Wine Authorities Durham ~ Wine Shop

Funnily my husband and I had dinner with the owners of Wine Authorities at Jujube at a beer dinner and we thought a wine store would be great. Wine Authorities certainly is a fantastic wine store. In a prior iteration they had a trading bar, but they have now converted the store into a pure wine store packed with racks of wine. The folks minding the store are amazing as they are truly helpful and get you exactly what you need if you're looking for something specific or they will let you browse. They also provide tasting notes, have wine packs that they curate for you so that you can try new wine that you would not have tried otherwise. They don't have fancy wine openers so go elsewhere for those items. But you'll definitely find a wine you want to drink.

The best (and at great prices) wine from farmers. I love that they make space for lesser known wine makers and wines. Not only is their ethos and what they stand for as a business amazing, but the people who work there bring a special kind of magic to every interaction.

Their Saturday wine tastings have quickly become a part of our weekly routine, but their Tuesday tastings are just as special and incredibly intimate.

One of my favorite stores in Durham! I have never had a bad experience shopping at Wine authorities. The staff are all super knowledgeable. I’ll often come in and ask for a recommendation based on a meal I am preparing and they always deliver. They also offer good discounts when buying in bulk.

I love Wine Authorities! The staff is knowledgeable and friendly and they have a great selection. I love to come to the tastings and learn about wine- as someone who doesn't know very much, the expertise shared is fascinating without being intimidating at all. We are so lucky to have this gem in our neighborhood!

I recently had the opportunity to stop in this wonderful little wine store in Durham. I was very pleased at the selection of wines on offer and the great pricing. Since then, I have been able to sample several of the wines that I bought, and they are all great. These are small production wines that you can't find just anywhere. Great service, too.

All of the employees are so kind and helpful, and have great recommendations! I also haven’t had a bad wine from here yet. The prices are fair and they provide tasting notes for each bottle, as well as a special 6 bottles for $76 deal that changes each month.

Super comfortable. Great selection. Many enjoyable conversations with staff and fellow customers. Tuesday tasting a great time. And a Viv’s Fridge right out front.

The staff here are awesome. They have kindly helped me pick out some great bottles. They are very generous with their time and knowledge - you can tell they really know wine but they don't make you feel bad if you don't (I don't).

This is my absolute wine store in Durham. All of their wines are top notch for a great price, the staff is so kind and knowledgeable, AND you can drink wine while you shop. I go there all the time but I am specifically writing a review for the amazing recommendations I was given last time I went:

My sister was coming to visit for the weekend and has recently been struggling with bad acid reflux to the point that she couldn't even drink most red wines (our favorite thing to drink together) anymore. So I went in search of red wines with minimal processing, no additives, and low sugar content to see if that would help. I was given six recommendations and I got them all thinking with a little luck we'd get through a couple of them before her acid reflux kicked in making it miserable for her to drink.
We drank ALL SIX OF THEM. And not once did it bother her acid reflux (or give us hangovers.)

It had been far too long since we had been able to enjoy a wine night like that one. Thank you, Wine Authorities, for the amazing recommendations and for brining such great wines to area.

I couldn't love this place more. Every time I visit, I wander for a bit, checking out the bottles and the fun labels on the shelves, and within a couple minutes, someone will kindly ask if I need help or recommendations.

I like wine, and I'm not shy about admitting that I know practically nothing about it. The staff are always super happy to take whatever guidelines I have, no matter how vague, and suggest as many bottles as I'm looking to buy. With every suggestion comes an interesting bit of education about the wine, or the vineyard, or the history, or the grape. And most importantly, the wines invariably turn out to be just what I wanted.

As others have said, the knowledge of the staff is just astonishing. It's a hell of a treat, having a collection of fun, friendly, non-judgmental sommeliers right in the neighborhood. I was told last night that tastings might be starting up again this month, and I couldn't be more stoked. Thanks, Wine Authorities. You're doing it right.

Few things in Durham are as wonderful, as rare, as quirky or as valuable as the Wine Authority shop. Every single bottle in the store, from the cheapest to the most expensive, is the product of a family, not a factory. It's always a glorious experience when you get to take someone into the Wine Authority shop for the first time. No matter what you pick and choose at the store you walk away with a printed sheet of descriptive review and pairing suggestions. and if you go in even just a few times, the staff will begin to learn you by name, and your likes. And please don't buy all the Cedarberg, thanks. I need that for the holidays.

