New York Vintners

I went to the pizza and wine class, and it was a lot of fun! Ryan was very funny, and really kept everyone interested in what he was saying the entire class. The pizza was DELICIOUS, and the wine pairings went really well with both pizzaa. We ended up buying the bottle we were served with our second slice of pizza, and we will be back for a different class for sure!

I purchased two Groupons for New York Vintners (NYV) two years ago (yes, you read that correctly!) and didn’t get to start using them until two months ago, but I figured it was time before NYV decided to not honor 2-​year-​old vouchers. Thankfully, they did. My first class was called Wine Pairings & Dishes for Foodies; the second was called Korean BBQ Pairing. Both classes were relatively new to the NYV list, but I was excited to try both because of my foodie status and love for Korean food.
The venue itself seems small looking in, as all you see is a wine storefront, but go around the back wall and you’ll see two long tables set up for a cozy class of about 32 people with a kitchen behind it. Go downstairs and there are two more «classrooms». Each seat has a pen and paper detailing how to distinguish wine characteristics and where you can write down the details of the wines from the class. It also includes an order form and membership options if you are or want to be a wine aficionado.
Both classes I took were lead by NYV’s executive chef Ryan Smith on the ground level of the store. Chef Ryan’s teaching style is very nonchalant: he always explains that wine shouldn’t be judged by how others like or score it; rather, it should be suitable to your taste and your palate. In both classes, we got to try about 5 – 7 varities of wine and weren’t limited to just whites and reds. The food presented both times were quite delicious as well. The Foodies class had two dishes — one fish, one steak — and the Korean BBQ had a wide variety of meats and kimchis that were passed around family style.
Aside from the standard $ 75 classes, sometimes special classes pop up with renowned chefs that cost a little more but give you an exclusive look at different cuisines and even more unconventional wine pairings. For example, there is a ramen wine pairing class ($ 85) coming up in February that sold out within two hours of its posting. Nevertheless, I will definitely be back for more!

This place is a top notch wine store with a highly educated sales staff and an amazing selection of great wines for all budgets. You can go here and find a rare $ 300 Bordeaux or Barolo or have the staff pick you out the perfect full bodied wine for under $ 30. Most wine stores struggle to serve both the super high end and everyday buyer but these guys have nailed it. Also the staff really knows their wine but is approachable and not aloof. Another rare combination. To top it all off they offer amazing and educational classes. This place is a real gem in NYC.

I’ve been here a few times, I always learn a lot and meet some great people! The first time I went I did a wines of Spain class held upstairs in their kitchen/​wine tasting room behind the small wine shop and absolutely loved it. The class was about 90 – 100 minutes and you got to sample 6 wines + a sparkling wine to start. As an FYI, they leave some crackers, olives, blue cheese and nuts on the table to pair with the wine. The second time I took a class it was held in the wine cellar in the basement and was on California wines. The third time I took a class it was a wine and food pairing class where we sampled three different wines and they gave us some freshly prepared food to pair it with. The fourth time I took the class I did a Rare Reds class with Charles, who was an excellent Sommlier. As you can tell, I clearly like the classes. Some teachers are better than others, but all of the Sommliers are excellent teachers. My least favorite was the wine and food pairing class (we ended up in this class on accident, but we complained about it and they ended up allowing us to come to another class for free). In any case, whenever I see deals posted on Groupon or Living Social, I grab two. Now whenever I take a class, I learn some but a but of the class is a bit repetitive. It is a fun way to spend a Saturday or Sunday though! Very unique and hard to find wines too!

Went for the pizza and wine class and it was really great! Daniel was extremely knowledgeable and kept everyone interested in what he had to say the entire class. The pizza was SO good! Really fresh ingredients and all farm-​sourced according to the director. Delicious flavors that paired really well with the wines.
The reason I’m giving 4 stars is only because of the portion of food they provided. This class was supposed to be a meal with 5 wines and we received only 2 slices of pizza per person which isn’t really enough to constitute a meal for most people. Other than that, definitely a great spot to come with a friend or a date!

I booked a pizza pairings class through a Living Social deal for $ 30 value of class $ 75. When you walk into the location, it looks like a wine shop but once you go through to the back it’s set up for a class with a kitchen. The décor was really nice, and setting was very elegant… felt like I was at a bridal shower with all the fresh flowers.
The instructor we had was very knowledgable and friendly. He went through every detail of the wine, with the region, taste, proper way to taste wine. As he’s going through the wine information, the chef was prepping the pizzas and they cook right in front of you. I thought I was on an episode of the Food Network. The pizza was delicious and each slice had a different taste that paired with a wine. We tried a proseco, rose, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Merlot. I’d prefer to do this wine tasting over the Vineyards tours as you get more of an intimate experience with your group, trying and learning the different wines and can ask questions.
I could not believe the level of detail the instructor provided. A true wine enthusiast! We even got to go downstairs to view the wine room. I will definitely be back for another tasting and may even book a private event in one of their rooms. What a hidden gem and great living social deal! It was so much fun, I can’t wait to come back!

