I spend a lot of time drinking wine. (IDK...is that an okay thing to write out loud on Yelp?) So imagine my joy to find a wine store that actually cares about the wine I drink. I love this place because for the past couple of years I've been switching over to natural wines and the staff here are like a bunch of mellow Obi Wine Kenobis (see what I did there?) who have been a guiding force (Whoops. I did it again!) in my palette development and preference. Listen: buying wine can be a trying experience for someone like me whose knowledge essentially can be summed up by color categories. Because after Red, White, Pink and Orange I'm sort of tapped out. Champagne means Pol Roger. And pet'nat is mostly a mystery, still. I know, I know: blasphemy. And not very efficient natural wino-ism. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Queue the brilliant staff at Thirst Wine Merchants (and the sweet owners, Emilia and Michael) who are all quite serious about helping their customers discover delicious natural wine of all colors without being pretentious, off-putting or condescending. Because when one is trying to get one's wine on, anything else is really not welcome, is it? They know that I favor pretty labels (This. Is. A Thing. Don't laugh. Please?), like my whites mineral-ly, my reds light, and prefer to adhere to a prescribed plonk budget. I trust them enough to veer me towards bottles I've not had before AND I very much appreciate their section of super affordable quaff, lined up neatly, to the right of the entrance. For in this shop, affordability correlates easily with excellence. Wouldn't it be cool if insurance premiums did the same? Hahahahahaha! Oh. Wait. :| Also, because one can't live on wine alone and sometimes a cocktail is needed, there's a tightly edited selection of artisan spirits on hand. Think Campari, colored with beet extract; or special Gins and Vodkas, made by folks who've given their lives over to craft. Think about that: regular people with regular jobs who suddenly say "*&^%$ IT! ALL I WANT TO DO IS MAKE THE BEST HANDCRAFTED VODKA OR GIN IN THE WORLD PRICED RIGHT FOR ALL THE NICE PEOPLE! That's sort of selfless and really generous isn't it? And you'd think that these bottles would cost a utility bill or two, right? Not the case, my friends. For all of these are affordable as well. Lastly, this is a "shoppe" in the old-fashioned sense of the word. One pops in, has a chat about work, pets, kids, recent meat loaves made, books-to-read, etc., and then walks out with one or two or several nice bottles. Planning a party? Drop in before hand and discuss the occasion while plotting out the menu and suitable dranks. Sorting a gift? Buy the wine-of-the-month option and rest assured you will be deeply loved. If you're looking for a drive-by experience go elsewhere. Please. In a city like ours, with ever-more big box retailers supplanting small businesses, personalized experiences should be treasured for what they are: increasingly rare and welcome. Thirst is my go-to! Give it a try! read more

Great experience. I am exploring white wines and was pleased to be welcomed into this cozy, well stocked shop and being welcomed and educated by the friendliest employee. I left with 2 whites and a new red to try. I will certainly shop here again when visiting Fort Greene. read more

I started seeking out and choosing Natural wines over the past ~2 years and have tried to understand the products better. I am still new and have a lot more to try (thanks Skin Contact, June, and my local liquor store Alina's which has started to stock a few bottles)! I found the staff at Thirst easygoing and helpful, and location convenient. I'm so glad a place like Thirst exists in Brooklyn. It's a treat to only browse only Naturals. I definitely want to try the subscription ($98/4 bottles+perks). read more

It would be remiss if I did not give my regards to Thirst due to their proximity to Ft. Greene Park, their selection and the affordability of their bottles. Listen, over the years this place has been hit or miss... but they have stood their ground solidly. I agree that sometimes the staff can be whacky... but the female owner is kind. Nowadays I only head over to Thirst en route to Ft. Greene Park for picnics. FYI: Ft. Greene park is the OLDEST park in NYC (older than Central and Prospect) and it is also my favorite park. There is a hill that overlooks the fields and that is my spot! In the springs/summers, spouse and I bike there and have long wonderful dinner picnics there in the evenings after work. The only way to enjoy White is when cold.. so Thirst provides us with great chilled Sauvignon Blancs, Chardonnays, Sancerres, Viogniers, etc... We can now take our time on the bike or trek to the park and not worry about the chill! read more

Thirst Wine Merchants - Thanks for the chilled white thirst. Picnic on my fave hill in ft Greene park. - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Simple storefront, excellent organic wine collection, knowledgeable staff and great customer service. read more

