28th Anniversary Sale!
It is that time again for The Oconee Cellar to celebrate its Anniversary! This week The Oconee Cellar turns 28 year old and has provided wine, spirits, beer, and cigars to Georgia’s Lake Country. “It seems like just yesterday, The Oconee Cellar was born in a small, quaint wine shop in Salem Walk. There was no Publix, Ritz-Carlton, hospital, Lake Oconee Academy; not much of anything out here.”, states owner and operator Matt Garofalo. “This area has really grown up and we feel so lucky to continue to provide our customers with convenience, customer service, value, and an easy informative shopping experience.”, states Matt.
Starting Thursday August 13st– Sunday August16th, The Oconee Cellar will be running its annual Anniversary Sale! “This annual Anniversary Sale is a way to give back to all our loyal customers who support us through-out the year. We give big discounts on some of our most popular liquors along with a 15% discount on purchases of 12 or more bottles of wine.” continues Matt.
Looking to get your hands on some hard-to-get allocated bourbons? The Oconee Cellar is having its annual Allocated Bourbon Drawing. On Saturday morning August 15th at 8:00 A.M. we will have people pick a number out of a hat. If you are lucky enough to pick #1, you get to go first and purchase up to two bottles of bourbon out of our highly allocated selection. Selections to choose from will include a bottle Pappy Van Winkle 10-year, Pappy Van Winkle 12-year, Pappy Van Winkle 15 year, W.L. Weller, E.H. Taylor, Michter’s Single Barrel 10 year Rye, Blanton’s, and lots of other surprises! Each person will get 5 minutes to make their selections before we let in the next person in the store. Also, if you would like to purchase a bottle of one of The Oconee Cellar’s store picks you will be rewarded with a third pick! This will give everyone an equal chance to get their hands on a bottle they wouldn’t normally see on a retailer’s shelf. The drawing begins exactly at 8:00 A.M.! If you are late, you will not be able to participate. To see a picture or video of the list of bourbons included in the drawing visit their website or Facebook page.
The Oconee Cellar provides its customers with outstanding customer service, the widest variety of products, a location that is second to none, a successful monthly wine club, and the best customer loyalty program in the area. These things allow them to be voted “The Best of Georgia’s Lake Country Award for the Category of Liquor Store” every year since the inception of the competition. They also are particularly good at keeping up the industry trends and always bringing in new products. Whether you are looking to find the best wine values, allocated bourbons, or seasonal brews, The Oconee Cellar has you covered. Something new that our customers love is the ability to text us with their special orders or requests. Customers can use the store number as a special-order hotline!
Also, for larger orders customers can take advantage of the Lake Country’s only alcohol delivery service. “Now that the State of Georgia has made it legal to deliver alcohol, we purchased our own delivery vehicle. We have found that people still like our shopping experience we provide in the store, but customers with larger purchases are thrilled that we can deliver their order right to their door!” says Matt. You can visit their website at www.theoconeecellar.com/home-delivery for all the details.
You can see all the great sales they are having this weekend online at www.theoconeecellar.com or visit them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/theoconeecellar or Instagram at oconee_cellar.
Matt Garofalo, Local Beverage Retailer, Honored by National Trade Association
Matt Garofalo has been named Georgia’s 2026 Retailer of the Year by American Liquor Licensee (ABL), an honor that recognizes outstanding leadership and community involvement in the beverage alcohol industry.

Matt expressed his gratitude for the recognition, crediting the support of his family, dedicated staff, and loyal customers for helping make this achievement possible.
The ABL Retailer of the Year awards are among the industry’s most prestigious distinctions, celebrating beverage licensees who demonstrate excellence in operations, innovation, and community engagement. This year’s recipients were recognized for their commitment to high standards, forward-thinking practices, and meaningful contributions to their local communities.
Matt Garofalo exemplifies these qualities through his leadership and dedication to both his business and the community he serves. His efforts reflect the values that continue to move the beverage alcohol industry forward—strong customer service, responsible retailing, and a genuine commitment to making a positive impact at both the local and industry level.
Wine Tasting Saturday, March 21
This will be one of our best tastings we have ever hosted! You will be able to taste Skipstone wines and Sphaerics wines in an intimate setting at The Ritz Carlton Lake Oconee. Brian Ball, owner of Spherics and general manager of Skipstone will lead us on a journey of tasting some exceptional wines with production under 500 cases! These wines range from $80 – $180 a bottle. If you love good wine or would like to add to your personal collection, this tasting is for you!
Hope to see you there! Space is limited so sign up today!
27th Anniversary Sale
On Saturday, August 23rd, at exactly 8:00 AM customers will line up by the front doors and draw a number. #1 has 5 minutes to purchase two bottles from our allocated bourbon collection as well as the opportunity to purchase a third bottle if they purchase the Oconee Cellar “store picks.
There are over 150 bottles to choose from including an Old Rip Van Winkle 10 year, a Pappy Van Winkle 12 year, and a Pappy Van Winkle 15 year. Pricing will be announced the morning of, so please don’t ask ahead of time.
Good Luck!
24th Annivesary Sale!
24TH Anniversary Oconee Cellar V2 (002)
Click on the above to see what’s on Sale this weekend!
Allocated Bourbon Raffle
#46 in Top 100 on Sale Now!
Il Poggione Rosso di Montalcino 2015
#46 in Top 100 for 2017
91 Rating Wine Spectator
Bright, delicate and vibrant, with berry and floral flavors. Accents of earth, tobacco and spice add interest as they linger on the finish. Well-rounded and long. Drink now through 2023. 16,666 cases made.
Regular Price $ 26.99
Reward Card Price $ 21.99 Save $5 per bottle!







