching me but offered no help. Another guest then walked in and the manager walked over to help her immediately asking what she needed, explaining things, etc. So what was the difference... I am a young adult (21-25) who was wearing a Yale sweat shirt. The other lady was in her late 30s. To any Yale grads or graduate students who want to be treated with respect when shopping and checking out, NEVER GO HERE. Best part is that I'm not even a student. I was just supporting the school. The most disrespectful employees I have ever encountered in this town. read more

I recently ordered a case of wine from this location online and asked for them to recommend bottles for a 'variety pack' based off of general descriptions and an average cost/bottle. Oh man did they nail it. So far we're 4 bottles in and everything has been fantastic. Couldn't recommend them more. The curbside pickup was also quick and easy. read more

I adore The Wine Thief and find it hard to pass by without stopping in. The space is well-lit with a crisp look from the inviting sign outside to the light-colored wooden shelves housing bottle after bottle of wine. The floor is also covered with stacked boxes of wine, but the place is big enough that it doesn't feel at all cluttered. The wine selection is impressive and well-organized, separated by types and regions in such a way that allows for slow and thoughtful browsing. Should you need help, I suggest you ask any of the friendly knowledgeable people on the staff. They may know their wine, but they won't condescend or hold you to the same standard. On one of my first visits, I rolled in and asked for the cheapest dry red they had for some sangria - they took me right over to the cheapest dry red and even said it was their usual recommendation for sangria. As the girl who was helping me ran in back to get me a box in which to stuff my 8 bottles (for the record, the cheapest red is $5 a pop), the cashier made friendly uncreepy small talk and generally made me feel at home. Oh people skills, how I lack them and appreciate them in others. After I paid for my big old box, the cashier went ahead of me to hold the door open and asked how I was getting it home. I'll bet he would've carried it to my apartment if I'd asked nicely. They also didn't judge the time I rolled in drunk and marveled at the existence of beer that tastes like banana bread. They even answered questions like, "Does it really taste like banana bread?" and "How is that possible?" with total composure and thoughtfulness. Wine shops are around 50% selection and 50% service, with both necessary for a satisfying experience. The Wine Thief is a quality user-friendly place where you'll be treated with respect by a knowledgeable staff who can guide you through a grand selection of noteworthy options. You can't ask for much more than that. read more

Note: This is not a place where wine is supposed to be stolen. But I made that joke when we walked in and I dared my friend to try it. She declined. We walked into a wine tasting and it was pretty interesting. The guy hosting the tasting was from Italy supposedly but that could have been a load of crap. He talked about a bunch of aromas, tastes, and wine-making steps that I had no clue about. I ate it all up and was very impressed. I got one of the wines he was pushing and 3 others that he recommended after I asked. Everything was reasonably priced and the first two bottles we tried were very satisfying. Definitely a cool spot that I will make a stop at if I am in the neighborhood again. :) read more

There are a few wine shops in downtown New Haven but this by far is my favorite. The Wine Thief has an extraordinary and unique selection of wines. Most impressive is the fact that I knew not a label in the store. This was at first intimidating as we all know the pursuit of choosing a wine can be pretentious to many... and I fear some would avoid this gem for that very reason. Well, this place de-bunks that! The people here were beyond helpful. They went through many wines to help me find something new that would satisfy my ever growing palate. Not to mention there was an amazing Elliott Smith song playing I had completely forgotten I loved. They provide a fantastic beer selection also. You can find many a bottle for around 12$ that will be sure to satisfy as well as some higher priced choices. When looking for a wine to please yourself or a crowd I highly recommend stopping in. read more

You'll pay a dollar or two more than if you were to go to Amity, but in return you stay local and get a great selection, quick turn around on all your booze, and an extremely friendly/knowledgeable staff. I always ask them for advice and they always come through. Worth it in my book. There's really no reason to go to the other shops in downtown new haven unless you're next to one of them and its 8:55 read more

This liquor store is by far the best within walking distance from the Yale Campus. Although it's a little pricey, the Wine Thief makes up for it in service and selection. I never feel awkward about asking for advice, even when it's as vague as "What's a good wine for a rainy day like this?" or "I'm getting a gift for Professor X who comes in here a lot. What would he like?" I have yet to make it to one of its scheduled tastings, but there are usually a few bottles cracked at the register for me to try on my way out. I love the experience of going to this store, and I can't recommend it highly enough. read more