Thirst Wine Merchants - a row of wine bottles - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Just read Yelp's Brooklyn Weekly and it was about wine shops. This has prompted me on giving Thirst a review. The venue itself is nice. I don't really mind the small space and they have a nice wine selection for the space they have. Now my problem is with the staff and customer service quality. 1st visit: I just went in to browse as I pass by one day since I was new to the neighborhood and wanted get to know the store. One guy at the PC, another two ppl at the end sipping wine, tasting?... Nobody looked at me and no words were exchanged for the 4 mins that I was in there. 2nd visit: Went in with my man, he wanted to check the store out. This nice blond lady asked us if we needed help. 3rd. I went into the store first. A guy with glasses and semi curly hair looked up from the computer screen and looked at me. I greeted. I got no reply from him as he continued to stare at me. Then M. stepped in and the guy said "Hi" while looking at him. The rest of the shopping experience was strange. The guy recommended an excellent wine and we were happy about it. My only problem is that he completely ignored me through out the entire conversation. As in talking to M. and never ever engaged eye contact. Even when M. asked for my input and which one I would like... the guy still looked at M. but not me. Did I remind him of someone who killed his cat? 4th visit: We went in to get the same bottle of the previous visit. The staff were all nice and polite. The guy who ignored me was not there. Conclusion: With planning, I will fetch my wine at other wine stores, Astor Place or Trader Joe's. For something last min, yeah sure... Thirst is near. read more

The thing about thirst is that the owners are very into their wines. They have a great selection of specific biodynamic and organic wines and are immensely helpful with food pairings or restaurant recommendations. I can see why it can be intimidating since they don't have typical wine shop stuff like ' a bottles under $10 ' table or whatever. It's definitely a wine shop for someone who wants to learn about the wine they are getting , and not for someone who says things like ' i want a nice bottle of red ' ... I mean, can you imagine how many vague requests like this these people must get on a daily basis ? Wine is intimidating in general, i know.. so if you come here, just be honest with your price point and talk about what the wine is for , it can vary greatly from meal to meal .. weather .. etc. It is honestly the only wine place I go to (except for Astor WInes) , it can definitely help to know a little bit about what you like and what you want before you go. I'm in now way suggesting become an wine aficionado, but at least know something beyond ' i'm looking for a white'. I'm in no way a wine snob, or an uppity fort greener ... just a college student who likes wine every once in a while. read more

I have a hard time completely shellacking a place even after multiple visits with the same outcome so, I will say this... they have a nice door. With half a dozen visits to this store under my belt I've decided there are a few things you can depend on when visiting Thirst: 1) When you arrive you will see two people behind the counter 2) Neither one will greet you when you enter the store 3) There must be something very interesting on the computer screen 4) If anyone else is in the store you will run into them Thirst is for you if you: 1) Weigh 17 pounds, that way you can maneuver through the wine racks 2) Know exactly what you want and where in the store to find it 3) Want to relive your "awkward stage" when women ignored you and men ran over you Being a full grown adult who often likes to shoot the shit with Oenophiles while not having flashbacks to pre-pubescent failures with women I have decided my days of Thirst have come to an end. While for many of you Myrtle Avenue might be a bit of a hike I highly recommend Gnarly Vines on Myrtle between Carlton and Adelphi. The shop is spacious, the staff is knowledgeable, the prices are right, there are multiple wine tastings per week and the walls serve as a show room for local artist's work. The shop is great, even if their door is sub par. read more

I'm a huge fan! Came in here with a friend and was delighted to see they allow dogs in their shop--and offer treats! It was a hot day outside and I had my pup with me, so I was very glad to be able to come in with her and enjoy a bit of wine shopping and cooling off. The owner (?) told me they have some rescue kittens and that they were looking for homes. Such nice people! Highly recommend! read more

Thirst Wine Merchants - Azuki approves! - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I can't explain why I don't like this place. I just don't. And it's not due to Greene Grape brand loyalty. I think it's the design of the store and the way it's laid out. I especially dislike the way that the cash wrap is at the front, which for some reason makes me feel overly scrutinized when I walk in, like the sales clerk is thinking something rude and wine snobbish about me. Which is retarded since, while I might dress like a poor grubby artist or student or something, I know my wine. And I'm willing to splurge on something special. This is the first rule of retail - you DO NOT judge people based on their looks, because it's impossible to tell who will buy based on outward appearances. And the last thing you want to do is intimidate potential customers over to the competition. All in all, though, I think it's just that I've never seen anything particularly exciting here. Or maybe they're not doing a good job of showing me why a particular wine is exciting (which can be done without pasting up glowing blurbs from Wine Spectator, btw). read more

