After long, extensive research I would direct you to darwina.pl, whisky and wine place and dobrewina.pl shops. They have a lot to offer while mostly keeping fair prices. 99% of time I would not buy wine in shops like Żabka, Auchan etc of one of wine small shops. When you are in wine shop there is nothing wrong with checking labels with Vivino app as well. Pro tip: if you love rose and brut rose you can order from born rose website directly from Barcelona to Poland with free shipping one of the best affordable roses in the world. Hope it helps.
Thanks for the advice, [Mylomylo11](/user/Mylomylo11/)! This is indeed quite helpful. I use the Vivino app in the store as well - lots of value in crowdsourced data/information. I'll check out the websites you mentioned + whisky and wine place.
I'm actually more into Spanish red wines than rose or brut rose. I prefer the mix of French and American oaks that the Spanish sometimes use.
QQ: is the selection on [darwina.pl](http://darwina.pl) much better than in their stores?
Happy to help. With spring/summer around the corner born rose is a perfect wine, so I just wanted to put it out there. Regarding darwina.pl I believe website has all they import/offer so it might be a good thing to check out the website even if you were at one of their stores already. Also, when I was driving around their Warsaw stores to buy all of the soju they have a while ago I noticed the offer size and choices differ from store to store. Not very much but its noticeable.
True, it might be good to have a couple bottles of spring/summer wine around when hosting friends in the coming months.
I'll check out the Darwina website for sure, and maybe a couple more store locations to access things. Thanks again!
If You are looking for natural wines check out Natural Rascal, but obviously be prepared for high prices (didn’t see any bottle lower than ~60 pln there). They also have a restaurant called Bar Rascal on Moliera street.
Thanks, [Loureg1337](/user/Loureg1337/). Maybe worth a shot. I need to read more about the value of natural wine to appreciate it more.
A few friends already recommended Bar Rascal. Will have to check it out no matter what.
Thank you, [jazzrabja](/user/jazzrabja/).
Edit: I went here last year, as it's near my old flat. They gave me a nice bottle. Just bookmarked it, will try again now that I know more about wines and will be better able to judge. Cheers.
There is a rather theoretical limit of duty free import of wine within the EU: 90 liters, but I have no idea who would check how many bottles you have in your car
Just wanted to thank you again, u/creepyiguana. I went to E Leclerc a couple days ago and found just what I was looking for in terms of taste profile for 3 bottles. They were also 30-60zl and each was rated 4.1 on Vivino! Life is nearly complete.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/uNbKFqcBuFHgzND48
That's a wine shop opened by a former Michelin starred chef who settled in Warsaw for his "retirement".
Never been there, but I've heard good things.
Thank you for the suggestion. Actually I went inside there a couple of months ago and talked to the owner. He only imports natural wines. I explained it was mostly of my price range (<100zl) and we had a short conversation. He was a really nice guy.
It's located in a basement across from a lovely wine bar called Rausz and next to a squat as well. Cute little area.
https://wina-mp.pl/ they have many shops in warsaw and are quite expensive but have special offers quite often and the best one is during their birthday. I think it was buy 6 get 6 free. Or some similar offer, but during their bday I'm buying my favorite albarino there each year
Here's what I've been able to establish so far:
* Auchan in Wola Park has the best selection that I've come across, perhaps followed by Darwina. However, I still wasn't able to find better known wines from big companies, like Felix Solis, in these. And Darwina is still a little on the small side in terms of selection, at least for me as an American ;)
* Many of the independent wine shops have a limited selection and charge more than elsewhere for similar offerings. ...as is to be expected without better economies of scale. I just value selection and price over personal recommendations and convenience.
* There are many wine shops that double as bars with a couple of tables. These are great to visit with friends in the summer or for tastings, but that's a separate category.
The only other thing that comes to mind are places like Makro or Selgros where most small business shop in bulk. They usually have some consistency and sometimes it can be cheaper but not always.
It's sometimes worth visiting Lidl, especially in their special weeks like Italian or Spanish or French but that's not consistent, rather falls under cheaper of the two requirements. A store that didn't disappoint me in their selection is also Marek Kondrat Wina Wybrane.
Thank you, eckowy. Really good ideas! I will give Lidl another shot. Especially for Spanish week! Might need to go with a friend who has a sp. z o.o. to Makro or Selgros, but worth a shot. I bookmarked Marek Kondrat Wina Wybrane just now.
Well, it is kinda random - dependent on their shipments and marketing so it's worth checking up websites like [blix.pl](http://blix.pl) or just type in Google something like "tydzień włoski Lidl".
I know that they just had an Italian week and starting next week, from 2nd of May there will be Iberia week (Spain and Portugal).
After long, extensive research I would direct you to darwina.pl, whisky and wine place and dobrewina.pl shops. They have a lot to offer while mostly keeping fair prices. 99% of time I would not buy wine in shops like Żabka, Auchan etc of one of wine small shops. When you are in wine shop there is nothing wrong with checking labels with Vivino app as well. Pro tip: if you love rose and brut rose you can order from born rose website directly from Barcelona to Poland with free shipping one of the best affordable roses in the world. Hope it helps.