I'm so excited that the wine thief opened up downtown. I used to live in East Rock, really liked the store on Whitney, but this is something else. It's about 4 times the size, and has a great layout. The people who work there are both knowledgeable and down-to-earth. They helped me out in picking out a malbec that might go well with a vegetarian dinner, or as a post-dinner drink, since I wasn't sure of my plans yet. The malbec was perfect, and I'm looking forward to what else I will find there on my next visit. They also have wine tastings friday and saturday nights! read more

Despite the word "wine" in the name, the Wine Thief has a great beer selection. There are lots of American craft brew brands as well as uncommon European (and other international) imports. I was there for wine so I didn't get to spend much time looking at the beer selection, but I was impressed with what I saw. It looked like most their beer selection was sold in large bottles, but there were a couple fridges with a variety of six-packs as well. As for the wine selection, the place is laid out well and ordered nicely. Wines are categorized by type and by origin. There was a varied price range to choose from - I saw bottles of Cabernet from $10 to $250. The girl who helped us out was friendly and happy to answer our questions about the wine. read more

YES! THIS PLACE RULES! I came here all the time when I lived in New Haven. The people who work here are so helpful and really listen to figure out options that match what you're looking for. They are so knowledgeable that they will also turn you on to new stuff if you let them. And their recommendations were great 9 times out of 10. I disagree with other reviews that the Wine Thief is overpriced. It runs the gamut and the staff are always able to help you pick something great that fits within your price range. They've even recommended a $3 bottle that turned out to be a real crowd pleaser. read more

Yes, they're on the pricey side and yes, you'd get a better price going to a large wine warehouse or supermart. But I will always choose the Wine Thief when I need to buy a nice bottle. They have bottles in every price range and you're guaranteed a great bottle every time. The staff is knowledgable and very helpful. I've learned a ton from them. Plus, their weekly wine tastings are great! read more

I've been a patron of the Wine Thief far more often than I care to admit. For a smaller shop they stock an amazing selection of wines, beers, whiskeys, gin, aperitifs, bitters... pretty much anything you would require for a well-stocked home bar. The staff here is great as well. I totally appreciate people who know enough to recommend a good, pricier bottle of wine when you're in the mood but don't throw you the side-eye when you simply require a sub-$7 bottle of red that won't make your sangria taste disgusting. The quality and diversity of the beers is also a definite highlight, both for six-packs and larger individual bottles. They always have at least a few options from my brewery of choice, Stone, but I normally make a point to buy a completely random six-pack as well just to branch out a little bit. 90% of the time it's worked out great, and they've even introduced me to a few of my current favorites. Some of their liquor prices are a little higher than you would find in a huge store, but the convenience of having such a great shop in downtown New Haven makes that a moot point. They also do tastings, so you really have no excuse not to check them out! read more

What happened to the attentive, engaging staff? Went in there today so psyched to visit my fav wine shop in NH, interested in making a rather substantial purchase. Two people behind the register, neither paid us any mind, offered no help or even a hello. Apparently the conversation about zika and the girl's impending visit to PR was more important than customer service. Two of the sales person's friends came in and they were greeted. On the way out the girl yelled after us sarcastically, "Have a nice rest of your day!" Unbelievable. read more

It's 5:45pm, you're having guests over for dinner, and you've just realized all you have in the house is a week old bottle of yellowsnail. What to do? This is where the Wine Thief really shines. Tell 'em what you're having for dinner, give 'em a price point, and tell 'em how much you want to impress your guests. Any wine shop could pick you out a quick bottle and send you on your way, but at the Wine Thief, you'll get a nice explanation of the wine, the grape, and the area the wine comes from. You'll get a fun little story about the label, the vineyard dog, or the history of the winery. You'll get back home in time to stir the rice, plate your dinner, and pop the cork. What I love the most about this shop (and it's original East Rock location on Whitney) is that this is a place where wine novice and wine snob alike can mingle. Many wine books will tell you that when learning about wine, you should go to a shop and have them make you a mixed case within your budget. This is one of the only shops in the area I would trust to do this right. The beer selection is small, but wonderful, and this is *the* place to go when building your home bar. read more