I’ve attended four classes here and definitely think it’s a great place not only to get wine education but also for many sorts of events. I do believe they rent the space out for private events so worth an inquiry. There are three floors, all of which have its own character and well-​decorated. The lowest level has a vintage old wine cellar feel and is often referred to as the «chef’s table.» Smaller and more intimate classes are held down there since I think the table only sits a dozen attendees.
They also have an artist in residence who works on the premise, and his artwork is exhibited on the walls in store. The teachers are all really funny and will make you feel at home even if you have minimal knowledge on wine. Oftentimes there’s that one or two overeager students in the class but they’re almost always at least a good source of entertainment.
I didn’t like most of the wines we tasted; I guess I have a very particular palate, but that’s not unexpected. I think the only ones that I really liked were the Graham Beck rose from South Africa (produced using the cap classique method, fermented champagne-​style) and a granache-​syrah blend from J.L. Chave from Côte du Rhôné (so smooth and well-​balanced with a full flavor profile, yummy). While you can certainly shop for the exact same wine online for a lower price if you’re willing to do the extracurricular legwork, the experience of attending a class and the education you get (and the snacks) will make it a worthwhile fun activity, if wine’s your thing.

While I typically would give NY Vintners a 5 for their food, wine, and sommeliers, my most recent encounter has left a bad taste in my mouth.
In the past 1 – 2 years, my friends and I (about 5 of us) typically purchase the vouchers for $ 35 + fees off of
and all sign up to enjoy the same class together. When then will chat with sommeliers, and typically bop out after purchasing another couple bottles of wine post class.
While I decided to go with the LivingSocial deal this time for my friend’s birthday (only because I happened to receive an email about it), after my purchase of 5 vouchers, I learned that I was not able to apply them all to one class. I thought this may have been a glitch in the system and called NY Vintners directly.
Apparently, a new rule has been implemented regarding the number of seats allotted to voucher use per class (?). They notified me of the new rule but still refused to make an exception even though I am a frequent customer, and this was not obviously detailed anywhere in the «fine print» or on site.
Needless to say, my friends and I were not able to attend a class altogether — but I was lucky enough to receive a refund from LivingSocial.
Poor customer service to someone (actually a group of clients) who have thoroughly enjoyed the food and ~7−10 classes each there…

Very disappointed in the way this business operates. BEWARE… DO NOT BUY VOUCHERS… ITS A SCAM
They only have a few voucher spots for each class. My friend and I wanted to take a class together and she got a spot and I did not even though the class was not full. The person working there was very unaccommodating and said the only way I could take the class with my friend was to purchase a ticket for full price and I could not use my voucher. Now my friend cannot change her class and has to go alone.

We attended a Bad Ass Rose Class during the Summer and Loved it. Our instructor was Élan and he was informative, engaging, fun and brought the entire experience to life. Super nice guy.
When planning my husband’s 50^th birthday, he asked that we gather a group of close friends and family and go back for another wine tasting/​food pairing experience.
The team at NYV went above and beyond to make Joe’s 50^th birthday celebration amazing. Wines were fantastic, food was terrific and everyone had a great time.
NYV is terrific. Everyone should sign-​up for a class or 2 and met a masterful team of professionals who make every trip to their shop an experience.

My sister and I had so much fun here! I was able to find a great deal for two tickets and I treated her to an organic wine x food pairing class. The somms were incredibly friendly and warm during the class and we had a fairly large, social group of folks at our table which also helped with the ambience.
as always, i’m somewhat hesitant to announce my food restrictions, but when I informed the somm-​instructor that I was vegetarian and «lactose intolerant» (AKA vegan, but i feel like shouting VEGAN has such a negative stigma attached to it, d’oh!) he didn’t even bat an eyelash. as a result, the chefs made special vegan courses to accommodate me and 2 other veg-​heads in the group.
the appetizer was a chilled tomato gazpacho for the white pairing, and the main course was an AMAZING quinoa hot pepper dish. For the omnivores, they had a version of the gazpacho with cheese and crostini, and their main was a pork belly dish that was beautiful.
although I didn’t finish all of my wine (the pours were heavy!) i did manage to catch a mild buzz and thoroughly felt like I got a sufficient amount of knowledge from the course. I’d definitely go back, with or without a deal. It’s a fantastic date-​night idea, or just something to do with a group of friends.
COME HUNGRY if you sign up for a class that indicates a meal offering!

We went for dinner with a group. Really fantastic food. The place is small and can be somewhat crowded, so try not to go there with more than 40 people. However, the wines were really quite wonderful. I am not a fan of white but I loved the Fleuron 2012 Sauvignon Blanc — a must try!

I’m a complete wine newb. My definition of drinking wine was chugging it and trying my best to not taste it. After taking the Pizza and Wine class with Ryan I now know that is everything you shouldn’t do. Ryan was knowledgeable, charming and funny. He walked us step by step the proper way to appreciate wine and helped us figure out what type of wine we like. Our class was pretty full with 40 people but still felt intimate. The class entailed 1 Rose, 2 Whites, 2 Reds and 3 delicious slices of pizza. Can’t wait to come back and try the other classes!

