4 Must-Visit Boutique Wine Stores in Sydney

Something that I’ve always loved about Sydney is its abundance of boutique bottle stores. Often well-hidden and always dripping with character, Sydney’s boutiques are the meeting place of their community’s wine connoisseurs and curious newcomers alike.

What’s more, boutique stores are so often locally owned, so shopping with them is a great way to support your neighbours and community. To help, we’ve compiled a shortlist of incredible boutique wine stores throughout the inner suburbs of Sydney. Read on for more info!

The Best Wine Stores in Sydney

Bayswater Fine Wines - Rushcutters Bay

Bayswater Fine Wines is one of the Inner East’s best cellars, well-loved for its highly knowledgeable staff and community atmosphere. This boutique sports an impressive range of wines, from robust aged Barolo to fresh and zesty Clare Valley Riesling, as well as a handful of craft beers and small-production spirits.

The store’s mezzanine level features a members-only fine wine room that is home to many rare and aged drops. The mezzanine level also houses regular exclusive programmes including tastings, classes, and events where members can deepen their knowledge of vintage wines and meet the makers of the store’s impressive portfolio. Bayswater Fine Wines belongs on any wine aficionado’s map as a one-stop-shop for any occasion.

Elizabeth Bay Cellars - Elizabeth Bay

Elizabeth Bay Cellars is the quintessential local boutique. Housed in an old art-deco apartment block, this deceptively humble wine store offers a huge range of weekly favourites—including tart and floral chianti—as well as a variety of prestige wines in its temperature controlled fine wine room: Think aged Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

While this boutique offers an incredible array of imported labels, it certainly doesn’t come up short on Australian wines. Particular attention is paid to up-and-coming Australian producers and their natural products, including orange wines and pet nat. Whether you’re in the mood for a pleasant surprise, or in the market for something special, Elizabeth Bay Cellars has got it covered!

P&V Merchants - Newtown

P&V Merchants’ store feels more like a permanent local wine festival than a bottle shop, featuring a host of producers and labels you’ve never heard of, but will quickly come to love. The focus is on natural wines and small-batch beers, ales, and ciders that proudly feature clouds, fizz and funk where you wouldn't expect.

P&V’s baby-blue storefront is adorned every other week with a hand-drawn sign announcing a product collaboration with a small producer or one of the many colourful venues in the Newtown scene. Inside, the store’s products are charmingly arranged by feel rather than the customary appellation and varietal, and the categories are surprisingly intuitive! This store is a main-line into the booming natural wine industry, with a host of memorable and unique products that come highly recommended. Fair warning to newcomers or staunch traditionalists: You may find some of these wines to be alienating or downright offensive.

Native Drops - Bondi Beach

Polished concrete floor, deep, black wall panelling, and barely any staff in sight, Native Drops is not your average boutique wine store. Its sleek, ultra-modern look fits well with the store’s chic Bondi surrounds but certainly doesn’t betray the contents of its bottles, which are anything but neat and straight-edged. Native Drops’ entire beverage portfolio is proudly Australian, and centres around its unrivalled collection of skin contact, orange and natural wines.

Native Drops also hosts regular presentations and tastings in-store for those looking to expand their knowledge of Aussie natural wines, and come face to face with industry experts and producers. For the self-directed learners among you, there is almost always a handful of ripper deals and discounts to help turn over the impressive variety on offer in the store, so experimentation is certainly encouraged.

So, whether you’re a stalwart supporter of traditional labels or in the market for something avant-garde, these boutique stores have the range to impress and delight. Be sure to check them out online and in-person for a closer look at their bottles, in-store events and opening hours.

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