Editors’ Choice (TIE)
Andover Classic Wines
Andover
This family-owned shop has been serving the North Shore for 45 years, with a winning mix of value-priced everyday wines and hard-to-find bottles for connoisseurs. Ask the friendly, knowledgeable staff to guide you to your next favorite from their extensive selection of wines from around the world, or shop the well-organized website and get delivery or curbside pick-up. They taste everything they sell, selecting the finest examples from each region, variety, and price point, so when you see the “Highly Recommended” signs for wines of special quality and value, you know they’re topnotch.
209 N. Main St., Andover, 978-470-0500, andoverclassicwines.com
wine••sense
Andover
Owner Samanta Ettore’s tasting notes are almost as enjoyable as the wine from her tiny shop. Browse online to find selections from small producers around the world, with an emphasis on terroir, or stop by to ask her for recommendations. The wine club is a fun way to explore unfamiliar tipples—it requires only a three-month commitment.
166 N. Main St., Andover, 978-749-9464, wine-sense.net
Readers’ Choice
Vinum Wine Shop
Middleton
Before opening Vinum, John Miller, who owns the shop with his wife, Samantha, worked for a wine distributor where he spent a lot of time with smaller wineries that focus on sustainable farming practices. That focus shows in their boutique shop, which offers names you may not be familiar with, at prices you’ll appreciate.
232B South Main St. (Market Basket Plaza), Middleton, 978-304-1048, vinumwineshop.com