The Wine Rack

The Wine Rack is my go to wine shop in Crescent Hill/​St. Matthews. The owner John Johnson has training as both a somellier and prior to that went to culinary school, and it shows in his excellent knowledge and suggestions in wine. His store is very cozy and easy to navigate. John does a great job at stocking quality wines at very affordable prices. I just can’t go into a place like Liquor Barn and find what I’m looking for or get any help. The wine rack also does frequent tastings and hosts dinners at local restaurants paired with wines that have always been a real treat when I’ve gone. I can’t recommend the Wine Rack highly enough!

The Wine Rack is definitely the best wine shop in town. John Johnson has the rare ability to share his deep knowledge of wine in a way that is really informative and interesting, but never pretentious. I’ve learned so much from his regular wine tastings, but sometimes I like to just go in and ask him to pick something out for me that I haven’t tried before. He always knows what I like and he never just picks up a random bottle. He always takes the time to talk me through why he’s choosing a particular wine for me. It’s a lot of fun.
On top of it all, he has a great staff. If John’s not around, you know you’re still going to get outstanding advice from people who really know and love wine, and friendly service. And you know you’re going to get low prices when you shop at the Wine Rack. Their prices are consistently lower than all but the big box stores, and I’m much happier paying a buck extra (and it’s rarely more than that) to support a local business that works really hard to contribute to the community and give an outstanding product at the lowest price possible. The bourbon prices at the Wine Rack are consistently several dollars less than most other stores.
Go there. Soon!

I love the Wine Rack. It is just the right size, in a neighborhood that I love to visit and has just enough new and old to keep my interest. The staff are great, never questioning your price point and always finding something great to fit it. John Johnson keeps a record of your orders, so you can ask about a special wine you loved and get it again or get a suggestion for something similar.
The wine tastings are also really special and give you an opportunity to learn more about a region or type of wine, not just hear a sales pitch and they are also targeted to a variety of prices to offer something for everyone.
In addition to wines, I can always ask ahead for a special bourbon for my husband and John will find something and hold it back and he has a great growler program for those who love beer.
Finally, you can pick up great chocolate, bread, cheese and other snacks for a one stop party prep and everything offered is top notch and can be matched to the special wine you have selected.
You have many other choices in this area, but I drive by several to make the Wine Rack my preferred wine store.

Our absolute «Go To» wine/​beer/​sprints shop. John and his staff are so helpful and excel at recommending interesting bottles within your budget– whatever that may be. The ambiance of the shop is so welcoming and warm, the weekly wine tastings are informative and innovative, the selection eclectic and imaginative. Can’t imagine our Avenue without them there. Stop by and check them out– and prepare to find your new wine and spirits shop.

Such a great shop! We were in town on vacation and found the best wine & snack selection here. The owner was very personable and advised on his favorite wines. We will definitely return next time we’re in town.

This is a great place to get your bourbon, staff is very friendly and knowledgeable when it comes to bourbon. I don’t know if John is the owner, but he does one hell of a job to take care of his customers. Now on, I will be buying my bourbon and beer at the The Wine Rack! Thank you John and staff.

The Wine Rack really is one of the nicest wine stores in Louisville. They have a wide selection of wine (organized by country) and they have a nice selection of craft beer and liquor. You are even able to fill up your Growler in the back of the store. They also have some cheese, meats, pasta, etc for that time you are hosting an impromptu wine night and need some quick snacks. The staff is always friendly and always willing to help advise on new wines. The location, the selection of wines, and the friendly staff make this a number one go-​to spot.

Friendly place to get booze. I love that they are in walking distance. Ginger beer for me and a growler for the man.

THE best place for quality wines of many varieties, with an expert and helpful staff ready to assist with your adult beverage needs. I also love the assortment of artisan chocolates, cheeses and other snacky goodness to compliment any variety of wine you may prefer. The Wine Rack also caters to quality spirits and mixers. And if all this wonderfulness was not enough, they carry a good selection of local/​Kentucky made spirits.

The Wine Rack is a nice, neighborhood wine shop with a knowledgeable staff, a satisfactory selection of wines & and a good price range. The propietor is a sommelier himself and he can give you good recommendations if you can tell him what you’re looking for. He can also recommend cheese, pasta, pizza or charcuterie pairings from the refrigerators if you want an entire meal. & the pastas are from Lotsa Pasta! Breads are from Blue Dog. If you want personalized service, this is a respectable place for you. Off street parking behind the store, off the alley.

