Reposting my Google review because there aren't very many recent reviews since UnWined's change in ownership in 2025. TLDR: it's a mess and former customers are concerned. The best word I can use to describe my shopping experience at UnWined as of late is "undignified". I question whether the new owner is actually interested in curating an interesting wine and beer selection for both the novice & educated consumer or if she's just using this storefront as a personal playground with no interest in serving the customers of this established business. In the year since the new owner has taken over, I have seen full-time staff members get fired and replaced with 19 year old part-timers, I have seen the most ridiculous events being advertised that have barely anything to do with wine, and I have seen the most unprofessional behavior happening on the store floor that makes me feel like I'm walking on eggshells (e.i. the owner yelling at customers, flipping out about a broken water heater, getting upset over missing shipments). During the weekends, the entire store feels like a circus with the owner's friends peddling their mediocre goods, and shopping for wine in a relaxed way feels nearly impossible...it's hard to do anything when someone named DJ Thunder Bunny is playing her set, someone is selling you their gluten-free bread in front of the French wine section, and there's a dog adoption drive happening all at the same time. A lot of people, including myself, have just stopped shopping here because it's such an uncomfortable experience now. I hope things change, but I'm not feeling particularly optimistic since the owner has only doubled down on the cringey events. Despite all my negative feedback, I want to give a shoutout to Sparlan. He's a delight to talk to! read more

Dropped by for National Rose Day to enjoy a the tasting. This was my first visit to the shop, but I will definitely be back. The staff was able to make great suggestions. There were wine options for any price point. read more

Unwined - National Rose Day tasting - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Such a hidden gem! I'm so happy I stumbled into this place. I had a good time during the National Rose tasting. The owner Jess is so kind and knowledgeable. I'll definitely be back. So nice having a classy wine bar right in my neighborhood! read more

Unwined - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I never feel truly welcome here. I always feel like the staff is looking at me and thinking "Is she lost? Does she know this is an upscale wine shop?" and they've made me feel that way since the beginning. My first visit there was about a month after they opened. Despite that I like the selection of charcuterie, cheeses, ales/brews and wines. I wish the store was better lit. It's cozy. There are a couple of employees that are very helpful but overall I won't recommend Unwined, I also won't say don't go. I'm like "meh". They have one or two things you won't readily find anywhere else nearby so that alone may be worth a visit. For me I went in today looking for a nice wine for spring and left empty handed. read more

Unwined - Ale tastings during corona virus COVID-19. Clearly social distancing isn't a thing here. - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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What a hidden gem! I found their sake tasting event with Dassai, one of the most popular and the hardest to get sake, picture. So I RSVPed right away. Unfortunately they didn't have the one. The sake tasting in the basement. I went through the shop and out from the back door and walked down a steep slope. Wow! There was a bright room with many guests. A good Sake lecture, 7 sake samples with a water bottle and Japanese rice crackers. The class was 19:00-20:30. They didn't have Junmai Daiginjo and Dassai. So I went back to the shop upstairs and purchased 2 fancy rare beer. 1 tiny bottle of Japanese salt plum flavor Hitachino beer is $6.99. And 1 middle size stout is $12.99. They have local tap beer and their own bottles. Variety: Various wine and beer, also local tap beer, some sake, cheese, snacks, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, cigar, chocolate, ... Price: Pricier... Customer service: Good! Parking lot: Free. Tasting: Sake one was pretty good:) read more

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I've lived nearby almost 2 years but didn't discover the coolness of this place until the holidays when I buzzed in thinking it was just a wine shop. It's way more than that, you can buy wine, delicious variations of beers, cheeses, chocolate and meats to go with your goods. Can't wait until they get back to wine tasting! I now stop here to pick up the new offerings and gifts or to just restock read more

Unwined - Picked this up today. Not too sweet but super tasty sour! - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I'm more of a beer guy myself, but this shop does seem to be the Mecca for all followers of Dionysus. I often see them there worshiping at the alter of Unwined's massive selection of reds, whites, and pinot grigios. I must confess that I find it all a bit confusing as my wine taste stray to the wine from the box variety or perhaps the cellars of Boone's Farm. (Did you know that if you baste a turkey in their Blue Hawaiian vintage, you will have a uniquely delicious bird that would bring a smile to the face of any of those Duck Dynasty guys?) Although Unwined's main focus is wine, it does have a nice selection of craft beers and artisan cheeses which is really more my speed. Yes, while much of its clientele worships all things wine, I'm afraid my beverage God wears lederhosen and sings an Oktoberfest song. With a little searching, I find a perfect six-pack of Paulaner Oktoberfest chilling in the cooler. Come to Papa! A quick bit of foraging in the cheese section, and I am pairing a nice wedge of leek infused cheddar with my beer. I toss in a fresh baguette,and I am set for the evening. Well, almost, for I still have to pay and the prices here tend to be a bit more expensive your average grocery store. Hey, not worry, I check-in and what do you know...Unwind has a Yelp offer of 10% off on all purchases. Now, if they only had a larger selection of beer. read more

