Addy Bassin’s MacArthur Beverages

Update: I still really like MacArthur Beverages and will continue to shop here, but in the second half of 2015 I had some experiences that left me disappointed. The main one was that their storage/​shipping/​warehouse department broke some bottles that were waiting to be shipped to me, and they could not be replaced. I received a full refund very promptly, but I would have much preferred to have had the bottles I purchased in the first place. It all seemed a bit careless to me. The second is that I have noticed that while the in person service with the wine associates in the store is very good; recently I have found that speaking to the same people over the phone is not as good an experience: they seem hurried and actually annoyed to be having to answer questions over the phone. Oh well. I still like this shop, and I have been shopping here way too long to give up on them. I just hope that they don’t start slipping in their service …

If you love wine, you will enjoy shopping at MacArthur Beverages… it’s that simple!
I just wanted to throw this place another 5 Stars… hands down my favorite wine store in the area. They carry nothing but quality and their pricing is fair to better than anyone depending on the wine. I also love the ability to order online and have it waiting to go when you get there… plus they deliver.

I’ve been to a lot of wine/​beer/​liquor stores all around the country and this place ranks among the best. The selection is huge, the prices are low compared to other stores, and the staff is friendly and very knowledgable. They also have tasting events, one at which i was allowed to drink way too much.
They also have a great website where you can order and then pick up not too long later.
It also has a classy feel to it – there are black and white pics of various dignitaries who did their shopping here back in the days of Vietnam Watergate. Those officials would have needed a lot of scotch to soothe their guilt for making such poor political decisions. Thankfully Addy Bassins was there to help these people cope.

The prices are so reasonable that what I saved on one bottle of whiskey paid for my round trip Megabus tickets from New York City.
I think I’ll be coming back to DC soon. For whiskey reasons.

Careful with phone/​on line purchase: salesperson PB is not polite and didn’t honor written offer… then tried to compromise. Not a healthy business model

This is hands down the best wine shop in the DC area! That’s nothing against Calvert Woodley or Schneider’s and I shop there frequently too, but it says how awesome this place is. MacArthur offers everything I look for in a wine shop, 1) great selection, 2) low prices, and 3) good customer service.
1) I am typically looking for French or Italian wine (sometimes Spanish) and they have fantastic selection from all regions in those countries, famous and obscure. Typically they have several wines to choose from even in the obscure regions. You want a Sagrantino di Montefalco? They usually 5 or 6 to chose from. If there is a random wine I’m looking for and someone in DC has it, it’s them the vast majority of the time.
2) They typically have the best prices in town. This isn’t always true, and I occasionally get something cheaper on a Calvert Woodley or Schneiders sale, but if MacArthur and one of the other stores stocks the same wine, MacArthur has the lowest price 90% of the time.
3) These guys have unbelievably good customer service!!! I know some of the other comments have criticized this, but I have never had a bad customer service experience here. While I try to come here around twice per month, I wouldn’t say I’m anywhere near «regular» status. Furthermore, I don’t come in here dressed like a high roller (which I’m clearly not); I’m usually wearing jeans and a t-​shirt and frequently asking for a $ 10 bottle. This has never stopped any of the staff from greeting me respectfully and doing the best job they can to help me find a great wine. I typically buy from the French and Italian sections, which seem to be manned by guys named Phil and Tim, respectively. These guys are phenomenal (I will get into that in a sec). I have less experience with the other staff, but have always been treated exceptionally well them too. That said, I think Phil and Tim (and suspect the other sales people as well) are the best wine-​store staff members in DC. They both know the wine backward and forward and continually offer amazing recommendations to suit my mood, curiosity, and budget. If I say what my budget is, they don’t try to upsell me and if I say I liked such-​and-​such wine, they recommend 5 – 10 more wines that I never thought of trying. These guys are quite good if you can give them just a little sense of what you like or don’t like. If you don’t know, they will explain to help you find something you might like! I always learn something useful and interesting from these guys whenever I go in. The staff here works as hard as (most of the time harder than) that of any other store around. From the time I walk in to through check-​out, I’ve never had anything other than enjoyable time here.
In short, I always look forward to coming here and this isn’t always the case with the other stores. I try to avoid Saturday afternoons because they do get slammed, but any other time it is a joy. If you want a good bottle of wine (whatever it may be) at a good price, check this place out.

Selection of liquor and wine is INCREDIBLE. While the location is sort of inconvenient, that is minimized by their awesome delivery service within DC– when I last ordered from them, it was $ 5 and they managed to get it to my office within the same day.
Staff is super friendly and they know their goods. I will definitely be returning (or ordering!)

what an awesome wine store. i come here (and I’ll be honest, only before or after going to one of the allegedly good restaurants in the palisades) to try and find wines that we can’t get in VA due to ABC laws that for whatever reason restrict us from getting certain wines. They’ve got a great selection — the prices run from cheap but good value to high. I am like a kid in a candy store in there. Awesome part was that when i checked in on Unilocal,it said I could get a 6 bottle wine bag for free! some people may not be impressed by that but i LOVE wine totes ha. score!
customer service was a plus. i don’t expect much from wine stores especially in DC but they greeted me upon entry and i was asked if i needed any assistance

I was in California, my GF works in DC. I called them to buy a bottle of Champagne to deliver to her job for her birthday. same day service super fast and helpful. They had an awesome Grower Champagne we love. they told me about the different gift bags available. they delivered fast and for a good fee.
Awesome service.
Thanks

Great place to buy alcohol. The staff that works here are very knowledgable, friendly and happy to help.

