Wine Store in Chattanooga

June 14, 2026

A Chattanooga wine store gives buyers a hands-on alternative to online ordering: aisles to browse, staff who can recommend a bottle for a meal or a budget, and tastings where a shopper can sample before committing. 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. Chattanooga, with a population of roughly 186,000 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), sits at the southern edge of East Tennessee and supports a field that ranges from a large multi-thousand-square-foot store to curated downtown bottle shops and fine-wine specialists.

Tennessee’s retail alcohol rules changed notably over the past decade. Public Chapter 554, signed in 2014 and known as the “wine in grocery stores” law, broadened what package stores could carry and, after local referendums, let the TABC begin issuing retail food store wine licenses on July 1, 2016. Since then, wine has been sold in 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 prior 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), expanding when Chattanooga shoppers can buy wine and spirits.

A retail package store license carries defined terms. 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, and some stores remain closed on Sunday by choice. Wine and spirits carry Tennessee’s standard sales tax, which in Hamilton 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 Chattanooga stores set themselves apart. Shoppers can find broad wine ranges across red, white, rosé, sparkling, and fortified styles, deep bourbon and whiskey selections, rotating craft beer on tap, and curated fine-wine cellars. Many stores host weekly tastings, run wine and beer clubs, maintain cigar humidors, and take special orders for hard-to-find bottles, and several offer delivery and event services. 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 verifying license status, are sensible steps before a large purchase.

Top Wine Store Providers in Chattanooga

1. Imbibe Chattanooga

Address: 1616 Broad Street, Chattanooga, TN 37408
Phone: (423) 777-4820
Website: http://www.imbibechattanooga.com
Services: curated wine, hand-selected spirits, local and regional craft beer, 20 rotating beers on tap with growlers, weekly complimentary tastings, private tastings, craft cocktail demonstrations, single-barrel offerings, beer club, wine club, wedding service, staff expertise
Description: Imbibe Chattanooga is a downtown bottle shop on Broad Street that positions itself as a local store with specialist staff and deep beverage knowledge. The store emphasizes a curated wine selection alongside hand-selected spirits and an enormous range of local and regional craft beer plus the classics, with 20 rotating beers available on tap and by the growler. Imbibe holds weekly complimentary tastings, with spirits tastings on Fridays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. and beer and wine tastings on Saturdays from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., and it also offers private tastings and craft cocktail demonstrations. The shop runs beer club and wine club memberships, provides single-barrel offerings, and handles wedding services, giving downtown shoppers both an everyday source and a destination for events and education.

2. Riverside Wine & Spirits

Address: 600 Manufacturers Road, Chattanooga, TN 37405
Phone: (423) 267-4305
Website: https://www.riversidewine.com
Services: fine wine, beer, spirits, on-site and off-site wine, beer, and spirits tastings, special orders for hard-to-find products, event planning and consulting through Riverside Events, gift cards, vendor referrals
Description: Riverside Wine & Spirits has operated on Manufacturers Road in Chattanooga’s North Shore area since 2000, describing itself as a Chattanooga original with an emphasis on fine wine. The store carries fine wine, beer, and spirits, and supports buyers with on-site and off-site tastings across all three categories. A standout feature is its events arm, Riverside Events, which provides event planning and consulting along with vendor referrals to caterers, florists, and photographers, positioning the store as a resource for weddings and gatherings beyond bottle sales. Riverside also handles special orders for hard-to-find products and offers instant e-gift cards. The shop is open Monday through Saturday and closed on Sundays, so buyers should plan visits accordingly.

3. Chattanooga Wine & Spirits

Address: 6804 Shallowford Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421
Phone: (423) 803-0404
Website: Instagram (no business website): https://www.instagram.com/chattanoogawineandspirits/
Services: wine and a fine wine cellar, spirits, bourbon, 24 beers on tap, walk-in cigar humidor, special orders, delivery, staff assistance
Description: Chattanooga Wine & Spirits is a large-format store at 6804 Shallowford Road, founded in 2016 and owned by Rakhee and Anita Patel, with Chris Ross serving as general manager. Spanning nearly 12,000 square feet, it is among the largest liquor stores in Chattanooga and pairs a deep retail selection with destination features, including 24 beers on tap, a walk-in cigar humidor, and a fine wine cellar. The store’s scale lets it stock a broad range of wine, spirits, and beer across price points, and it offers special orders and delivery for added convenience. The combination of size, a dedicated wine cellar, and on-tap beer makes it a practical stop for buyers who want both everyday selection and harder-to-find bottles in East Chattanooga.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wine Stores in Chattanooga

Q: Who licenses wine and liquor stores in Chattanooga?

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 Chattanooga, or only at liquor stores?

Both. Following 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 and specialty selections, however, remain with licensed retail package stores, which is where shoppers find liquor, fine wine, and curated cellars.

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

Wine and spirits carry Tennessee’s standard sales tax. In Hamilton 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 county lines should account for the local component.

Q: Are Chattanooga liquor stores open on Sundays?

Generally yes, though it varies by store. 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 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 and some choose to stay closed on Sundays, so it is worth confirming a specific store’s Sunday schedule before going.

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

Consider the depth and focus of the selection, whether the store offers tastings, clubs, special orders, delivery, or event planning, and whether the staff can guide pairings and substitutions. Chattanooga stores range from a large store with a fine wine cellar and beers on tap to curated downtown bottle shops, so matching the shop to how you buy, everyday bottles, gifts, or specific fine wine, makes the most of a visit.

Q: How do I file a complaint about a Chattanooga 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.