Wine Store in Nashville

June 14, 2026

A Nashville wine store offers something an online retailer cannot: shelves a buyer can browse, staff who can talk through a pairing or a substitution on the spot, and tastings where a customer learns what a bottle actually delivers 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. Nashville is Tennessee’s largest city, with a population of roughly 715,000 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and its growth has supported a deep field of neighborhood bottle shops, large package stores, and natural-wine specialists across Davidson County.

Tennessee’s retail alcohol landscape changed substantially in the past decade. Public Chapter 554, signed in 2014 and commonly called 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 in qualifying grocery and large retail food stores under that separate license, while spirits and the full wine range remain the province of 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), so a Nashville wine buyer now has far more options for when and where to shop than was the case a decade ago.

A retail package store license carries specific 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 also sets sale hours: package stores and retail wine sales operate within hours fixed by statute, with Sunday sales now permitted under the 2018 reform (buyers should confirm a given store’s current Sunday hours, since individual stores set schedules within the legal window). Sales of wine and spirits carry Tennessee’s standard sales tax, which in Davidson County reaches a combined 9.75% (the 7% state rate plus the local option). Regulation of retail sales is addressed in TCA 57-3-406, and hours and prohibited practices appear in related sections of Title 57.

Selection is where Nashville stores distinguish themselves. Shoppers can find broad wine ranges spanning red, white, rosé, sparkling, and fortified bottles from across the world, deep bourbon and whiskey walls reflecting Tennessee’s spirits heritage, and curated natural and small-producer lists at specialist shops. Many stores host weekly tastings, run wine clubs, and take special orders for hard-to-find allocations. Consumers 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 that a retailer holds a current license through the TABC. Checking a store’s license status and asking about its return and special-order policies before a large purchase are practical steps for any buyer.

Top Wine Store Providers in Nashville

1. RED Spirits & Wine

Address: 7066 US-70S, Nashville, TN 37221
Phone: (615) 646-1400
Website: https://www.redspirits.com
Services: wine (red, white, rosé, sparkling), spirits including rare bourbon and Scotch, craft beer, growler station with wine and cider on tap, weekend tastings, event and party planning, delivery, RED PLUS membership, RED Barrel single-barrel picks
Description: RED Spirits & Wine is a locally owned store in Nashville’s Bellevue area, in West Nashville, that opened in the fall of 2011. The store promotes what it calls one of Nashville’s largest and most eclectic wine selections, with hundreds of wines from local, national, and international producers arranged across price points, alongside a spirits range that emphasizes rare bourbons, fine Scotch, and unusual liqueurs. A growler station offers rotating craft beer plus wine and cider on tap, and the store runs tastings on Fridays and Saturdays from its tasting bar. RED handles event and wedding sales, offers delivery to Nashville customers, and curates single-barrel selections under its RED Barrel program. Recurring promotions such as its French Friday discount reflect a staff-driven approach to introducing customers to specific regions and producers.

2. Woodland Wine Merchant

Address: 1001 Woodland Street, Nashville, TN 37206
Phone: (615) 228-3311
Website: https://www.woodlandwinemerchant.com
Services: curated wine with an emphasis on natural and sustainable producers, spirits, beer, private tastings, wine club, staff recommendations, curbside pickup
Description: Woodland Wine Merchant was founded in 2007 by Will Motley, who opened the shop on Woodland Street in East Nashville after years working for a Nashville wholesaler. The store built its identity around small, artisan producers practicing natural and sustainable methods, deliberately avoiding mass-market brands in favor of limited-quantity wines sourced from independent distributors, which keeps the inventory frequently changing. The business has since added a second location at Sylvan Supply on the city’s west side at 4101 Charlotte Avenue, Suite E140, Nashville, TN 37209, reachable at (615) 712-8670. Services include private tastings, a wine club, and curated staff recommendations, with shopping handled in person and through curbside pickup at both stores. Motley’s emphasis on lesser-known labels makes the shop a destination for buyers seeking bottles outside the mainstream retail range.

3. Grand Cru

Address: 3433 Murphy Road, Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: (615) 627-3900
Website: https://www.grandcrullc.com
Services: wine and fine wine across price points, spirits, free weekly tastings, staff guidance, occasion and palate-based recommendations
Description: Grand Cru is a wine and spirits shop that opened in the fall of 2004 on Murphy Road in the Sylvan Park area of Nashville. The name, French for “great growth” and a reference to the highest wine classification, sits alongside a stated philosophy of making wine accessible rather than exclusive, with friendly staff and bottles at every price point. The store emphasizes helping customers find a wine that suits their palate, budget, and occasion, and it backs that approach with education-focused service. Grand Cru hosts free in-store tastings on Wednesdays and Fridays from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m., giving regulars a recurring way to sample before buying, and it carries both fine wine and spirits from a single neighborhood location. The combination of a curated, price-tiered selection with consistent weekly tastings makes it a practical stop for buyers building everyday knowledge as well as those seeking a specific bottle.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wine Stores in Nashville

Q: Who licenses wine and liquor stores in Nashville?

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 Nashville, 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 Nashville?

Wine and spirits carry Tennessee’s standard sales tax. In Davidson County the combined rate reaches 9.75%, made up of the 7% state rate plus the local option tax. The rate is applied at checkout the same way it is on other taxable retail goods, so a buyer comparing prices across counties should account for the local component.

Q: Are Nashville 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. Individual stores set their own Sunday hours within the legal window, so it is worth confirming a specific store’s Sunday schedule before a trip, since hours vary by location.

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

Consider the depth and focus of the selection, whether the store offers tastings, a wine club, or special orders for hard-to-find bottles, and whether the staff can guide pairings and substitutions. Stores in Nashville range from natural-wine specialists to large package stores with deep bourbon walls, so matching the shop to the kind of buying you do, everyday bottles, gifts, or allocated and rare wine, makes the most of a visit.

Q: How do I file a complaint about a Nashville 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 be directed to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission, which licenses and oversees package stores. Keeping receipts and any written communication with the store strengthens a complaint.