I joined their wine club and so far I like it a lot. I pay about $100 per month, which entitles me to 4 thoughtfully selected bottles. I have really enjoyed exploring new wines. Only complaint is that the type on the description cards that accompany the wines are too small for my middle-aged eyes. read more

This place has by far the worst service of any wine store I've been to. Passive aggressive,entitled and snotty service is what you'll find here. I was in the store yesterday and the sales girl very passive aggressively yelled at a customer for taking wine out of the refrigerator. Instead of simply telling the customer that the store prefers to get the wine out of fridge she goes on and on about taking the wine. And when the customer commented that he won't do it again, she keeps going. By time she helps me, I ask for a French Malbec. She shows me a blend. I explain that I prefer a non-blended Malbec. My mistake, I guess she thought I was correcting her because then she goes on about how the blended grape is almost the same as the Malbec grape...WTF? Seriously stay away from this place. The Gnarly Vines and Greene Grape have far better service. read more

I was greeted enthusiastically by two very friendly (and bored) guys, which was surprising for a Saturday evening, so I got some individual attention right away. I said I needed a white wine to bring to a dinner party, and preferably under $15. He brought me over and sold me on a wine from Slovenia, described the flavors and a brief history of the vineyard. It was just enough info to give me a brief idea of what I'm buying, but also have me out the door in 5 minutes. Perfect. And no upselling at all - the bottle he recommended was $12. The only drawback? It feels a little cramped in there. Their selection of wine is so impressive, and it's laid out well, but they could use a bit more space. But other than that, totally great place to get your vino. read more

This place is right at the end of my old block and for a while was part of my weekly Thursday-night-get-home-from-out-of-town ritual: a bottle from Thirst, two slices of pizza, couch, TV. Ahh. I'm surprised Sara C. felt so prejudged, because I always found the couple who own and run the place friendly and helpful, and I only know enough about wine to be able to name a couple of varieties I usually enjoy. My only complaint was that they closed at 9 so I sometimes missed them (and that was on the nights when I needed them most). They hosted a weekly Saturday afternoon tasting -- I think from 2-5 -- that I never managed to attend but sounded very appealing. Hopefully they're still doing that. read more

I like wine, but I don't know much about it-which is why I like Thirst. When I walked into Thirst for the first time, I was overwhelmed. For a small store, they had a massive selection of wines. The staff at Thirst is incredibly helpful and they have an extensive knowledge of the wines in stock. The staff has always been able to interpret my perplexed expressions and enigmatic requests. I have never walked out with a wine I didn't like. read more

Great selection of wines. Super pretentious staff. Every time I leave the store I get the feeling that the staff is talking about me behind my back- that kind of junior high/high school vibe is what I get. The wine selection is great though so it sucks to not want to support the store on the basis of the people working there. read more

Amazing customer service - glad to see they will serve sample some wines in the store. I really appreciate their depth of knowledge and laid-back style. they are not wine snobs yet they are really passionate about what they do. It's not a store for everyone - they are really focused on artisan wines and the process behind the product. they don't just sell based on market indicators like most stores. They can talk about the pros and cons of each product - especially related to buying wine as a gift - and are very respectful of my lower price ranges. I need help to focus in on which bottles best suit my palate and they take the time to sample and chat about what might be helpful for me: spicy, tannic, local, Spanish, French, fruit forward etc. read more

Unbelievable wine, incredible service, remarkable programming. I've been a Thirst wine share (4 bottles/month=$98) member since late 2018, and some 100+ bottles later, I have yet to try something I do not like. I've had dozens of five star wines, but even the "worst" one was still a 5 out of 10. How many bad bottles of wine have you bought from your usual liquor store? This place isn't just unparalleled quality--this is the best wine store in the entire city. You heard me. The. entire. city. The $98 (I pick mine up in-store, add $ shipping if you get it delivered to your house) is a STEAL considering most of these bottles are at least $35 retail. Thirst goes above and beyond to connect with and source from small distributors and winemakers all over the world; they often showcase otherwise unknown producers. Everywhere I go--other wine bars, restaurants--I tell everyone about Thirst. I simply cannot sing their praises enough. If you're a wine connoisseur, you're gonna love hamming it up with their friendly, and knowledgable staff (s/o to Nathan & Noah). If you're new to wine, the staff is helpful and kind and will meet you wherever you are. (For the record, I've never had a single negative interaction with any Thirst staff member, so I can't really understand what these 1 star commenters are talking about...) Lastly, they do monthly tastings and often bring the maker or distributor into the store so you can learn from them directly. I dig this store so much that I convinced my company to switch over to Thirst as our monthly wine vendor. Try for yourself. See what all the hype is about. read more

