4 ways to save money on wine in New York City
If you haven't realized by now, I'm a bit of a wino. Needless to say, finding great wine in New York City that doesn't break the bank is something of a struggle.
I come from the land of endless opportunity (when it comes to wine). See also: California.
So, getting to New York and seeing the wine prices here hit me hard. Hard enough that I wasn't buying wine for a long period because it was just too much money.
I'm proud to say that after two years (don't judge me) I finally figured out how to track down wine that keeps me on budget.
There are really only four options when it comes to budget wine in New York. So, let's break them down.
FRESH DIRECT
When I moved into my new place, I got that package of coupons in the mail that seems to follow you around no matter where you go. To my surprise, there were two coupons for Fresh Direct, a grocery delivery service that I'd always heard about but never used.
Finally, I took the chance to try it out with my trusty $50 off $100 coupon, and to my absolute shock, it included wine.
Not only can you get wine DELIVERED, but Fresh Direct also provides at a deep discount. I'm talking four bottles for around $35 (depending on the type that you order).
Needless to say, I got eight. If you're looking for wine that you don't have to haul up your six-floor walk up, and that saves you some money in the process, give Fresh Direct a try.
You can even use my code for $25 off your first order. You guys, that's like almost 3 bottles of wine.
TRADER JOE’S WINE SHOP
Union Square has a Trader Joe's Wine Shop that is an absolute must for anyone trying to buy good wine on a budget.
The stand-alone store sells only wine (thanks to some wonky NYC liquor laws) and at some of the best prices in the city. The only downside to this shop is that if you're a typical New York City commuter, you have to carry your heavy bottles back to your apartment.
Or take some kind of rideshare, which ups the cost of your wine a bit, but also takes away some of the heavy lifting.
Trader Joe's Wine Shop is still the place I would go when I need to grab same day treats or don't feel like waiting for a delivery.
JOIN A WINE CLUB
Wine clubs are all over the place, and some of them actually offer significant discounts if you buy in bulk. Clubs like Winc and Wine Awesomeness are great ways to get your wine delivered to your door regularly.
The downside here, you do typically have to pay for shipping and deliveries are only once a month. Great for those of us that are solo and wouldn't go through it that quickly, but still it's a bit difficult not be able to order wine when you need it.
BUY IT SOMEWHERE ELSE
I'm not going to lie to you, I came back from France with five bottles of wine in my bag. They were dirt cheap at the markets there (some just four euros) for a decent amount of wine.
Additionally, my family lives in Portland, Oregon, and sometimes I'll bring good wine back from there as well. For East Coasts going to Portland, Alaska Airlines allows you to check a CASE of wine for FREE.
While this isn't ideal, due to having to cart it all the way home and carry it up to your apartment (if you're not lucky enough to live in an elevator building), it can be much cheaper than buying it in the city.
Got a tip for tracking down cheap wine here in New York City? Drop it in the comments and let me know. I can always run back and update this guide in the future.
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