This place is constantly hosting several events in the area and plenty of pride events!…read more The wine here is chef's kiss and you just have to grab a bottle after doing some tastings!

This was my first time ever at this point Lou winery and they had a cool little pop-up with other…read morevendors!! I honestly loved their set up with a wine tasting room in the front and tables in the back as well as areas for a food truck or a pop-up to sell in cater to you as well. The lady serving me was very friendly and helpful. I commented on this cute picture of a forklift and she said that was her as a little girl in the back!! So freaking cute!! Great Space and I could see live music being played here if they don't do that already. I'm new to the area so I will definitely be checking out there local events!! I really like their reds and their white wine that they served. I would love to do a food pairing which they didn't have available, but I love the aspect of different food truck vendors in the back. Granted a food, allergies and both the vendors had things I'm allergic to. I know my friend loved the noodles she got!!

Although not located among the vineyards in the Napa or Sonoma AVAs, the wines at Noria outshine…read moremany wineries located therein. Wife and I shared the Pinot and white wine flights. The Pinot Noirs, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc,Gerwurztraminer, and the sparkling wine were some of the best we had at the price point resulting in us joining Noria's wine club and also purchasing seven bottles of the wine we sampled. The atmosphere of the tasting room is very laid back and unpretentious. The staff were very welcoming and friendly. Highly recommend.

The wine was really good here, some of the best in the Gilman district. We appreciated getting an…read moreexplanation of the brand and of the wine selection from the owner. Our favorites were the sparkling Rose and the Sonoma County Pinot Noir (which was carried by ANA in its first class cabin!)

Had the Mensch wine last night. The red was excellent. I don't drink much white wine but I had…read moresome and it was quite drinkable. If looking for a wine for a Jewish holiday I think this fits the bill

We highly recommend a tasting experience at Covenant Winery in Berkeley. The Morgan family has a…read moreheartwarming approach to making wine, coupled with years of experience and vast knowledge of the science as well as the art of producing a truly great product. We'll be going back again!

Love their organic wine, and so many options!! I stopped by here after seeing them on Instagram,…read moreand 1 wine tasting later- instantly sighed up for their wine club!

Very nice staff, fun location with a really nice outdoor seating area, interesting wines!…read more We didn't try any of the snacks, but they had some that we might try next time. We did teo flights of wine and they were very light and crisp. The staff was super nice and walked us through the wine selections and helped us to an outside seating area where we got to enjoy the sunshine. The outdoor seating area looks to be great for groups as it's large and covered!

Our daughter and her fiancé had their wedding welcome party at Hammerling Wines a few weeks ago for…read moreabout 100 guests and it was absolutely perfect. The venue is both very comfortable and cool with a variety of seating options for guests, the Hammerling wines we selected to be served were delicious, they had a perfect outdoor space for a pop-up pizza oven to set up, and Hammerling's manager and staff were exceptional - both during the planning phase and during the party. The vibe was so lovely, and the bride and groom could not have been happier. And it was a great way for our out-of-towners to get a nice slice of Berkeley. Everyone had a wonderful time, and it was just the best kick off for the wedding the following day. Highly Recommend!

Love love Hammerling! They are located in the Berkeley or Gilman wine block, an area with several…read morewineries. They are known for their California Sparkling wines. My first visit was for their "Thirst Trap" sparkling wine tasting. It is a very cute and comfy and spacious tasting room with seating inside and outside. They also partner with a few wineries in the area for1st Fridays, the perfect time to try wines and food from their vendors. This spot is on my list for wine tasting in Berkeley!

Z. and I were treated to two whites, three reds by the winemaker, David, himself! The Lusu Cellars…read morebusiness has been self-funded for 12 years, and has explored a variety of wines over the years. David is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about winemaking, and we gladly listened as he guided us through various wines that are historical or explorations in viniculture and winemaking. While his Zinfandel, pinot grigio, and a sparkling red (can't remember the varietal) can be found at Berkeley Bowl, the wines he serves at his tasting room are his smaller-batch creative creations. So if you enjoy Lusu, you can get a chance to see more of his intimate work at the tasting room. Here are some of the highlights from our experience: 1. Skin-on sauvignon blanc: aka orange wine! This was cool to learn. Apparently pinot grigio and gewurztraminer are both red-skinned grapes, and it's only by slowly pressing these grapes that the wines are clear/white. If you press it normally, with skin on, you get orange wine. This evidently adds a little sourness, and Z., who loves sour beers, really liked this one. It almost just tastes like a sour beer. We gladly bought this one. 2. Mission varietal, chilled red: we bought this one too. A bit of history we learned: Mission grapes were brought by the Spaniards during their mission trips, and most of them were actually grown in the Canary islands, possibly because those islands were a good stopping point by ship. Nowadays Mission grapes are not nearly as popular, so this wine is a historical nod to the early days of California. This one is very easy drinking, good for a summer day when you are thinking rosé but want a little more savoriness. 3. Carignan: grape from Contra Costa. Lovely mouthy red to finish off the tasting. Clearly David can deal with all kinds of wines, from the lightest fumé sauvignon blanc to the bold Zinfandels and carignans. We also enjoyed David's blend of pinot blanc, pinot gris, and pinot noir (60%), which is an ode to his Portuguese roots. We had a great time getting treated to front-row seats of the thought process of a winemaker! We will be recommending this place for anyone who wants to drink nice wine and learn more about winemaking.

