UWS Wine Store Starts 'Virtual Tastings' During Coronavirus

UPPER WEST SIDE, MANHATTAN — An Upper West Side wine shop isn't letting social-distancing get in the way of its happy hours.

Acker Wines, which advertises itself as America's oldest wine shop, has started up virtual wine tastings that lets wine lovers "BYOB" to happy hours over video conference or live stream.

The store's first tasting, an introductory happy hour for "every day drinkers," brought hundreds of tasters online, the store said.

Tastings during the rest of the month will focus on a specific type of wine at 8 p.m. each night, along with Acker chairman, John Kapon.

"Consumers are invited to join Acker’s resident sommeliers for 30 min. sessions exploring everything from 'Austria’s Great Grape' to 'Sauvignon Blanc Around the World,'" the store said.

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The virtual happy hours will be available two to three times a week throughout the month of April. Wine lovers can join through Zoom links on the Acker Facebook page or stream from Instagram Live.

Acker is delivering wine for free to Manhattan and the Hamptons so that customers can purchase their wines in advance to bring to the tasting. They also offer nationwide delivery.

Find a schedule on Acker's website.