The Wine Thief is by far the best wine shop in all of CT. I have yet to walk into another store and get the service and learn about the background of the bottle of wine that I'm buying each and every time that I visit. If you know what you are cooking that night or you know which BYOB spot you are going to, someone in the store can help pair the perfect bottle to your taste, and evening. The selection is amazing, there is something for everyone. The occasionally hold tastings at various local establishments, usually BAR. I recommend this store to everyone. **And I love the music that's playing in there =) read more

Very clean and polished. Decently sized, although not huge. Most of the store is dedicated to wines. The awesome part is that they have a little table set up dedicated to letting you sample some of their stock. In addition, I've heard that you can get a $8 bottle of wine there that tastes about triple its price. I came for their beer, so I can say that their selection is pretty small but pretty good. Their selection consists of the fridges along the back and a square shelf thing in front of the fridges that has probably over 60 different bottles of beer. They sell things loosely and in 6 packs. Make sure you ask if there's anything at all that they can help you with. I came in only knowing that 1)I don't know a thing about beer and 2)I wanted to get some special craft beer to bring back to Maryland that I couldn't find in Maryland. I told the cashier my predicament, trying not to sound like a lost high schooler. He told me he had just the thing, and went to the back and came back with a four pack of Gandhi-Bot DIPA which he said was so high in demand they have to hide it in the back unless people ask for it specifically. It's rated quite highly on several beer rating sites, so I can only assume it's a good beer. They only came in packs of 4 cans for $13.50 (which will be fun to carry back on the 5 hour train ride back to Baltimore). I've seen cheaper beer prices in Maryland, and with so many bars around (especially Gryphon's at GPSCY) with insanely cheap drinks, there's no need for a can of beer to be $5. However, it's located right in the heart of downtown and the staff is AMAZING. If you are visiting new haven and are staying at the Omni...this place is literally RIGHT DOWNSTAIRS. Give it a try! read more

Amazing selection of liquor, wines, spirits, whatever you need with the approachable, knowledgeable, and friendly staff that a former college student didn't really appreciate. College was Dubra. No wonder how intelligent I thought I was. A budget is a budget. Return 3 yrs later on a business trip while staying at the Omni ... where could I find a sensible bottle of wine for an old college companion shall I say that I had to get to know again? In comes the Wine Thief. Around the corner and reasonable prices as well for every budget. Can't think of a better vendor if you're looking past 30 racks of Keystone and handles of Dubra. read more

High quality spirits, a wide selection of wines, and plenty of craft beer (much of which is already refrigerated) to boot! The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly, which always makes for a quality experience. They're not pushy not do they try to upsell you at every turn. They take your preferences and needs into perspective and offer selections that fit that (without being pushy about it). Not sure what else you could ask for when purchasing wine and spirits! This is a favorite of mine. Only downfall is that it can be tough to find parking really close (other than the lot across the street which is $4 for the first hour I believe). read more

They have a great selection of wines, beers, spirits. The store is attractive and pleasant to be in. Every single employee is knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly. They also have a good sense of humor, and never push anything on you, which makes this one of my favorite shops. read more

Love them so much. Good wine, good beer, good spirits. Great, helpful staff. You can give them something like "I'd like an Oregon red with a screw top for under $25" and they can actually help you. Free tastings are always awesome, and the people who run them can teach you a lot about the wine (and about wine in general). read more

Spectacular selection of reasonably priced wines. They help sponsor the Flights of Fancy nights that introduce you to wines and local businesses, and they do a great job of carrying wines for all tastes. The friendly staff will help you choose and is very knowledgeable but also accessible - even a first time wine buyer would feel comfortable speaking with these folks. The liquor selection is also very nice, though some seem to be priced higher than I'd like to see. read more

I love the Wine Thief - I've been a regular customer for over a year now. I tend to order wines that I want online and pick-up at the smaller Whitney location. They do deliveries too. They always give me a call to let me know when my wine will be ready for pick-up and if there are any changes to the order. Great business, great people. read more

This is the best liquor store in New Haven, hands down. The staff are amazingly helpful and can always help you find something to pair with dinner or a new wine to try. They offer free tastings in the early evenings on Thursday (beer), Friday (wine), and Saturday (spirits). Yes, FREE tastings every week. And it's really nice stuff, too. Prices are reasonable - a bit more than you'd pay at a suburban superstore, but lower or equal to other stores in the area. But the service truly can't be beat. The owner is such a resource and a kind guy, it makes me never want to leave New Haven! read more