Cute little spot and delicious, unique wine! The winemaker poured our tasting and was very friendly…read moreand knowledgeable. Dog-friendly and relaxed!

I love this winery! All of Dave's wines are delicious, whether red, white or sparkling. He has an…read moreincredible First Friday event every month with music, food vendors, cocktails, and a great vibe. Children and dogs are welcome! Also, it's a great date night place if you're looking for something low-key on some nights

We visited the area to escape the heat. Stumbled across this place. And so glad we did. We each did…read morea flight then ordered a glass of wine. We also ordered the cheese tray where you can pick your cheeses and crackers. It was yummy. The place is industrial with wine vats taking up most of the space. You order at the bar then find a seat- high tops, low tops, big and small flexible seating options. We happened to be there during a ukelele jam meet up which was fantastic. Bathroom could use some attention.

Attempted to call as choice one to visit this business the the # located on the yelp…read more.. I call apparently unaware that I am reaching someone's personal phone. I had to ask probing questions about if this phone # is affiliated to this business because the person on the other end seemed to not know what I was talking about. Found out it's the "owner" and u must visit by appointment. The add on yelp is very misleading and left a foul taste speaking to the owner that seemed completely unaware that this # was listed for his business on yelp.

This place is an incredible find. A friend of a friend recommended this place. The wine tasting and…read morepaired with some delicious za. We truly enjoyed both their whites and red and even bottle of sauv blanc to enjoy at home. Can't wait to come back, though they only are open on weekends.

A fine, and even devenir experience. Went when it rained last December. The bartender was kind,…read moreendearing and very knowledgeable about wine. I had a delightful Italian Chardonnay (yes Italian). I even got educated about the relative cost of some higher end champagnes (was imparted with a value proposition about wine cost which I consider invaluable). Ambience was very much svelte and chic! Great 1st or 104th date spot! Wine so Cru, wine so cool, South Berkelean vino school.

"You telling me that wine is better than Pepsi? Huh, no way wine is better than Pepsi." - George…read moreCostanza, Seinfeld da Scene: Yelped them for pre-dinner spot. Kinda hidden on a corner right off University & 5th; make the right onto 6th & scoot around to park on 5th or University. They buzz you in, best to make a res., but seems like walk-ins are ok. Very modern, yet welcoming feel, tables spaced well for intimate encounters and a bar with Hightop seating. da Grub & Libation: I had res. for a buddy & I and belly up to the bar; they offered a table, but we're bar flies by nature. Very diverse wines by the glass & bottle so we had 4 different glasses w/ a modest charcuterie plate. da Service: Excellent, warm, friendly and genuinely so. I look forward to my next visit, whether it's for a contemplative glass in solitude or with the wife on a pre-dinner excursion. Hidden Gem, find them and enjoy!

It is rare to find someone who not only makes their own wine, but also designed the beautiful…read morebottles that they come in! Iain Bolton, winemaker of Eight Arms Cellars, definitely qualifies as a Renaissance man in my book. I have to admit that I haven't been to an official release party, but does an office party count? Milton would have given up his prized red stapler for a taste of these artisan wines. And lucky me, they were the perfect accompaniment to Friday's Beer (and Wine) Bash. Eight Arms put their marketing genius to work in celebration of their latest release. Where else can you taste wine and then throw down your best target practice at an Octopus inspired "Ink Spitting" contest? I hear the winner got a whopping 18 feet! Being able to talk to winemakers is always a treat. It truly is a craft that takes years of know-how, science, and a highly developed palette. You can pick up these wines at more than a couple local places: Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant, SF New Russian Hill Market, SF Wine on Piedmont, Oakland Du Vin Wines, Alameda Wine Mine, Oakland JV Wine & Spirit, Napa Swirl on Castro ...or you make your purchase online at www.eightarmscellars.com. Be sure to check out their Go Green Drink Red/White program. I was really impressed to learn that this is one company that is "committed to sustainable practices and a portion of the sale from each bottle is donated to help combat global warming." That's a glass of wine that you can feel more than good about drinking! If I had Eight Arms myself, I'd hold on tight to a case or two (and maybe lay some down to cellar for a few years).

A small artisan micro-winery whose vineyard selections, varietal buys, fruit sorting, fermentation…read morestyles, tonellerie, and aging strategies are at the leading edge of the wine industry. On the downside, it is hard to find in stores. I have seen it once at JV in Napa, and once somewhere so obscure that I can no longer remember. I'll just go direct in the future.