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Best Cellars
1291 Lexington Ave., nr. 86th St.; 212-426-4200
Color-coded categories including Soft, Juicy, and Luscious may seem overly quaint now that the store has been open for over a decade, but the owners mean it when they say “Wines for Everyday.” Almost every bottle is under $15.
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One83
1608 First Ave., nr. 84th St.; 212-327-4700
The best bet with basic Italian are the Smooth wines—medium-bodied reds that are well balanced and easy to drink. The $10 Le Sciare Primitivo is made from a grape that carries characteristics of red Zinfandel.
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Trader Joe’s Wine Store
138 E. 14th St., nr. Irving Pl.; 212-529-6326
Trader Joe’s has built a national reputation on Two Buck Chuck—overstock varietals labeled Charles Shaw. In Manhattan the same wines are closer to $3—still perhaps the cheapest drinkable selections around.
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Angelica Kitchen
300 E. 12th St., at Second Ave.; 212-228-2909
The nature of Trader Joe’s acquisitions means that stock constantly changes and quality can fluctuate. Stick to whites to avoid overpowering the vegetarian fare.
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IS-WINE
24 W. 8th St., nr. Macdougal St.; 212-254-7800
This luminous wine cavern keeps prices low by focusing on small producers in both old- and new-world styles. For $16, an Italian rosato made by Cantina Bolzano in Alto Adige offers great acidity and a medium-ripe cherry flavor.
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Tartine
253 W. 11th St., at 4th St., 212-229-2611
A perennial bring-your-own favorite with lines to prove it, the small space can get stuffy. A fruity new-world rosé hits the spot, and don’t be afraid to ask for ice—the French do it.
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Winesby.com
23 Jones St., at W. 4th St.; 212-242-5144
When Jeff Hock decided to sell ready-to-drink bottles, he needed the storefront to get a license; as a result, West Village neighbors can pick from his 100 or so young vintages and organic wines, half of them under $20.
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A.O.C. Bedford
14 Bedford St., nr. Downing St.; 212-414-4764
The dish of the house is roast-suckling pork to share. Ask Hock to pull you a traditional Spanish red— Perlat from Montsant compares to the wines of neighboring Priorat with its dry red fruits and complex minerality but, at $16, is half the price.
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Discovery Wines
10 Ave. A, nr. Houston St.; 212-674-7833
Another specialist in small producers, this shop helps you sort through the unknowns with bar-code-scanning kiosks that pull up both tasting notes and pairing suggestions.
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Falai Panetteria
79 Clinton St., at Rivington St.; 212-777-8956
Former Le Cirque pastry chef Iacopo Falai should have his liquor license by the end of June. Until then, why stick to one bottle with your meal? Pick up a flowery effervescent Moscato d’Asti to brighten up dessert.
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Allman Fine Wine and Liquor
268-270 Grand St., nr. Roebling St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 718-388-8872
Two childhood friends, Alex Echevarria and Manny Correa, own this mural-painted shop, and out of their selection of close to 250 wines, the majority are less than $20.
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Silent H
79 Berry St., at N. 9th St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 718-218-7063
It will be August before one of the Underground Gourmet’s favorite Vietnamese restaurants can begin serving alcohol; mellow the spicy fare with a sweeter, fruit-forward wine such as a German Riesling.