Wine Store in Knoxville

June 14, 2026

A Knoxville wine store offers what a screen cannot: aisles to browse, staff who can suggest a pairing or a substitute on the spot, and tastings that let a buyer learn a bottle before committing to a case. Retail wine and liquor stores in Tennessee, the traditional package stores, are licensed by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) and sell wine and spirits for off-premise consumption. Knoxville, with a population of roughly 195,000 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), anchors East Tennessee and supports a mix of long-running family package stores, downtown natural-wine shops, and curated fine-wine retailers across the city and its Bearden corridor.

Tennessee’s retail alcohol framework changed substantially in the past decade. Public Chapter 554, signed in 2014 and known as the “wine in grocery stores” law, expanded what package stores could sell and, following local referendums, allowed the TABC to begin issuing retail food store wine licenses on July 1, 2016. Since then, wine has been available at qualifying grocery and large retail food stores under that separate license, while spirits and the full wine range remain with licensed retail package stores. A later 2018 law, separate from Public Chapter 554, lifted the long-standing ban on Sunday and holiday package-store sales, allowing package stores to open Sundays and most holidays (sales remain prohibited on Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter), broadening when Knoxville shoppers can buy wine and spirits.

A retail package store license carries set requirements. The TABC application fee is $300 and the annual license fee is $850, an owner must be at least 21, and no person may hold an interest in more than two retail package stores under the framework in TCA Title 57, Chapter 3. State law sets the hours within which package stores and retail wine sales operate, with Sunday sales now permitted under the 2018 reform; because each store chooses its own schedule inside that window, buyers should confirm a store’s current Sunday hours before visiting. Wine and spirits carry Tennessee’s standard sales tax, which in Knox County reaches a combined 9.25% (the 7% state rate plus the local option). Regulation of retail sales is addressed in TCA 57-3-406, with hours and prohibited practices in related sections of Title 57.

Selection is where Knoxville stores differ from one another. Shoppers can find broad wine ranges across red, white, rosé, sparkling, and fortified styles, deep bourbon and whiskey selections, and tightly curated natural and small-producer lists at downtown specialists. Many stores offer special orders, party and event planning, and food-and-wine pairing guidance, and some provide delivery within nearby ZIP codes. Buyers who encounter a billing dispute or a deceptive practice can contact the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, which administers the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), and can confirm a retailer’s current license through the TABC. Asking about return and special-order policies and checking license status before a large purchase are practical steps for any shopper.

Top Wine Store Providers in Knoxville

1. Toddy’s Liquor & Wine

Address: 4821 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone: (865) 584-0577
Website: https://toddysknoxville.com
Services: wine, spirits including bourbon, Scotch, tequila, and vodka, sparkling, curbside service, party planning and event coordination, wine and cheese pairing consultations, food and wine pairing guidance, special orders, staff recommendations
Description: Toddy’s Liquor & Wine was founded in 1961 by Ted Cook and is a family-owned business that bills itself as one of Knoxville’s oldest family-owned liquor stores, serving the city for more than 60 years. Located in Knoxville’s Bearden District on Kingston Pike, the store carries over 5,600 products spanning an extensive wine collection and a broad spirits range that includes bourbon, Scotch, tequila, and vodka. Beyond retail sales, Toddy’s offers curbside service, party planning and event coordination, and consultations on wine-and-cheese and food-and-wine pairings, supported by staff who provide personalized recommendations. The store handles special orders for customers seeking specific bottles, and its long tenure and large inventory make it a steady resource for both everyday and occasion buying in West Knoxville.

