I will be in SF for a week, but no access to a car and will be in meetings most of the days.

Any suggestions on local retailers with good selection/prices downtown, I will be in the Union Square area.

I'm looking for retailers with knowledge to give me a sense of off the beaten path juice that I may not be able to get at my retailers here in DC.

Check out K&L - http://www.klwines.com
and the Wine Club - http://www.thewineclub.com

the Jug Shop is an institution in north beach
1567 Pacific Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94109
800.404.9548, 415.885.2922

they are not as professional as k&l (no fun)

or relevant as wine club (annoying)

but worth the time to visit... ask for chuck


Napa Valley Winery Exchange has california rarities at premium prices
415 Taylor St.
San Francisco, CA 94102
800.653.9463

PlumpJack Wine Store is owned by gavin newsom (mayor of sf) & billy getty (the billionaire)
3201 Fillmore St.
San Francisco, CA 94123
888.415.9463, 415.346.9870
the cafe is good luck getting a reservation

The posters above hit the best, my only complaint with the Jug Shop is that it's not temperature controlled. So, to me, the wine cooks in the summer (like today). The Wine Club in SF is a cinder block bldg that is like going to a garage sale with wine in cardboard boxes with good prices. Plumpjack has a limited selection. K&L has the most upscale venue with good prices. All can be reached within a 5 minute cab ride from Union Square.

For tastings, you may want to hit the SF Ferry Plaza Wine Merchants at the Ferry Bldg. Also, the California Wine Merchant on 2113 Chestnut Street in the Marina. If you're near the Museum of Modern Art on 3rd, right around the corner is VinoVenue, a self pour automated wine bar. I personally have not found anything interesting to taste there, but the concept is cool. Also, there is the London Wine Bar on 415 Sansome Steet. I have't been for awhile but it is the oldest wine bar in SF.

FYI, these tastings are daily.

On a similar thread, do any of you bay area folks know if the Plumpjack Cafe still prices the wines on their wine list at the same price as the retail liqour shop? The list seemed pretty reasonably priced for a restaurant when I was there a few years ago.

Forget the Cab ride, WALK toward the Ferry Building. From Union Square just go East on Post or Bush Street a few blocks to Market Steet and turn left (NE) and it runs straight through the finacial district and ends up right at the Ferry Terminal. It is a short 15 minute walk but well worth the effort with savoir-faire in earnest. Once you arrive at the terminal you will be greeted by a stunning view of San Francisco Bay, the Bay Bridge, Yerba Buena Island and the Oakland Hills. Inside you will find the Wine Merchant and a rather solid selection. All things considered this is your best choice.

quote:

Originally posted by sfiorare:
the Jug Shop

Make sure to ask for Chuck - one of the best palates in California.

quote:

Originally posted by Wine Joe:
...the Plumpjack Cafe still prices the wines on their wine list at the same price as the retail liqour shop?

I just ate there the other week. I haven't been to the wine shop in a while. The prices were good, but higher than retail.

We'll be in San Francisco next month and so I thought I'd bump this to see what the latest recommendations are. I'm looking for older Bordeaux and California Cabs. Thanks!

If only TPE didn't hate us....

No change:

Wine Club
K&L...

K&L is one of the best stores I have ever been to nation-wide

Napa Valley wine exchange has a good selection, but they are always snobby and make one feel like they should be thankful that the store is taking their money

I have bought a few things online from the San Francisco Wine Trading Co., at Taraval Street & Funston. Never actually been there. Does anyone have an eyes-on impression?

quote:

Originally posted by mneeley490:
I have bought a few things online from the San Francisco Wine Trading Co., at Taraval Street & Funston. Never actually been there. Does anyone have an eyes-on impression?

Great little store. Chadderdon wines. And olive oil and Cognac. Really nice owners. Big approval here. Prices can be a little steep, though.

quote:

Originally posted by winetarelli:

quote:

Originally posted by mneeley490:
I have bought a few things online from the San Francisco Wine Trading Co., at Taraval Street & Funston. Never actually been there. Does anyone have an eyes-on impression?

Great little store. Chadderdon wines. And olive oil and Cognac. Really nice owners. Big approval here. Prices can be a little steep, though.

Smaller boutiques can be like that, but prices are relative. Bought some Rittenhouse rye from them recently. The total for 3 bottles, including shipping, was less than I would pay for 2 bottles here. Presuming I could find it here, which I can't.

quote:

Originally posted by mitPradikat:
We'll be in San Francisco next month and so I thought I'd bump this to see what the latest recommendations are. I'm looking for older Bordeaux and California Cabs. Thanks!

You can order from K&L ahead of time online for pick-up. That allows you to secure some specific wines, including from their other two locations.

quote:

Originally posted by mneeley490:

quote:

Originally posted by winetarelli:

quote:

Originally posted by mneeley490:
I have bought a few things online from the San Francisco Wine Trading Co., at Taraval Street & Funston. Never actually been there. Does anyone have an eyes-on impression?

Great little store. Chadderdon wines. And olive oil and Cognac. Really nice owners. Big approval here. Prices can be a little steep, though.

Smaller boutiques can be like that, but prices are relative. Bought some Rittenhouse rye from them recently. The total for 3 bottles, including shipping, was less than I would pay for 2 bottles here. Presuming I could find it here, which I can't.

Agreed. SFTWC is an incredible store and highly recommended. I have found everything there to be fairly priced, just not the screaming deals you can find at, say, K&L on occasion.

Another outstanding SF store for terroir-driven wines is Arlequin. Really special place. Rosenthal selections abound.

And, of course, my friend (who I really need to e-mail, I haven't spoken to her since moving away just over a year ago) owns Biondivino which is a world-class Italian-centric wine store in Russian Hill.

I have bought from Golden Gate Wine Cellars online. They are located here:
2337 Ocean Ave San Francisco, CA 94127
(415) 337-4083
No affiliation...

quote:

Originally posted by Yogi8938:
I have bought from Golden Gate Wine Cellars online. They are located here:
2337 Ocean Ave San Francisco, CA 94127
(415) 337-4083
No affiliation...

I've ordered from Golden Gate before. Frank (if my memory is correct) is a great guy. He carries a lot of low production wines from California. You'll need a car to get to his place or multiple bus transfers.

Thanks, everyone, for the recommendations. Really enjoyed K&L. Great people, fantastic selection. I can't believe that's their smallest store! Wine Club was kinda fun, but with the no frills approach, I wish I had gone there first before K&L! I also stumbled upon a place called Plumpjack in Noe Valley where I found a 375 mL 2004 Clos des Papes. I'm always searching for good half bottles. Speaking of which, Arlequin had a tremendous selection of old world wines in 375, but by that time I'd reached my limit. Had lunch on their beautiful garden patio. Must go back soon!

P.S. I was impressed by the selection at Whole Foods. I'm still a bit shocked when I see wine being sold in grocery stores. They have arcane rules against that here. They force the grocery stores to sell wine in a next-door detached building.

quote:

Originally posted by yhn:

quote:

Originally posted by mitPradikat:
We'll be in San Francisco next month and so I thought I'd bump this to see what the latest recommendations are. I'm looking for older Bordeaux and California Cabs. Thanks!

You can order from K&L ahead of time online for pick-up. That allows you to secure some specific wines, including from their other two locations.

Good advice - and may the lower the % chance that one will spend an entire day/paycheck inside one of K&L's stores.