What does wineshop mean?
A wineshop is a shop that sells wine. In British English it usually refers to a specialist wine retailer, while in Australia and New Zealand the word can name a broader liquor or bottle shop that also stocks beer, spirits, soft drinks, groceries, and other goods. The term is neutral and everyday: finding a bottle shop, for example, usually means a store where wine is bought to take away rather than a venue for drinking wine. Because it is a compound, wineshop is written as one word, although “wine shop” is more familiar in North American English. A wineshop may combine retail expertise with a more general shopping role, so the word can imply either a wine specialist or simply a convenient place to buy alcohol. Its meaning therefore depends partly on regional usage and partly on the shop itself.
nounA shop that sells wine, especially one that also sells beer, spirits, and other beverages. In Australia and New Zealand, wineshop can also mean a liquor store or bottle shop.
- A shop that sells wine, especially one that also sells other alcoholic beverages.
- In Australia and New Zealand, a liquor store or bottle shop that may sell alcohol and other everyday goods.
"They chose a bottle of Burgundy from the local wineshop."
"The wineshop on the corner stocks a wide selection of Australian and European wines."
"The licence allowed the hotel to operate as a wineshop without serving alcohol to customers on the premises."
The regular plural adds the ending -s.
"Several independent wineshops operate in the historic town centre."
In Australian and New Zealand English, “wineshop” can mean a liquor store stocked with far more than wine, from spirits and beer to snacks and groceries.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of wineshop
Wineshop is an English compound of “wine” and “shop,” and it was in use by the late sixteenth century. “Wine” entered English through Old French vin, ultimately from Latin vinum, which also underlies cognates such as “winery,” “vintner,” and “viniculture.” The “shop” element is Germanic in origin and denotes a place of business or work.
How wineshop is actually used
The one-word form is characteristic of British and southern-hemisphere usage. In North American English, “wine shop” is more usual, while “liquor store” or “bottle shop” may be preferred for a retailer selling a wider range of alcoholic drinks. The term itself is neutral and everyday.
Easily confused with wineshop
A wineshop sells wine for customers to take away, whereas a wine bar primarily serves wine for consumption on the premises.