2. Ashe’s Wines & Spirits

Address: 4534 Old Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone: (865) 584-3341
Website: https://www.asheswines.com
Services: curated fine wine, spirits, beer, event planning for weddings, parties, and sporting events, free local delivery within the 37919 ZIP for orders over $50, staff guidance
Description: Ashe’s Wines & Spirits is a Bearden-area store located off Old Kingston Pike, about three miles from the University of Tennessee campus. The store emphasizes a specially curated selection of fine wine, spirits, and beer, with staff who describe their approach as seeking out and tasting products before bringing them to the shelf. Ashe’s offers event-planning assistance for weddings, parties, and sporting events, and provides free delivery within the 37919 ZIP code on orders over $50. The shop highlights outstanding service, product knowledge, and value, and runs weekly specials promoted through local print advertising. Its proximity to campus and the Bearden commercial district positions it for both neighborhood regulars and event-driven purchases.

3. Downtown Wine + Spirits

Address: 407 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
Phone: (865) 525-7575
Website: https://www.dtwine.com
Services: wine from more than 20 countries (red, white, rosé, sparkling, fortified, sweet, boxed, and canned), a broad spirits range, beer, cider, mead, sake, mixers, special orders, case discounts
Description: Downtown Wine + Spirits sits on South Gay Street in the heart of downtown Knoxville and stocks an unusually wide inventory for a downtown footprint. Its wine selection spans red, white, rosé, sparkling, fortified, sweet, boxed, and canned bottles from more than 20 countries, with an emphasis on small-batch and seasonal finds alongside the classics. The spirits range is broad, covering categories from absinthe and amaro to mezcal, gin, rum, tequila, vodka, and a full whiskey selection, and the store also carries beer across many styles plus cider, mead, and sake. Downtown Wine + Spirits offers special orders and a case discount of 10% on six or more bottles of wine and spirits. Its central Gay Street location makes it a convenient stop for downtown residents, workers, and visitors looking for both everyday bottles and harder-to-find selections.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wine Stores in Knoxville

Q: Who licenses wine and liquor stores in Knoxville?

Retail wine and liquor stores, known as package stores, are licensed by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC). The TABC sets a $300 application fee and an $850 annual license fee for a retail package store, requires owners to be at least 21, and limits any person to an interest in no more than two retail package stores under the framework in TCA Title 57, Chapter 3. The commission also enforces sale-hour rules and investigates license violations.

Q: Can I buy wine at grocery stores in Knoxville, or only at liquor stores?

Both. Since the 2014 wine in grocery stores law (Public Chapter 554) and the start of retail food store wine licensing on July 1, 2016, wine has been available at qualifying grocery and large retail food stores under a separate TABC license. Spirits and the broadest wine selections, however, remain with licensed retail package stores, which is where shoppers find liquor, fine wine, and specialist inventory.

Q: How much sales tax applies to a wine purchase in Knoxville?

Wine and spirits carry Tennessee’s standard sales tax. In Knox County the combined rate reaches 9.25%, made up of the 7% state rate plus the local option tax. The rate applies at checkout the same way it does on other taxable retail goods, so a buyer comparing prices across counties should account for the local component.

Q: Are Knoxville liquor stores open on Sundays?

Yes. A 2018 law, separate from the 2014 wine in grocery stores law, lifted the prior ban on Sunday operation for package stores, and retail wine sales on Sunday are also permitted under current rules. Package stores may now open Sundays and most holidays, though sales remain prohibited on Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter. Each store sets its own Sunday hours within the legal window, so it is worth confirming a specific store’s Sunday schedule before going, since hours vary by location.

Q: What should I look for when choosing a wine store in Knoxville?

Consider the depth and focus of the selection, whether the store offers special orders, tastings, delivery, or event planning, and whether the staff can guide pairings and substitutions. Knoxville stores range from large family package stores with thousands of products to downtown shops curating small-batch and seasonal bottles, so matching the shop to your buying style, everyday bottles, gifts, or specific fine wine, makes the most of a visit.

Q: How do I file a complaint about a Knoxville wine retailer?

Complaints about deceptive practices or billing disputes can be filed with the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, which administers the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104). Concerns about a store’s licensing or alcohol-sale conduct can go to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission, which licenses and oversees package stores. Keeping receipts and any written communication with the store strengthens a complaint.