Best wine store in Durham? Super helpful staff. They generally have better deals on wine than what you can get at other chain stores. Plus they have local baked bread and meats and a selection of good cheese. Not sure what else you could want.

This is by far my favorite place for wine. I get the 6 for 60 regularly - it's a great bargain and I've never gotten a wine I didn't like. I love knowing that anything I choose at Wine Authorities comes from a small vineyard and is never mass-produced. Staff are super knowledgeable and helpful when I'm looking for something new to try or need a recommendation for a gift or a pairing. Truly a great place!

Wine Authorities has a wide-ranging selection of carefully chosen wines, focusing on small, family-owned farms. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and are delighted to assist you with selection. There is a small, curated selection of wine-friendly foods (think cheeses and cured meats) available also. Don't skip the Oenomatic, where you can enjoy a small selection of wines in a one, two or five ounce pour using a preloaded swipe card.

Wine Authorities is a great local wine shop and worth the trip from North Raleigh. They have a wide selection which is easy to browse with helpful wine notes throughout the store and wine priced in several ranges. Loved looking at the wine region maps on the walls and tasting a good selection of varieties from Chile and Argentina last weekend. I haven't tried the enomatic machine yet, but saw a good selection as well as some interesting beers available too.The store staff was very friendly and helpful. Try the special charcuterie and bread from neighbor Yellow Dog Bakery and ask for wine notes with pairing suggestions with your purchase.
Need to add that you can create your own Wine Authorities account, view your purchases and add your own tasting notes. Fun for would-be wine aficionados and good for remembering that good wine you had a few weeks ago.

Always helpful and pleasant, with pretty much everything in the store being <$50/bottle (usually less, sometimes *much* less). A small selection of cured meats (including a really good dry salami from North Carolina) and bacon, some cheeses, coffee, and a wine vending machine, dispensing tastes or larger pours using a card, and space inside and out to sit and enjoy a glass of wine. The store specializes in estate wines, so no giant companies selling product by the tankerload. Locally owned and operated, with a sister store in Raleigh. I like coming here. My only regret is that I don't have more to spend there. :)

The staff here are helpful, the selection is good, and (as a local business themselves) they feature local products. I can't wait to come during one of their events - apparently I just missed Prodigal Farms cheese last time I was in!

Forget about the chain wine stores, come here instead. You'll be glad you did 😊

So, a girl walks into a wine shop, panicked because she has just 20 minutes to pick out a bottle of wine to take to a dinner party and she has no idea what the host likes, wine-wise. She knows the menu includes a pork loin roast with a balsamic glaze and the host used to live in Northern California. A staff member recognizes the alarmed look on the customer's face and offers assistance. After describing her dilemma, the calming staffer walks her to a section of wines from California and helps her pick a very reasonably priced Pinot Noir. The staffer rings up her purchase and she leaves the shop less frazzled, more confident, with paper-wrapped bottle in hand and time to spare. True story.

This shop is the first wine shop I recommend to anyone because the service is incredible, the selection diverse (and very affordable) and commitment to small producer/family farms, quality products and the local community can't be beat. Oh, and the twice-weekly wine tastings are icing on the proverbial cake. I've never walked away with a bottle (or box... yes, box) of wine that I didn't enjoy to the very last drop. But that's just my opinion, based on my experience.

Wine Authorities has such a great selection of wines from pretty much every region. The employees are vwry knowledgeable and insist on helping you find the perfect wine for your occasion. In addition to wine, they stock local goodies to accompany that great wine you just bought!
They also offer workshops, which look fun.

I got invited to a luncheon Tea Party, and so a sweet red or dessert wine is in order. I may be a white wine girl but I know where to go to get good wine advice! Wine Authorities did not disappoint! My adviser, whose name I'm ashamed to say I didn't get - cute young lady w/multi-color hair- went above & beyond. For a sweet sparkling red she suggested the Reggiano Lambrusco Rosso "Montelocco" which I picked up and will gift to the New Years Eve gathering hostess. For the dessert wine, the Brachetto d'Acqui. Room temperature I asked, Best chilled she replied. This will be the special guest at the tea party :) I then tossed another challenge her way,,, my best friend loves Kendall Jackson Vintner Chardonnay, do you carry that? Oh no, we only honor small batch producers, but let me Google it and see what we have that would compare. She came up with Bliss Family Vinyards Chardonnay, also from California. I'll bring this to the Christmas Eve gathering at my friends house.
I'll check back in in the new year to share the results of my gifts with you!