I walked in just to check the store out and I'm glad I did. First thing that struck me was the surf music- could have been Dick Dale on guitar. Very cool. This shop is tucked into the corner of the shopping center and they have a small but visible sign that says Unwined. There is a stand up cigar humidor near the front with Ashtons, Macanudo Hyde Parks and a few other decent cigars in stock. Pricing is OK and not too steep. They carry an assortment of imported and domestic wines all around the store and they guy there was very knowledgeable. They have beer and wine tastings from time to time- catch what's currently on tap on the blackboard just past the counter- near the taps. They sell growlers of a couple local brews and they will reach out to get what you want- all you need to do is ask. HE told me that they have a shipment this week on WED and FRI and went down the list of the imports he would be getting. Nice. I liked the feel here- yes Safeway and other big stores carry a larger mass selection- BUT I like the local shops where someone can tell you about a vintage, winery or brewery. Not many employees at Safeway can do that- if any at all. I'm glad I stopped in to check them out because I know I'll be back soon. read more

Unwined - Now how cool is this! - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Great local spot with friendly staff and excellent beverage selection! Back patio setup is awesome, looking forward to trying more of the menu! read more

Amazing selection and service! The team at Unwind make you feel right at home and go out of their way to help you make the best selection, whether it is beer, wine or food. They have done a great job of fighting through the COVID restrictions and I look forward to being able to sit down and try their diverse beer selection and talk story. Keep up the great work and thanks for staying open as much as possible. Laissez les bon temps rouler! read more

The most knowledgeable people and best experience! I come here regularly for gifts for my clients and open houses. Not only do they provide a great service, but I feel like they are invested in my journey as a new Realtor. I shop local to support local businesses. I return because of the relationships. read more

Great local wine shop. Very helpful staff especially for holiday gifts. They even have a good selection of chocolates.

Unwined Gourmet Wine and Cigars is excellent, outstanding! We buy all of our wine and coffee at this store. This is the perfect place to buy wine whenever you are invited to dinner by a friend or business associate, because this store's wines make the perfect gift. We would not dream of buying our coffee anywhere else. If you are a cigar connoisseur, this store is the place for you, because it has a wide and varied selection of quality cigars. The store also sells quality chocolates, cheeses, domestic and foreign beers, etc. The people behind the counter are extremey friendly and helpful. The owner is also great. As I say, Unwined Gourmet Wine and Cigers is excellent, outstanding, out of this world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

I am new to wine, so I don't consider myself an expert on the variety or quality of wine here, but thanks to the weekly tastings on Wednesdays and Saturdays I have learned to recognize a decent wine. The informed staff are helpful for educating the uneducated during tastings about things such as acidity, tannins, and everything else that goes into a wine. Two excellent aspects of the store are the $12 and under rack, which maintains a variety of wines for those of us who are on a Barefoot wine budget but actually want to drink something better, and staff feedback on wine. If the staff hear from multiple people about a lousy wine, they won't order it again. Now onto something in which I have some actual expertise, beer. While the beer selection is not extremely large (after all this is a wine store), it is very good. There are beers from many parts of the country and rare varieties available in single bottles. This place also has one of the better selections of German beers (outside those typically available in grocery stores such as Heineken and Beck's) that I have seen outside of a Total Wine and More. Also available at the store is a selection of cheeses, cigars, olive oil, and spreads for bread and sandwiches. The staff is friendly and extremely informed. If there is something that you want that they do not have, they will make an effort to order it for you. Bottom line: the experience is more like going to a friend's house who is a wine expert than the experience of going to a store. read more

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My go to beer store. Great selection and always rotating. Super knowledgeable and friendly staff. The prices are a little steep on some of the beer, but that's most likely just because of the area where its located. Definitely recommend. read more

This place has a professional staff that will help with any special order you have trouble finding elsewhere. Give them a shot!

