Wine Store in Memphis

June 14, 2026

A Memphis wine store gives buyers a hands-on alternative to clicking through an online catalog: aisles to browse, staff who can recommend a bottle for a specific dish or budget, and tastings where a shopper can sample before buying 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. Memphis is Tennessee’s second-largest city, with a population of roughly 619,000 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and Shelby County supports a wide field of long-running family package stores, large spirits emporiums, and specialty bottle shops.

Tennessee’s retail alcohol rules shifted notably over the past decade. Public Chapter 554, signed in 2014 and widely 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 Memphis shoppers can buy wine and spirits.

A retail package store license carries defined terms. The TABC charges a $300 application fee and an $850 annual license fee, 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 may operate, with Sunday sales now permitted under the 2018 reform; because individual stores choose their own schedules inside that window, buyers should confirm a store’s current Sunday hours before a trip. Wine and spirits carry Tennessee’s standard sales tax, which in Shelby County reaches a combined 9.75% (the 7% state rate plus the local option). Regulation of retail sales appears in TCA 57-3-406, with hours and prohibited practices addressed in related sections of Title 57.

Selection is where Memphis stores compete. Shoppers find broad wine ranges across red, white, rosé, sparkling, and fortified styles, extensive bourbon and whiskey walls that reflect the region’s spirits culture, and locally sourced Tennessee craft products at several shops. Many stores run weekend tastings, maintain wine and spirits clubs, and take special orders for allocated or hard-to-find bottles. Buyers who run into 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 verify that a retailer holds a current license through the TABC. Asking about a store’s return and special-order policies, and confirming its license status, are sensible steps before a large purchase.

Top Wine Store Providers in Memphis

1. Buster’s Liquors & Wines

Address: 191 South Highland Street, Memphis, TN 38111
Phone: (901) 458-0929
Website: https://bustersliquors.com
Services: wine, spirits, craft beer, an extensive whiskey and bourbon selection, weekend bourbon, wine, and beer tastings, wine-tasting kiosk, walk-in cigar humidor, delivery, special orders, event service
Description: Buster’s Liquors & Wines was founded in 1954 by Romulus Morgan Hammond Jr., known as “Buster,” and has stayed family owned and operated through three generations; the company is now run by brothers Josh and Morgan Hammond, grandsons of the founder. The original University District store at 191 South Highland Street, a roughly 16,000-square-foot location, has been joined by Buster’s Liquors East at 5851 Poplar Avenue in the Ridgeway Trace Shopping Center (38119), an 18,000-square-foot store featuring a whiskey wall stretching about 90 feet, a wine-tasting kiosk, a walk-in cigar humidor, and two conference rooms for tastings and presentations. Both stores carry a deep wine, spirits, and beer selection and host weekend bourbon, wine, and beer tastings on Fridays and Saturdays. With more than 70 years in business, Buster’s is one of the most established names in Memphis retail alcohol.

2. Kirby Wines & Liquors

Address: 2865 Kirby Parkway, Memphis, TN 38119
Phone: (901) 756-1993
Website: https://www.kirbywines.com
Services: wine and fine wine, spirits, bourbon, craft beer, staff recommendations, special orders
Description: Kirby Wines & Liquors was founded in 1985 by Phil and Terry Woodard, who opened the store in the Kirby Gate shopping center, the first shopping center in that part of East Memphis, with about 1,200 square feet of space. The family-owned business has since expanded five times and now occupies roughly 8,000 square feet, building a reputation in East Memphis for combining an extensive selection with a knowledgeable staff. The store carries wine, spirits, and beer, and is recognized among Memphis buyers for its depth of inventory and personalized service. Its long tenure under continuous Woodard family ownership has made it a fixture for East Memphis wine and spirits shoppers.

3. Joe’s Wines & Liquor

Address: 1681 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104
Phone: (901) 725-4252
Website: https://joeswinesandliquor.com
Services: wine including fine and allocated bottles, spirits, craft and specialty beer, 10 wine taps and 20 beer taps, growler station, in-store tastings, wine club, beer club, spirits club, staff recommendations, special curation
Description: Joe’s Wines & Liquor is a Midtown Memphis bottle shop in the Idlewild neighborhood that has operated as one of the area’s more forward-looking stores for two decades. The shop is known for its tap program, running 10 wine taps and 20 beer taps for a rotating menu of about 30 wines and beers available by the growler, an unusual feature among traditional package stores. Beyond the taps, Joe’s carries a full wine range including fine and allocated bottles, spirits, and craft and specialty beer. The store runs three membership clubs, the Joe’s Winos wine club, the Beer Nutz beer club, and the Spiritual Advisory spirits club, alongside in-store tastings and staff-driven curation, making it a destination for Midtown shoppers who want both selection and a regularly changing tap list.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wine Stores in Memphis

Q: Who licenses wine and liquor stores in Memphis?

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 Memphis, 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 allocated bottles.

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

Wine and spirits carry Tennessee’s standard sales tax. In Shelby County the combined rate reaches 9.75%, 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 Memphis 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 makes a good Memphis wine store for my needs?

Match the store to how you buy. Large package stores and spirits emporiums offer deep bourbon walls and broad wine ranges and often host weekend tastings, while specialty bottle shops may run tap programs, clubs, and tightly curated lists. If you want guidance, look for stores that emphasize staff recommendations and special orders, since they can track down allocated or hard-to-find wine.

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