This review is for online ordering and delivery:
Perfect transaction. They had exactly what I was looking for (which I couldn’t find in my state, at all). I placed the order late Monday evening; by the time I went to work on Tuesday, I had an email letting me know my order would ship that afternoon. By Thursday afternoon, I had my shipment! So glad I found them, and I look forward to future orders. Items were well-​packed, and I appreciated the quick responsiveness to my order.

I agree with Kelly Y’s review for the most part. Its a classic, well-​established shop that is worth knowing if you have an interest in wine. They offer a strong selection, particularly of French wines, and the sales staff are generally quite knowledgable. We’ve been there many times, but I don’t feel that we’ve quite reached «regular» status yet. We are always treated courteously, but perhaps a bit impersonally.
The parking situation is typically a hassle.
The bottom line is that its an excellent wine shop, and the best we’ve found in DC so far.

The customer service in this store is horrible. I was browsing the store and was passed by the same clerk twice and was not greeted nor offered help. At one point I was standing right next to him when he offered to assist a patron that was in an aisle across from him. I am being extremely nice with the one star. I couldn’t even enjoy their wide selection that many post speak of because I was completely turned off by their lack of customer service :-(…I didn’t feel welcome in this store at all!!!

One of the grand old wine shops of the city, maybe the grand old shop. A certain lawyer from Monkton was known to trod the racks back in the day. Not sure if that’s such a glowing recommendation these days, but there you have it. While the shop does seem a bit dog eared now it certainly packs the goods. Strong selections in several categories (CA, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Italy, Germany, Alsace, Rhone) and reasonable in most others. The prices are on the whole fair, in some cases quite good. The occasional gray market wines seem to end up on the shelf. I’ve noted such list only wines as Peay and Thackrey on the shelf. I do not think there is a better selection of German wine in the region (and if there is someone let me know).
The staff has been uniformly courteous and helpful. Not the warmest and fuzziest bunch you’ll ever meet, but there’s no doubting they are pros. I’ve been steered towards several great wines, and not the top shelf high dollar picks either so kudos there. There are frequent tastings and events. If you’re a high flyer they do Bordeaux futures and those type things. You can even get a bottle of Domaine de la Romanee Conti if you’re feeling flush.
There is a solid selection of beer and spirits, though that is not why I go here.
The only slight downside to MacArthur’s, and it’s a very small quibble, is its location in Palisades. It takes a bit to get to from anywhere around town being hemmed in by the river and on the other side of VA commuter traffic around Georgetown. Still I’ve never had trouble parking there.
If you’re a wine lover in the Washington metro are you need to know this shop, it’s that simple.

A nice store in the Palisades neighborhood. The selection of single malt scotch was great. The price was higher for the same bottle I bought in Chevy Chase so to give you an idea. There were some less common brands so if you were a collector of single malt scotch you would find something new here.

I’ve been looking high and low for a very specific bottle of wine (Jack Larkin 2006 Merlot) that I had while dining in Napa, CA. I’ve searched high and low for this wine and no one anywhere had it (including the vineyard). Until I found MacArthur Beverages!
I placed an online order on Monday for 6 bottles, and by Wednesday it was delivered (and I’m in Chicago!). Most impressed. The wines were packaged very securely and I love that I received my order super fast. I am all about instant gratification! I’ll definitely be ordering other wines from them in the future.

Best wine shop in DC by far! And I’m a wine nut, so I’ve been to most of them. The French wine selection is amazing. They even give full coverage to some of the more obscure French bargain wines (Red Loire, Corbieres, St. Chinian, etc… They also have strong German, Austrian, Italian and California sections.
The staff is very knowledgable and polite. I particularly like to hear what Phil or Joe have to say about any wine I haven’t tried. I buy a lot of my wines here and rate them at
in case you want a sampling.