This gourmet wine and delicacy shop is one of the very best. The wine selections are varied and include many superb, exotic and specialized vintages. The sales staff person who assisted me, Davis, was extremely knowledgeable and personable. read more

I have now had several bad expeirences in a row here. Honestly you are much better off going to Safeway if you want a good wine. My BF went in here and asked for a good red to take to dinner. That sent him home with GREY Ghost Table red. It fell FLAT. It had no varietal/grapes listed on it and it had zero tanins in it. And that cost $14.99-- for a bottle of Virginia crap. It tasted like a box wine. They took atvantage of him :( They get to keep 2* stars because they still have a good cheese selection. I just changed this to 3 stars because: 1) they do have great LOCAL cheeses and other artisan cheeses and an array of smoked meats 3) Great selection of crafted beers 2) This is a "mom and Pop" store and I don't want to hurt them with a really bad review. They are trying to provide a service of local Virginia wines. They can't help it that Virginia wines are mediocre. Virginia may be the first state in wine, they are also the worst state in wine. 3) I was just contacted by the proprietor of this store and she apologized for the bad wine and wished that we had informed her of the bad bottle (in this case the whole Grey Ghost...I have been to the winery for several flights and everything was baaaad. Then again, I am from 40 minutes outside Sonoma) 4) The atmosphere and ambiance in here is pleasant. I hate going into Safeway- way to many people and too bright! read more

I actually have not even stepped foot into this store however I am amazed by their superior level of customer service over the phone! While trying to source 150 half bottles of a particular prosecco, Susanne suggested another wine shop in my city...saving me over $300 in shipping! Thank you, Susanne for your honesty, integrity, and putting the customer first! I'll be recommending Unwined to all of my DC friends! read more

This is a long-overdue review. My wife and I found Vanessa's shop in the Bradlee Shopping Center back when we lived in that area. We were blown away by the selection of wines, the helpfulness of ALL the staff, and in particular, Vanessa's attention to each and every customer. I think we met her once and she's always remembered us -- even what we liked in the past! When we moved down to Old Town, we were ecstatic to see another Unwined down there! Vanessa's shop is the icing on the cake of an otherwise perfect area. I am not, nor will I likely ever be very knowledgeable about wine. That's my wife's department. But I know when I like a particular bottle, and Vanessa is always able to figure out a good match for us based on my obscure requests ("Hmm...how about something red, smooth but smokey, and about 27 percent fun...") Last night is a perfect example. Our Valentine's plans were all set -- I got home from work in time, reservations were made, my wife was excited to get a night out...and the babysitter didn't show up. So, we went to plan B: Put the kids to bed early (Hahahaha! Fat chance!), get a bottle of wine and find something on Netflix. I took our oldest boy down to Unwined, and despite his attempts to tear the place apart, Vanessa was able to devote her full attention to us and suggest something perfect. Best wine place ever. Great range of prices. Friendly, helpful staff. Need to get a bottle or three in the Northern Virginia area? You don't need to go anywhere else. read more

Wonderful selection and an extremely helpful staff. Not only are they friendly, but they will recommend wines that aren't wildly expensive. I truly can't say enough about how lovely they all are. The selection of host gifts is fantastic! We love the thoughtful, unique variety of wines. Great selection of microbrews, too! Stop by and you won't be disappointed! And don't you dare leave without picking up a salted caramel. Absolutely to die for! read more

I have to make a stop in for the Unwined Gourmet Wine and Cigars store. I came there specifically because it was the only local store I could find that was carrying Fentiman's Naturally Fermented Botanical Tonic Water. I was searching for this one in particular as I was doing a Tonic Water tasting for my blog "The Next Rounds on Me" - I was thoroughly surprised! They have a classic little humidor with lots of options there and an awesome craft beer and artisanal cheese and meat selection. They have little sweet treats at the front that will force you to buy one each time you go back for whatever reason you head in there to shop. They do tastings and classes there as well (as I was told by the friendly staff member at the front desk) read more

I am so lucky I can walk here from where I live. They have a great selection of wine, craft beers, cheeses, and cigars. Odds are, whenever I am there, they have a bottle of something open to try -- even if they aren't having a formal tasting. This shop is run by Renee, she is great, very helpful. read more

I love this place. Tucked into the corner of a 1950s strip mall, where an Ace hardware store used to be, this oddly-shaped little gem has a great selection of wines, obscure beers, a small selection of gourmet foods and even a decently-sticked cigar humidor. The staff is astoundingly knowledgeable and friendly. Recently they've added a growler refill station, which I haven't tried but my friends tell me is great. Lately I've been trying to remember to not buy beer at the Safeway up the street, but to support this small, local business. I'm by no means a wine expert, but I've found some nice selections with the help of the amazing staff. Seriously, if you're in northeastern Fairfax county or even in Old Town, you really should make the journey to check this place out. I think you'll come back if you do. read more

Awesome place for beer and wine! The staff is knowledgeable, helpful and amazing! Support a small business and buy your beer and wine here!