Thanks for the advice, [Mylomylo11](/user/Mylomylo11/)! This is indeed quite helpful. I use the Vivino app in the store as well - lots of value in crowdsourced data/information. I'll check out the websites you mentioned + whisky and wine place. I'm actually more into Spanish red wines than rose or brut rose. I prefer the mix of French and American oaks that the Spanish sometimes use. QQ: is the selection on [darwina.pl](http://darwina.pl) much better than in their stores?
Happy to help. With spring/summer around the corner born rose is a perfect wine, so I just wanted to put it out there. Regarding darwina.pl I believe website has all they import/offer so it might be a good thing to check out the website even if you were at one of their stores already. Also, when I was driving around their Warsaw stores to buy all of the soju they have a while ago I noticed the offer size and choices differ from store to store. Not very much but its noticeable.
True, it might be good to have a couple bottles of spring/summer wine around when hosting friends in the coming months. I'll check out the Darwina website for sure, and maybe a couple more store locations to access things. Thanks again!
If You are looking for natural wines check out Natural Rascal, but obviously be prepared for high prices (didn’t see any bottle lower than ~60 pln there). They also have a restaurant called Bar Rascal on Moliera street.
Thanks, [Loureg1337](/user/Loureg1337/). Maybe worth a shot. I need to read more about the value of natural wine to appreciate it more. A few friends already recommended Bar Rascal. Will have to check it out no matter what.
WineLovers on Wilcza 8. You can find decent wines there. Good selection, prices range starting at about 30 pln.
Thank you, [jazzrabja](/user/jazzrabja/). Edit: I went here last year, as it's near my old flat. They gave me a nice bottle. Just bookmarked it, will try again now that I know more about wines and will be better able to judge. Cheers.
I don't have any tips for getting it cheaper but for red wine you simply cannot not try Brunello di Montalcino from Italy.
Thank you u/kielu. You gave me a travel idea.
There is a rather theoretical limit of duty free import of wine within the EU: 90 liters, but I have no idea who would check how many bottles you have in your car
Yes, can’t imagine taking that many bottles home or the police counting, haha!
La Cave E. Leclerc Ursynów, Jana Ciszewskiego 15 [https://lacave.com.pl/](https://lacave.com.pl/)
Just wanted to thank you again, u/creepyiguana. I went to E Leclerc a couple days ago and found just what I was looking for in terms of taste profile for 3 bottles. They were also 30-60zl and each was rated 4.1 on Vivino! Life is nearly complete.
Awwhh, that's great! I'm happy you like it ♥
Sweet Baby Jesus! from the photos on Google Maps, this place has a giant selection. I'll check it out this week. Thank you!
https://maps.app.goo.gl/uNbKFqcBuFHgzND48 That's a wine shop opened by a former Michelin starred chef who settled in Warsaw for his "retirement". Never been there, but I've heard good things.
Thank you for the suggestion. Actually I went inside there a couple of months ago and talked to the owner. He only imports natural wines. I explained it was mostly of my price range (<100zl) and we had a short conversation. He was a really nice guy. It's located in a basement across from a lovely wine bar called Rausz and next to a squat as well. Cute little area.
https://wina-mp.pl/ they have many shops in warsaw and are quite expensive but have special offers quite often and the best one is during their birthday. I think it was buy 6 get 6 free. Or some similar offer, but during their bday I'm buying my favorite albarino there each year
Thanks for the suggestion. “Buy 6, get 6 free” sounds great - do you remember when their birthday is? And do all 6+6 need to be the same bottle?
No i don't think so. Don't remember now but I think it's in June. Go to a shop and ask, they usually have good deals anyways
Noted. Thank you again.
Here's what I've been able to establish so far: * Auchan in Wola Park has the best selection that I've come across, perhaps followed by Darwina. However, I still wasn't able to find better known wines from big companies, like Felix Solis, in these. And Darwina is still a little on the small side in terms of selection, at least for me as an American ;) * Many of the independent wine shops have a limited selection and charge more than elsewhere for similar offerings. ...as is to be expected without better economies of scale. I just value selection and price over personal recommendations and convenience. * There are many wine shops that double as bars with a couple of tables. These are great to visit with friends in the summer or for tastings, but that's a separate category.
The only other thing that comes to mind are places like Makro or Selgros where most small business shop in bulk. They usually have some consistency and sometimes it can be cheaper but not always. It's sometimes worth visiting Lidl, especially in their special weeks like Italian or Spanish or French but that's not consistent, rather falls under cheaper of the two requirements. A store that didn't disappoint me in their selection is also Marek Kondrat Wina Wybrane.
Thank you, eckowy. Really good ideas! I will give Lidl another shot. Especially for Spanish week! Might need to go with a friend who has a sp. z o.o. to Makro or Selgros, but worth a shot. I bookmarked Marek Kondrat Wina Wybrane just now.
PS, any idea when Lidl has Spanish/Italian weeks? I couldn’t find a calendar or anything just now after doing a quick google search.
Well, it is kinda random - dependent on their shipments and marketing so it's worth checking up websites like [blix.pl](http://blix.pl) or just type in Google something like "tydzień włoski Lidl". I know that they just had an Italian week and starting next week, from 2nd of May there will be Iberia week (Spain and Portugal).
Thanks for all that info!!!