We took a Wines of the Southern Hemisphere class (we used Groupons), and it far exceeded our expectations. We sat in the back room, where tables were arranged in a large rectangle, so everyone in the class got to face one another. There were appetizers (lobster salad and something else — olives, I think) to munch on while sipping wine.
We tried a total of seven (!!!) wines — 1 bubbly, 2 whites, then 2 reds, then 2 more reds. Each pair was presented like a showdown — which wine did we like better? Why? We learned basic wine concepts (from what tannins are to «what a lovely citrus») and had lots of fun doing so — I’m sure all the wine had something to do with it…
Our sommelier of the evening, Eric, was spectacular. He really knew his stuff and made the class interactive and fun.
We ended up buying a case of the Australian cabernet sauvignon — the Alkoomi — because we really enjoyed it and it was only $ 21(?) a bottle, which we felt was a steal! We also got two complimentary vouchers for a future wine class with our case purchase, so we definitely will be back :)

Lapin and I came here for the «Intro to Sparkling Wine» on a Saturday afternoon. Our hosts were energetic, engaging, funny, and down to earth. The class was fun and very informative, but I had way too much (I am a light drinker) to actually remember anything and a serious case of the giggles and the hiccups. The class was mid-​size, around 20 people who were all for the most part very friendly.
I been to a couple of wine tasting classes but this was the first one where the tables were decorated very beautifully. And, the best part, depending on which class you sign up for, there might be a meal or in our case small nuts, cheese/​crackers and quinoa salad to enjoy with your wine. Any participant can tell much care was put into the presentation, information, and making sure guests have a good time.
P. S. We paid the full retail value of the class ($ 75 each) but when I mentioned it to a couple of friends, they were able to find vouchers. If we come across a voucher, we will definitely be up for trying the other classes.

Awesome and informative!
Loved the class, and loved the atmosphere. Élan was very upbeat and made the class fun. You really can tell that the people who work the are passionate about what they do. Order a case of wine, which came with 2 more tasting tickets free. Can’t wait to go back!

Came here for the «Taste of Portugal» class which was fun and educational. A little rough getting to class as it was in the basement, especially leaving after 6 glasses of wine. Nonetheless class was fun and the teacher was enthusiastic about wines and its origins. She was thorough and full of knowledge which was a plus. We were fortunate to have a Portuguese attendee who taught us all about the areas that the wines were from, proper pronunciations and Portugal’s culture. The teacher was really receptive to this information which made it all the more enjoyable!
The basement area is a really cute intimate setting with somewhat rustic feels which only made class more fun. Really love the décor everywhere in this building as it’s all unexpected and hidden. You wouldn’t expect such a beautiful building behind the storefront. Would definitely enjoy taking another class!

New York Vintner is a tiny wine shop with a lot of personalty. They have a small shopping area up front followed by a gorgeous seating/​class area in the back. I booked a Sparkling Wine class and was greeted by a cheery sommelier and a glass of Rose Prosecco. Our sommelier was upbeat and knowledgable, and the wines she presented were both rare and delicious. I fell in love with their Chook, sparkling Shiraz. I can’t wait to checkout some of their other classes especially their food and wine pairing classes.

I came here for my first ever wine tasting class so I can’t compare it to other classes, but I absolutely loved this place! The class was completely laid back and the instructor was hilarious and not the least bit pretentious.
I did the intro to blind taste testing after finding a great deal for $ 35 for the $ 75 class. We tried 3 whites, 3 reds and a prosecco. Aside from getting tipsy off of all that wine, I also learned a lot, from the wine-​making process to old world vs new world. I suppose that’s the whole point of a class but I walked in expecting less facts and history and more people sitting around pondering the body, acidity and undertones of earth and sunlight in the wine.
Would ¹⁰⁄₁₀ come back to try a different class, maybe taste of Spain or new world vs old world.

By far the best wine classes around. I’ve attended wine classes at other venues in the area, and they just don’t compare. New York Vintners has good instructors who are sommeliers.
I have taken three different wine classes here.
1. Pizza & The Wines That Love It
2. Cellar Seminar: Wine 101 — The Essentials
3. Cellar: Regions of Italy
The sommeliers discuss the different elements (smell, taste, color, tannins, etc) of the wine to really make you have a good understanding of what you’re drinking. All of the classes start off with a glass of bubbly (Flor Prosecco). It’s usually the rose, but this past weekend they were out of the rose and substituted the regular Flor Prosecco. It’s a delicious prosecco, I’ve actually purchased the rose variety after one of my classes.
They have a very detailed website that gives you a summary of all the class descriptions, # of open seats, glasses of wines, etc. The cellar classes include light antipasto (hummus, crackers, gorgonzola, couscous, and nuts. I personally purchased Groupon vouchers for these classes. They frequently offer Groupons or New York Deals for these classes. These deals will run you about $ 29 which is a massive savings on the class price and well worth it. The pizza course was my favorite. I would definitely like to try another one of the food pairing classes in the future.
They also have a little boutique wine shop in the front. Bottles range from about $ 20 to upwards of $ 150. These are wines that you’re not going to find in your standard liquor store.