I'm with Taylor W. below. Thanks, Taylor--I knew I wasn't imagining things! For me, the service experience has been totally bipolar--Sometimes, I get an overenthusiastic "concierge" who is willing to do everything short of calling the governor to help me find what I'm looking for. Other times, I can stand there for twenty minutes while staff looks right through me. Overall, I hate going in there because I find both levels of service quite irritating, but sometimes my husband wants a special beer, so I suck it up. read more

I love the folks who work here. Every time I walk in, they are available to offer great suggestions if I need help, or just offer a friendly greeting if I know what I want. They let me bring my bike or my dog inside, and never act pretentious about my knowledge (or lack thereof) of wines. The store is small, but their selection is frequently updated, so I can stop in and find something new at any time. I mostly go for the beer, but the few times I have had them pick out wines they have been outstanding. There are also free wine tastings, cheese and some other miscellaneous gourmet items. A wonderful asset to the neighborhood! read more

I love this wine and cheese store! They are very helpful whether you are a wine novice or connoisseur. I tell them my budget and occasion and they get to work pulling fabulous wines for me. And I love that they keep track of the wines you've purchased so you can refer back to what you liked to buy more. Their cheese counter offers an amazing selection and the cheese manager is extremely knowledgeable and friendly. And lots of amazing beers for you beer lovers out there. I highly recommend! read more

This place is great! First off the owner, I assume she owned it was extremely nice to us. They have everything you could want. Wine, beer, cocktail supplies, growler station w beer, cheese, cigars and snacks. What a tiny gem of a store.. It's the perfect little spot to find just what you wanted. read more

I am not a wine drinker. But I am a bit of a beer snob. I am writing my review for beer enthusiasts. Unwined has some of the best craft beer selection in Alexandria. The selection is rather small (the focus here really is on the wine) but the limited selection is great. You can definitely find something quality no matter what. Recently I dropped in and they had a case of Stone Enjoy By (EXTREMELY RARE to find in stores). I almost bought the whole thing! :D Staff: Extremely helpful. They always are eager to help me select a beer, look up a specific beer, or just chat about beer in general! I would say the staff is the best thing going for Unwined. Join their mailing list. They have occasional tastings, events, classes, etc. And they have discounts on wine the last Sunday of every month. Prices are average to overpriced. But since this is the only option for good beer in Alexandria, well worth it. TIP: Pull up the Yelp mobile ap. There's a coupon for 10% off your purchase. No limit to # of uses! read more

The craft beer and wine selections are great, and the staff is incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. Some cans and bottles of the beer are available to purchase as singles if you're looking for a variety. They also offer growlers and crowlers to go. Highly recommend this place. read more

What an awesome surprise. Walked in on a whim and was greeted by Ashley who directed me to a wine and beer tasting. The wine tasting was done by a gentleman who ably and unpretentiously introduced me to the Spanish wines they were showcasing. This cavernous little gem is worth a stop. read more

Great service. Looking for a cold beer to take home, in a rush to catch Nats Sox matchup. Was steered towards Green Flash IPA. I said no way, not an IPA fan. He had it on tap and offered a sample- good stuff! I got a six pack, coffee beans, and my fav dark chocolate bar on the way out. Happy customer! read more

Great local shop, the staff was very helpful and friendly. I am not a big wine drinker but I love beer and this place is great if you are looking for craft beer. They don't have a huge selection but a decent one and any beer drinker should be able to find something they enjoy. I will definitely be back and glad to have a store like this in my area. read more

I LOVE this place! Love, love love. Seriously, if you are a cigar or wine fan, this is a must - it's a good size with a wide selection of both, and the staff truly care about helping you pick out something you'll enjoy. Also - and it's been a few years now - I once wrote down the types of wine I was interested in (they had some kind of sign-in book), and they actually went to the trouble of calling me when it came in. read more

This business is first class. The wine selection is vast and they also have some craft beer and specialty cheeses. Wine tastings often. The staff is extremely helpful and knowledgeable. The Lenora french bread available wed-sat alone is worth the trip, though it will be discontinued when the bakery down the hall finally gets its act together. read more

This is a great store. The staff is informative and friendly. They have a great selection of wine and nice treats. It is really wonderful to go to a store and get personal service. It is so rare these days. read more

Vanessa offered extremely friendly and personable service over the phone, even making a delivery in person. Very special.

I'm blessed that this is my local wine and beer store. I'd still drive out of my way to shop here. They've got a great craft beer selection, including many local breweries, international favorites and obscurities, and larger bottles. Plenty of good ciders too. There's always something new, different and interesting here. (The downside of this is that they may not always have your favorites.) They've made special orders for me with no hassle at all. The wines are also great, but I'm less knowledgeable here. I kind of wish they had those silly description cards next to many of them (which are pretty pointless I know), but the staff are knowledgeable and friendly. Be sure to check out their frequent tastings too. Nice selection of cigars, cheese, meats, etc., too, but I'm always too tempted by the booze to linger there! read more

Stopped in here on a lazy afternoon date day with my wife and was blown away by the helpful staff. The most impressive part was that they did not try to sell me something they did not know and steered me away from a questionable purchase. I just became a regular. read more