Wine Shops for Wine Lovers

Are you tired of browsing the wine shelves at your local grocery store and not finding anything new or exciting? There are many great boutique wine shops with knowledgeable staff that can help you find just the wine you are looking for, whether that’s the perfect wine for your dinner party or just a new wine for any occasion. Small wine shops offer you the ability to discover rare and interesting wines that you probably wouldn’t otherwise come across. The Bay Area is full of great wine shops. Here are a few of our favorites but we know there are a lot more great shops out there. If you have a favorite wine shop, leave us a comment and let us know about it. We’d love to hear from you.

Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant/Oxbow Wine Merchant – owners Debbie Zachareas and Peter Granoff have created a very hands-on environment in their two stores. The Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant is located in the San Francisco Ferry Plaza and their second store is now located in Napa’s Oxbow Market. Both stores have a bar for tasting wines, ordering food and socializing. There are always at least 15 or 20 wines available at the bar by-the-glass or by-the-bottle. http://www.fpwm.com/

Groezinger Wine Merchants – this small, irreverent wine shop is located in the town of Yountville. They owners focus on small, boutique offerings primarily from Napa and Sonoma but also source many wines from throughout the world. Groezinger’s was founded in 1970, making it one of the oldest boutique wine shops in the Napa Valley. http://www.groezingers.com/

Wine Garage – you would drive right by this wine shop located in an old garage if you didn’t know its location just outside of downtown Calistoga on Highway 29. Owners Todd and Joy Miller have carved out a niche in the usually pricey Napa Valley to serve locals and tourists looking for great wines that don’t break the bank. All the wines in the store are under $25 and they have a great selection of Napa wines. There wine club is also worth checking out – 6 wines for $100 shipped six times per year. You can’t beat that. http://www.winegarage.net/

The Wine Exchange of Sonoma – located on the Sonoma Town Plaza, this shop offers a great selection of wines from Sonoma and Napa vintners. They have a tasting bar with a large selection of wine, bottled beer and draft beer that is open every day. They also offer a great wine club that you can sign up for in the store or online. http://www.wineexsonoma.com/

Vintage Wine & Spirits – located in downtown Mill Valley, this wine shop has a great selection of wines from all over the world. They’ve been in the same spot for over 50 years and can provide a firsthand recommendation on all of their wines. Their web site makes it easy to view their offerings and if you are looking for more than just wine, they also have a great selection of spirits. http://www.vintagewines.biz/

The Jug Shop – the Jug Shop is always a favorite for San Francisco wine shops. It’s been a destination for wine lovers since 1965 and offers a huge selection of wine from all over the world, with a special emphasis on Italy, Australia and New Zealand. The staff has been there for a long time and are extremely knowledgeable. Check out one of their frequent in-store tastings. They often have winemakers and vintners from around the world join them to pour their wines. http://www.thejugshop.com/

Written by Linzi