I grew up in Dallas where wine, beer, and spirits were all sold under one convenient roof at the major crossroads of every neighborhood — none of this beer-​and-​wine-​in-​one-​place/​hard-​liquor-​in-​an-​ABC/​no-​alcohol-​for-​sale-​on-​Sundays nonsense we have in these parts. I have fond memories of stopping by these corner stores with mom and pops, scooping up the free Dum Dums those shops set out just for kids like me, and eating sweet-​and-​salty Beer Nuts from small foil bags my parents sometimes bought us as a special treat [if you’re thinking about calling CPS, don’t bother: no children were harmed in the purchase of alcohol. Not to mention the statute of limitations has expired].
When I stepped through the doors of MacArthur Beverages for the first time, I was instantly transported back over 20 years to those beverage stores I remember from my youth in Texas. This place is stocked. to. the. GILLS with alcohol in all of its glorious forms. I would venture to say there are *thousands* of wines packed in here. Every type imaginable, from German riesling to Australian shiraz (but boooo on MB for not carrying Virginia wines. Come on, aren’t we *past* that (totally unwarranted) stigma at this point???). And while most of the wines kind of *are* on the pricey side — I’ve spotted bottles for $ 160! — a few are very reasonable, around $ 8 — $ 20, and there always seems to be a nice sale going on.
Aside from the inordinately large wine selection, MacArthur Beverages also carries an eclectic and interesting assortment of beers [Smuttynose! Lambic!] and liquor [Pimm’s No. 1! The Glenlivet!]. Not to mention the mixers and sake. MB is literally a one-​stop shop, the perfect place to stock up for a party or to grab a bottle of something lovely to go with dinner.
I haven’t experienced the aloof customer service others mention, either. When I stop in I’m practically swarmed by friendly staff members asking if and how they can help, always eager to make a recommendation or steer me in the right direction.
And guess what I’ve spied here with my little eyes?! Beer Nuts. Oh, yeah.

As Jason Z. pointed out, we «do not have to agree with [anyone else’s] palate.» I wholeheartedly agree, and with that said I write this review to come to the defense of MacArthur Beverages.
Quite simply, MacArthur Beverages is probably the best wine store in DC. [FN1] They have outstanding French and Italian collections, along with a formidable German/​Austrian contingent, good representation from California, and some choice picks from Iberia. Their Burgundy selection is tremendous, and I don’t think I’ve had a bottle of Burgundy from MacArthur that I haven’t liked. [FN2] But wine is not all they have. They have an excellent selection of liquors and spirits, unlike what Andrew W. noted, and a few dozen types of beer.
Many people note that the location is a pain to get to, but MacArthur can’t really do anything about that at this point. And, as many other reviewers have noted, there are ways to get to MacArthur – including public transportation! [FN3]
One commentator noted that you could find better prices online for some of the wines they carry. I don’t know if that’s true (I compare prices all the time and MacArthur usually comes up ahead), but even if it is the problem with online shopping is that you have to pay for shipping… and have your wines shipped. You can pick up your bottles at MacArthur, or you can have them deliver for a flat fee of $ 5.00 in the DC metro area.
However, the biggest set of complaints levied against MacArthur is that the staff is rude or snobbish, or that they don’t offer to help customers. I have not ever seen that behavior, and I have always been helped whenever I walk through the doors. I have had experiences at other wine shops where the proprietors have been actually mean or condescending, [FN4] and I suppose that sort of behavior is possible at any wine shop. If so, it is inexcusable, but I have been to MacArthur at least five or six times and have never been subject or witness to rudeness.
What you’ll find at MacArthur is deeply knowledgeable, personable wine stewards who will help you pick out a solid bottle of wine. They value repeat customers (I now deal almost exclusively with Phil Bernstein, whose knowledge of Burgundy is profound), and with their collection of wines it is easy to become a repeat customer. Don’t let the negative reviews taint your view of this DC gem: there’s a reason it’s been around since 1957, [FN5] and there’s a reason why it’s my favorite wine shop in the District.
FOOTNOTES *
* I feel so strongly about this review that I am ANNOTATING it. How’s that for a review?
FN1. I also love Schneider’s of Capitol Hill and often compare prices and inventories between the two for older or rarer bottles. For instance, a few months ago both stores offered the 2001 Penfolds RWT Shiraz (
), and MacArthur’s won out at $ 69.99; Schneider’s won on another instance for its selection of Ridge Zinfandels (
).
FN2. They carry not only great premier and grand cru Burgundies, but also village– and basic Bourgogne-​level wines. You should check out either of their offerings from Aubert de Villaine – winemaker at Romanee-​Conti, who also has his own operation – or the basic Bourgogne from Domaine René Leclerc (
).
FN3. Take the D6 line, which picks up in downtown and goes past Dupont Circle, north of Georgetown, and down MacArthur Blvd. It nearly literally stops right in front of MacArthur Beverages.
FN4. For instance, Potomac Wines and Spirits (
) or Le Petit Vendome in Pasadena, CA, which is run by an autocratic, cranky, can’t-be-bothered old man.
FN5. For those wine drinkers who love Robert Parker (I don’t say this sarcastically – I admire Robert Parker): Robert Parker got a big boost from Addy Bassin, the original proprietor of MacArthur Beverages. Bassin gave Parker his client list, which helped Parker publicize The Wine Advocate in its early days. I would recommend reading The Emperor of Wine by Elin McCoy, which is a fascinating biography of the rise (and slight decline?) of Parker.

I have found my local wine store in the DC area! I dragged my boyfirend to a number of wine stores on Saturday so that I could get a better understanding of what DC has to offer. MacArthur stood out. The wine selection was very good, including such CA cult classics as Turley, Spottswoode and Ramey. The Italian section was amazing, and I am looking forward to learning more about Italian wines through the helpful MacArthur staff.
As another reviewer said, prices were not the best when compared to some online stores however, they were much better than I found at other wine stores in the area. Sometimes, you don’t want to have to wait for wine to arrive…