Michael S
Ellen’s Wine Room is an absolute gem tucked away in Historic Downtown Sanford—and it’s so much more than just a place to enjoy a glass of wine. Ellen and Syuzanna are the heart and soul of the experience. Their warmth, knowledge, and genuine hospitality instantly make you feel like part of the family. Whether you’re a seasoned wine lover or just learning the ropes, they guide you with enthusiasm and passion, always ready with a great recommendation or a fun story behind the bottle.
The atmosphere is cozy, inviting, and full of character—perfect for date night, a catch-up with friends, or even a solo wind-down. The curated wine list is both approachable and impressively diverse, showcasing hidden gems and unique finds you won’t see at your typical wine bar.
Ellen’s Wine Room isn’t just a place to drink wine—it’s a place to make memories, share laughs, and connect with great people. Five stars doesn’t feel like enough for the experience these two incredible women deliver. If you’re in Sanford, this is a must-visit.
… moreJoseph Paparella
Ellen’s Wine Room is one of those places that leaves you with mixed feelings. On the positive side, they have a good selection of bottles, especially French and Italian wines. The staff is friendly, and the vibe is quirky, there’s always plenty to look at, and it certainly has character. There is music on weekends.
That said, the space itself is not for everyone. It’s dark and cluttered, almost claustrophobic at times. There are two rooms, but the second one doubles as an office and is filled with random items, making only about half of it usable. The amount of “stuff” everywhere is overwhelming, and instead of cozy, it feels a bit chaotic.
The night we visited, the atmosphere was lively with locals, but also a little unpredictable. One man had a large dog sitting in a chair, and a young woman (clearly overserved) started secretly feeding the dog cherries, which can be harmful. When the owner of the dog realized this, there was a scene. Earlier, the same woman had walked in with a shopping bag of jello shots she’d picked up from a bar across the street and was handing them out like she worked there. The whole situation felt strange and not very well managed.
Overall, Ellen’s Wine Room does have some nice wines and friendly staff, but the clutter, tight space, and chaotic vibe weren’t to our taste.
… moreCMB Caspanello
A nice selection of wines for sale at reasonable places. An ecletic shop with little nooks to hang out and drink a glass of wine if you choose. Thursdays they serve dinner and that night they had rubs with the fixings in buffet for $25 a plate. If you are in Sanford come over and enjoy a glass of wine or three.
… moreFrances Maxfield
Ms. Ellen and Susanne are two most amazing individuals. Great wine selection and prices. The do make some foods like charcuterie boards and Thursdays they make a complete dinner meal. It’s all about the wine for me!!!
… moreVal Woldman
I stopped in twice to pick up a bottle to go. Both times Tom was great assisting me to find what I like in my price range. He made some great suggestions and let me sample a few. I ended up getting a bottle of red and a bottle of white and I will be back again! The space is cozy with plenty of comfy chairs and is bigger than it looks from the outside.
… moreJ D
We love everything about this wine room. The wines are phenomenal and at a really good price. The atmosphere is really whatever you feel like. It could be a romantic evening out or a place to meet new and interesting people.
… moreAndrea
I read the previous review by the man named Giovanni. I actually happened to be there that night. It was my first time in Sanford and I was enjoying a glass of wine with some friends. It was quite busy, there was some sort of festival going on and the man walked in and demanded service immediately. The bartender (I think his name was Tim) very nicely told him that were people in front of him, and he would be with him as soon as he could. The man then got very aggressive stating he wanted to be served at that moment. He then went on to say Tim was being disrespectful. The man actually pushed me out of the way to insist that Tim serve him first. Even his wife was embarrassed of him. At no time did the Tim raise his voice. I watched the entire situation unfold. I thought Tim did a great job considering the bar was very busy and was the only one working. Great wines and service. I will be back. Tim recommended some great wines
… moreNancy Lacasse
Great place to sip and talk wine with their friendly staff. Dog friendly too!
… moreC A
Great place to relax with some wine and have a few chats with great people that go there
… moreScott Wyatt
Ellen’s is a gem in Sanford for lovers of wine (and music and special dinners on certain nights). Intimate, beautiful interior surrounded by walls of unique wines. Seating on comfy couches, wine bar or patio. Lots of wines by the glass, and the bottle prices are so good you should just get bottles (including bottles To Go). Some nice beers for beer lovers. Frequent Events on the website, like special dinners and wine tastings. Great live music Fri and Sat nights with Chuck and his guitar. Tom, Ellen, Chuck and lots of regular customers and friends make you feel welcome. We travel a lot and Sanford is lucky to have such a unique place as Ellen’s. Highly Recommend, and we will be there whenever we’re in town.
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