Thirst is a pretty quality wine joint in Fort Greene. Definitely my go-to for wine when I get the craving. The staff are uber-friendly and the selection is great! They have inexpensive wines, as well as expensive ones... and, all you have to do is ask - they will help you out in a minute! read more

The pros: 1. Convenient neighborhood location 2. Good wine selection from different regions, at different price points 3. Knowledgeable staff The cons: 1. Extremely small space-very difficult to navigate 2. Aforementioned staff have a slightly pretentious hipster vibe to them that was a bit off-putting. The verdict: Thirst is OK, good for those too tired to go to the other, larger wine sellers in the area like Gnarly Vines and Greene Grape or even Olivino in Clinton Hill. Otherwise, meh. read more

I've tried giving this place a chance - many chances in fact - bit I'm yet to enjoy a single one of their recommendations :( The store is awkwardly laid out and cramped, with no clear wine categorizations, so you're pretty much entirely reliant on staff interaction in order to have a hope in hell of finding something within your price range that you're also likely to enjoy. Well, on my last visit the guy helping me was friendly, proactive and seemed knowledgeable - I had high hopes that finally, this time, I'd be taking home a winner! But sadly, it was not to be - the wine was extremely mediocre. Certainly not worth the $15 or so I paid, although admittedly that's the very bottom of their average price range. Thirst remains a last-minute option for me, I'm afraid. read more

When I first moved to Fort Greene, a few months back, one of my primary missions was to find a good, solid wine store. Initially, I thought that Thirst would fill that void...but after repeat visits, I'm not so sure. The store isn't organized in a particularly helpful manner. Whereas most wine stores are clear about which wines are from which regions, or something to help a customer navigate the infinite bottles, Thirst just kind of throws it all out there (or so it seems to me...tough to tell without better signage). Furthermore, this is some pretentious wine going on. Granted, that's their gimmick -- small vintners, unusual blends, etc -- which is fine for a special occasion, perhaps. But if you're just after a $12 Malbec to guzzle on a Tuesday night while you watch Real Housewives, you'd be better off somewhere else. In fact, you'd definitely be better off somewhere else...from what the sales staff have told me, Thirst doesn't stoop to the "Malbec level"...WHICH IS CRAZY because Malbec is delicious. But I digress. I do find myself grabbing a bottle here a few times a month. It can be a great place to find something "a little different" ...especially if you're willing to shell out more than $20 for a bottle. The staff, in my experience, is extremely friendly and knowledgeable, and more than willing to help you make the perfect selection. Plus, this is a small, family-owned business, and the owners (who are often in the store) really seem to love what they do. Oh, and bonus points for their passion about finding homes for stray cats. read more

Under new ownership, this place has completely transformed itself. Much better staff than at most wine stores and now with a much wider selection of wines than the store used to stock. read more

Average wines and terrible customer service. The snarkiness of the employees is shocking.

Tip to woman handling cash register at Thirst: It sounds foolish, I know, but people who are willing to spend $80 bucks on a couple bottles of wine also expect service that equals that expense. Or at the very least, eye contact, a happy attitude and maybe a 'thank you' at the end of the transaction. I joined Yelp specifically to warn all Ft. Greene residents that this place is no friend to the neighborhood. Horrible service doesn't make your wine taste bad. It just makes me never want to enter your store again. read more

My coworker invited me to have dinner with her and some friends and asked me to bring a bottle of wine. I stopped by this Fort Greene wine shop for the first time and was immediately approached by their friendly staff with lots of recommendations. The staff here really tries to match the wine with whatever food you are planning to eat. I had no idea what to buy because my friend was making Korean food. I took their recommendations and the two bottles I bought were instant crowdpleasers. I will definitely be back for more wine. read more

I've always had great service from the people at Thirst. Super friendly and helpful with recommendations (and food pairings). Best thing thing is that every wine in the store is what they call "slow wine" - grapes grown without pesticides/herbicides. It's the only wine store I know of like this. Luckily, Thirst is super close to home so I can easily drop by for a bottle on my way home from work! :-) read more

I left a bad review a million moons ago and I finally figured out how to get back on yelp reviews. So I'm deleting the old review and writing on top of it to make amends. They are a pretty great wine store. Sorry for being a jerk before- they deserved it at the time. Since then the folks here have been passionate about their product and pleasant neighbors read more

