University Wine Shop At Harvard Square

I really dislike it when people write a 1-​star review because store proprietors are obeying the law. Yeah it sucks you didn’t have your ID, but you’re gonna drop a 1-​bomb on them for that?
These guys have a very good selection of wine, including both some really high-​end selections and solid everyday-​drinking table wine. They have a nice selection of liquors, good cold beer, of both the micro– and macro-​brew variety, non-​alcoholic mixers, and prices that are competitive. I’ve had nothing but good experiences with their staff, and it’s in a nice convenient storefront on Mass Ave. My only complaint is that because it’s a small shop, they really do have to limit their selections in all areas. But this is a great neighborhood shop. Hooray small business!

I want to like this place, I really do. It’s a cute and intimate shop that seems like it would have a lot of different wines to try and some knowledgeable people working there. Once when I went there to get some rum as a gift, the woman who was working there was really helpful and ended up recommending something that was the recipient’s favorite kind. Apart from that, however, the people who work there can be cold and kind of unfriendly. I’m over 30, and once they refused to sell wine to my friend because I didn’t have my ID. Yup, you read that right — my friend, who was buying, had her ID and they also carded me – I just happened not to be carrying mine. I know it’s the Massachusetts liquor law and yadda yadda yadda uptight New England BS, but seriously. They have a couple great beers that you cannot find elsewhere, but I’ve noticed that a lot of their wines are marked up quite a bit. You can go across the street to that little liquor store next to the People’s Republic and get the same wine for less.

I needed to send a gift certificate to a friend in Cambridge as a thank-​you, so I called the Wine Shop. Unfortunately, they don’t carry certificates, but they gave me the name & phone # of another local store that does. Great customer service. Next time I am in Cambridge, I will stop in and buy a bottle from then as a thank-​you.

A very limited liquor store, what’s with these places? There are a few decent beers, including Dogfish Head World Wide Stout, but not a large enough collection to make it worth a stop. For beer, try A-​1 Wines in Inman Square instead – not too far a walk.