Lower Manhattan’s newest wine and spirits destination, Printemps Wine Shop, is part of its glitzy namesake department store. As we’ve come to expect from Printemps, its selection of bottles is expertly curated, yet also surprisingly approachable. Charles Prusik, the shop’s manager, describes the offerings as “New York energy meets French tradition.”
According to Prusik, about 70% of the stock is French, but there are also a number of collections from Italy, Spain, Germany and other European countries. If you’d prefer to shop local, you’ll also find plenty of beverages made right here in New York State. The selection runs the gamut from very rare and hard-to-find bottles of wines and spirits, to more commonly sourced options that were carefully chosen by Prusik to fit the shop’s vibe.
Not sure what to get? We asked Prusik, who has 20 years of experience in the wine and spirits industry in New York, to recommend bottles for five different occasions:
A bottle to impress your guests at a dinner party: 2019 Grand Cru Classe from Château Corbin ($46)
“We’re going to Bordeaux for this Grand Cru, which comes from one of the most classical estates, Château Corbin. They’ve done a lot of work in the cellar recently to make these wines approachable and beautiful in their youth. If you give it to folks that know a whole lot about wine, they’re going to find it delicious and technically very sound and well-made. And if you give it to somebody that knows nothing about wine, they’ll be able to appreciate how delicious and balanced it is.”
A bottle to take to a park picnic: 2021 Kallstadter Riesling from Koehler-Ruprecht ($25)
“We have a dry Riesling from Koehler-Ruprecht in Germany. Riesling is certainly, for our money, one of the better wine grapes on the planet. It’s structured and versatile with a refreshing balance of the acidity of the fruit. It will still keep you on the dry side. It’s super thirst-quenching on its own, but it could go very well with beets and cheeses and salads — all the things you might have in the park with you.”
A bottle for a hot day: 2023 Corail Rose from Chateau de Roquefort ($19)
“This is a classic cooked Provence from Chateau de Roquefort. It contains a lovely blend of cinsault, grenache and a few other grape varietals. It’s a classically mineral-styled rosé on the lighter side, but still has enough backbone to do well at the table.”
A bottle to sip at home as you make dinner: Domaine d’Aurensan Le Carre des Fantomes Armagnac ($118)
“This is a little off the beaten path. This is a gorgeous Armagnac from Domaine d’Aurensan. It’s a really refined spirit, super elegant. I love to have a little something like that before a meal. I prefer it neat, but it’s got enough depth and balance that you could throw a little splash of water in there or even an ice cube.”
A bottle for a special occasion: 1985 Saint Julien from Câteau Dr Beau Caillou ($465)
“This bottle is certainly up at the higher end of our price range, but it comes from a classic Bordeaux estate. It’s a vintage that is drinking beautifully right now and it’s highly regarded. If you wanted to put it in the cellar for another 20 years, it certainly has the stuffing to go that long and develop even more.”
If you’re still having trouble deciding, Printemps Wine Shop hosts tastings every Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m., where visitors are able to sample select wines and spirits.
main photo: courtesy Printemps New York