Positives: 1.)The store itself is beautiful, clean with many esoteric selections. 2.)All price points from budget friendly to a few wallet busters that I noticed. 3.)Pricing is +/- everywhere else and to be honest I wouldn't complain if it's $2 more than another store since I'm sure the rent for this location is astronomical. That being said, for having the reputation that the Thief has then your customer service game better be top notch. I'm very disappointed since all of the other Yelp reviewers brag about their customer service and knowledge. A simple "hello" or a "can I help you?" would've been great when we walked in the door or how about a "thank you" after I made my purchase and supported your establishment. That was so disappointing. Hey, I get it. Working weekends suck especially when it's nice out, but that's retail. Employee(s) seemed uninterested in helping or communicating with customers. Guess I picked the wrong day to stop in. read more

Even if it is the most expensive wine store in New Haven, it is convenient for me shop here. I live just right behind the store, at least once a week I stop by. I'm always happy with all the stuffs, they are all helpful and very respectful towards the customer, but what happens today is another story :( I asked this lady to bring me 6 pack of beer from inside and when she is on the way to the other room, she gives a sign to the other guy to watch me, so that I won't steal them. Really ??? read more

Besides wine, The Wine Thief has a great variety of craft cocktail ingredients. They stock a diverse array of bitters (celery, Cajun, peychaud's) and have a nice selection of the more unusual varieties of liquor. This is the only liquor store I know ( in the area) that stocks creme de violette, sloe gin and falernum. Worth a visit if you are looking for more obscure ingredients. read more

I used to go to the Whitney Ave location but when they opened a second shop in downtown New Haven closer to me, I started coming here. The selection of wine, liquor, and beer is excellent. The shop has a pleasant, clean atmosphere and the bottles tend to be arranged from cheaper (bottom shelf) to more expensive (top shelf). I always get good explanations and recommendations from the store staff. I once asked about scotch whiskey and the staff let me taste two different types of scotch. This location also has free, weekly wine/beer tastings though I've never attended them. read more

As a grad student living downtown, Wine Thief is a great place to go for a quick bottle of wine before a dinner party or to celebrate after finishing a paper. They have a vast selection of wines and they also sell beers. They even have the mini airplane bottles of hard liquor. The only downside is the price, but I guess that's to be expected in this area. If only there was a student discount! A grad student can dream, can't they? read more

So you could go to your typical wine shop and buy Kendall Jackson, Blackstone and all the other commercial wines. Or your can go to the Wine Thief and get far superior wines at a better price point. You may not recognize some of the names as they seek out great wine for very reasonable prices. I have purchased $40 bottles and $8 bottles from the Wine Thief and have not been disappointed. Their Friday night tastings are a lot of fun.... Do not be surprised if you pay in cash and they hand you back your change in $2 bills..... read more

Fun place to shop. I especially appreciate that they know the background and tasting notes on the wines that they stock, it's not just a liquor store full of random bottles. They also have a lot of interesting mixers that I have not found anywhere else. It's a treat to come here. read more

The only place in New Haven that stocks creme de violette and maraschino liqueur. I couldn't make Aviations without The Wine Thief and for that they win my undying affection. (Yes, the prices are inflated a dollar or two compared to your average big-box liquor retailer but the convenience and reliably excellent selection justifies the markup.) read more

The store has a great selection of top-shelf liquors, but they markup the price on everything by 20-35%, which is substantial when one is interested in buying a high end whiskey, scotch, or liquor. Products that usually cost $50 were listed here as $60+, and items normally costing $60, were listed at $80+. If they had sensible pricing, I'd consider giving them my business. For now, I'll stick to Total Wine and More or even some of the various local shops. I looked all over the shop at various items and I didn't find a single liquor not excessively marked up. Most Unfortunate... read more

Not pleased with the rude staff. Arrogant, boisterous, and put down other local wine realtors/stores in the area. I will not be returning.

I must say I am impressed. I never dreamed of drinking boxed wine, but at the recommendation of the knowlegable staff, I broke my vow and was pleasantly surprised. If I were to buy another box wine, I would only buy it at the Wine Thief. read more

I just moved here from Westport, which is thought of to be an expensive place. I was shocked when I went up to the register and the man said 21.67 for a 12 pack of Stella. I could go anywhere in my old town and I would never have to pay such an inflated price. That being said, it was a very nice place and the people were very nice. Pretty expensive for the haven that is new aka New Haven. read more