I had heard of the Wine Rack, but I had not visited their store. Then the Brasserie Provence hosted a wine dinner and the Wine Rack was handling the wines that night.
It was the Gerard Bertrand winery from the Languedoc region of France. The wines were all good, but I fell in love with the Pinot Noir which had a smooth buttery quality. We are having to wait a couple of weeks for the wine we ordered.
We happened to pass the shop after visiting a restaurant on Frankfort and we made an impromptu stop. The windows were brightly lit and colorfully decorated with glowing amber bourbons on pedestals intertwined with fall leaves and décor — maybe I was dazzled by my drinks earlier in the evening, but it looked really beautiful! The shop is laid out nicely and doesn’t have an overwhelming number of choices. There were featured wines with the points labels and descriptions and excellent prices.
We asked about another favorite Grenache that we tried at the Brasserie Provence, and though he didn’t have it, he knew it immediately and suggested a similar and reasonably priced option. We grabbed an Argentinean Malbec called Tamari and tried it last night — I will be picking up several bottles of it when I pick up my pinot next week.
This is a great place to get great wines at good prices, and if you need some advice, it appears you will get quality suggestions here. It will be hard for me to pass by without stopping now!

This place offers a great selection of superb wines for very affordable prices, as well as scrumptious gourmet snacks, including cheeses and a bit of charcuterie. Whenever I’ve asked for suggestions I’ve been happy with what the owner has recommended for me every time. Try the Pennywise Petite Sirah for $ 10.99; it’s heavenly. My price point is $ 10-​$ 15 per bottle, and there are a plethora of highly drinkable wines for that budget.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about John Johnson, the owner of The Wine Rack. He is one of the best Sommelier’s I have ever met. His palate, knowledge, travel expereinces and out-​going personality make him stand out in the world of vino.
I have been going to wine-​tastings at The Wine Rack for years and it never seizes to amaze me the time and effort John puts into promoting various vineyards and winemakers from around the world that may not be well-​known. I recently went to a wine-​tasting featuring Luminis from Argentina. I never knew that wines from this region could be so diverse, complex and quite elegant. The Owner and Winemaker of Luminis (Allamand) were also there to present and answer questions. That is simply unheard of at most local tastings. A true testiment to The Wine Rack and John Johnson’s reputation.
There is a wide array of wines offered in the store. Whether you want to grab a great local wine for $ 10, a nice French Bordeaux to save for a special occasion, or a light, refreshing Riesling to sip on the front porch, you can find it here. If you are new to wine or unsure of what to pair with your dinner, the staff will gladly guide you to making that perfect purchase. The prices are very reasonable too.
In the mood for beer or bourbon instead? No problem. Bring in your growler to be filled from the diverse, rotating selections of craft beer or head for the bottles. There are plenty of Bourbons to choose from as well. Often on the last Friday of the month during the Frankfort Avenue Trolley Hop, there are beer or bourbon tastings. Oh– and don’t forget to grab some local cheese and a baguette too! Your palate and your wallet will thank you.

John Johnson & Company are fabulous. So much to select from and the staff is so knowledgeable. Each trip in the store is fun.

Great and varied wine selection. They also carry some premium spirits and craft & import beers.
I was just browsing and saw my favorite beer in their cooler for the right price so I bought it. Stopped me from buying wine, but they have plenty of really nice choices, I jsut went for beer on this particular day.

I’m not from the Louisville area, stopped in to get a nice bottle of wine for some friends who we were staying with. The lady that helped me was so nice and knowledgeable. The prices were very reasonable also. Wine Rack has a really nice selection of beer, wine, and spirits. The store is set up really well and is very pleasing to the eye. I would come back here for sure. Thanks for the help!

My wine shop. I don’t like to buy from anyone else. Prices are great, yet there’s nothing in the place that is undrinkable. At least I haven’t found that bottle yet.

THE ultimate wine resource in the Louisville area — great selection of wine, matched with a very knowledgeable and friendly staff who remember your preferences and make great recommendations. It’s a beautiful store with a great outdoor area that serves as a gathering place during FAT Trolley Hops and wine tastings. Wines, beer, select liquor and a great selection of locally produced spreads, cheeses, meats, Lotsa Pasta selections and Blue Dog bread! I always take out of town visitors by The Wine Rack, and they are usually pretty jealous that they don’t have anything like it where they live. I’m lucky enough I can walk to The Wine Rack, but even if I had to drive, it would still be my wine destination.

The new location is really a wonderful jump up for this store. The owner is always there, always in a good mood, and he can answer any question that you have about wines. My wife loves to use him to guide her to the right wine to pair with what we are making.
The rest of the staff is also helpful and knowledgeable. Along with a great selection of reasonably priced wines, they carry a good selection of beer and spirits.
They also keep a fridge full of good cheeses and meats along with bluedog bread if you need it.

One of the best wine shops in the city, the Wine Rack is a small but friendly wine store in the middle of Frankfort Avenue. They carry a great selection of moderately priced wines (in addition to expensive bottles) and are eager to help you without any attitude like so many stores. Staff seems very much into wine and can provide a lot of help in finding a good bottle. Pricing is very reasonable.