Leave it to Times Frugal Traveler columnist Matt Gross to discover a free drinking avenue in NYC I’ve never explored in all my years of searching for dirt-cheap libations: the wine shop wine tasting. Sure, I’ve sampled a few selected vinos during tastings at the various liquor stores I purchase booze — who hasn’t? — but actually mapping out a series of stores in close proximity and then hitting all of them up in a mad dash like some glorified college bar crawl? Brilliant!

Astor Wines & Spirits at its relatively new spot on Laffeyette, Union Square Wines on Fourth Ave. and Bottlerocket Wine and Spirit North of Union Square — and Gross managed to hit all three without spending a dime. But then he desecrates the whole experience by actually complaining about the wine being offered. One thing to remember when on the prowl for alcohol giveaways in NYC: free boozers can’t be choosers.