As a Fort Greene resident I try to always support local merchants... however, after giving Thirst numerous tries I have decided to never shop there again. The vibe inside is too fussy and tense... and now I know why. I recently went in and asked the sales girl for assistance selecting a bottle. She was doing her best to helpful (and ended up suggesting a great wine), but her boss (owner Emilia Valencia, I'm assuming) didn't agree with her advice and actually said "that bottle does not have oak in it...I thought we talked about this... in the back, now." It made me incredibly uncomfortable and I left feeling very sorry for the sales girl. If she was going to get reprimanded the least the owner could have done was wait until I left the store. My suggestion to the sales girl - apply for a job at Gnarly Vines where they have a better selection, a more relaxed vibe and treat their employees with respect. read more

They should just call it Kermit Lynch and be done with it. They get two stars because if they're going to be a slave to one importer, Kermit is a good master. But it's a lazy way to run a wine shop if you ask me. However, Thirst is still preferable to Green Grape. read more

This is the best wine shop in Ft. Greene / Clinton Hill. Excellent selection of bottles and I have never been steered wrong by the owners or staff. Always ask for a recommendation! read more

This is a great place to go for both amateurs and connoisseurs. The owners, who are always there, know wine...personally. They are great at picking a wine for the occasion/cuisine and telling you why it will work. (As an amateur, to me the descriptions they give just sound poetic, but my friend said it was a great description and very helpful.) A few people have said it is better than Greene Grape in knowledge/selection. read more

I always look forward to visiting Thirst. The wines change all the time, but are consistently thoughtful, yummy and sometimes unexpected. Over the years, my experience of the people who work there has been that they are all passionate and geeky about natural wines, but completely down to earth and friendly about the main point of it all - that this is supposed to be fun. On my way there in a few.... read more

I was really satisfied with this place. We walked in and asked the clerk what to get--we described the food we were going to eat (we were on our way to get Moroccan food at Kif) and told him a little bit about our tastes. He gave us two choices based on the information we told him. Both were only $15! We made our decision and were out of the store within about five minutes. I'm not really a drinker, so I usually get overwhelmed in wine shops, but the salesperson here made it really easy. The wine ended up going very well with our meal, and I ended up getting very tipsy... read more

It's a small place with a nice atmosphere and a surprisingly solid wine selection, featuring knowledgeable staff and nicely varied price range (read: plenty of worthwhile expensive stuff, but tonnes of stuff in the $10-14 range that is just as good quality). As my brother-in-law swears, there's not a single bad bottle in the entire store. read more

I am not a very scholarly wine drinker, so when I buy a bottle I generally want a little guidance (though I'm not quite as helpless as I once was). The impression I've gotten from making purchases at thirst is that everyone who works there has tried almost everything in the store. That right there goes a long way. Add to that a very impressive and thoughtful collection of bourbons and other spirits behind the counter (which by the way kicks the crap out of the Greene Grape's selection) and you have a good addition to the neighborhood. read more

Decent selection for a small store but every time I go in the owner complains about something to me, then tries to continue conversation as I'm trying to leave. Sadly, I end up avoiding Thirst & walk further to Gnarly Vines because of it. Also, I realized they've been charging me for bags. I actually prefer NOT having a bag and they don't ask so that's particularly annoying. read more

I really like their inexpensive table wines in the front window. They taste great and I never have a hangover.

I went here trying to find a good selection of wines in the local area. I visited a wine shop just a block or two away and went here in hopes of more of a vareity. Bleh. I'm not so wrapped up about small places because it has become the norm now for me after being in NY for a hot minute so I can't complain. I actually like the setup. It's cute and warm. But. Every stereotype I had about wanna-be bougie winos came to life here. I was ignored and when I finally made eye contact with someone he acted as if I was a nuisance. I politely decline help and he just stared at me. Anyway, one the positive note the selection is rather large for the amount of space it occupies. However, the organization is quite difficult to figure out. Even pricing. I'm all about having a nice bottle of wine, and I'm always willing to dish out a couple extra bucks as long as its worth it but as I browsed the store my interest began to wane. Stores like this, as one Yelper previous function best on customer interaction to explain their product. There was three workers standing behind the register just chatting.Unfortunately, it seems like service is a hit or miss here. Overall, I probably won't go back again. I did buy wine though, it was pretty good but I rather go elsewhere to find it. read more

Love this place, even more so since they moved closer to where we live. The offer really interesting wines -- a true wine drinker's store, and specialize in biodynamic, organic, etc. They really know their producers to the region and make awesome suggestions. This is a real wine drinker's wine shop, and they're supporting small growers and makers. read more