Really nice spot to go after the farmers market on Saturday afternoon. Friendly staff, great wine and relaxed atmosphere. Theres a patio area with comfortable seating and two fire pits. Tried the red wine flight and the Prosecco brut, both were delicious. I will definitely be going back. read more

Backstage Marin - Prosecco, fire pit, patio - Wineries Near Me - Larkspur, California

I'm loving it thus far! Perfect Dog, People and car watching spot. Friendly and welcoming. And directly across the street from Pizzeria Picco! read more

Backstage Marin - My 1st visit to Backstage - Wineries Near Me - Larkspur, California

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Starting with Internos and ending with Zinz, one could do a fairly entertaining wine crawl along the long stretch that is Magnolia Avenue before heading up over the Camino Alto hill. Backstage Marin would sit about mid-point which is exactly my assessment of their offering. When I tried to prod a friend to join me there on a cold day she demurred. "Backstage is for sunny days" she said and I understood since most of their seating is al fresco. But I didn't wait for a particularly sunny day knowing that those outdoor seats also have gas fireplaces in front of them. The fireplaces were purring when I went. It was late in the day leading into sunset. Plopping into one of the fireplace adjacent seats I quickly noted that the seating here isn't very plop-friendly. The person I met there agreed. So sit carefully, as what looks like it should be comfortable is actually far stiffer than envisioned. Though Backstage offers some fare to accompany the wine it's first and foremost a wine bar and though the menu stated the size of the pours I was happy to see that my pour was a healthy one. I never got around to sampling their food. I often see people here at Backstage, enjoying themselves in the evening, with wine and whatnot in front of the fireplaces and do think that's the sweet spot for Backstage. Meet a friend or two in the early evening, sit outside around the fire, and get your evening started. The setting is inviting and right in the thick of Larkspur's restaurant row. It's not my favorite wine bar in the area but it'll do. read more

Me and multiple coaches from my team visited Backstage Marin for dinner and a coaches meeting. The hosts of the restaurant were extremely welcoming and accommodating (shout out Ed). They have a nice venue inside but we ate outside. The seating outside had heaters (shown in the image) and blankets. We tried both of their pizza options and they were awesome. They best dish we had was artichoke dip. All of there dishes are crafted/created in house. Literally the best I've ever had in my entire life. The town it's located in (Larkspur) is a cozy town full of character. Thankful for my head coach brother in law's significant other who recommended this going to this spot. Look forward to going back. read more

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I met my friend here on a Wednesday evening. I'll admit, as a former thespian, the name caught my eye when it opened and I've been looking for an excuse to stop in for ages. We cozied up at one of the outside tables that had a mini-fire pit at the center and I was relieved that - between the tenting and the fire, we stayed sufficiently warm enough to enjoy our visit, despite a brisk February evening. The location (if you can find parking - which is always true of downtown Larkspur), is charming and offers a small town feel. The feeling - both inside and out is rather charming and intimate. I'm guessing maximum capacity is around 40. The server on the evening of our visit was attentive and we never had to wait to catch her attention. My friend ordered a Zin and I opted for their Cava Rosé. We also ordered the artichoke dip, which was a fairly generous portion and the Carnitas Sliders. Between the two, even though the bread for the sliders was what might be expected, the meat was full of flavor and stood out as well above your average small bites offered at many tasting rooms. The artichoke dip was good, but didn't have the texture that I was hoping for - when a restaurant preserves the texture of the artichoke hearts along with the blend of cheeses. Altogether though, a very welcoming spot to visit and enjoy nibbles and good company! read more

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Cute spot in the heart of Larkspur. We have been here a few times with friends as a gathering spot and a glass of wine before dinner. Service has always been attentive without fault and we have recommended this place to a few friends who are also happy. read more

I've been here a couple times for mom's nights out and have always had a pleasant experience. It's low key but with nice decor and the staff are friendly. It's right in downtown Larkspur so it is super accessible. read more

The fog in Sf has been so dense, we had to escape to Marin for some sun. We hadn't been up to Larkspur before and fell in love with this area. We enjoyed surprise happy hour specials (4-5 pm Saturday). $6 glass of Cab Sauvignon from Paso. Yum! We also got spinach artichoke dip, salad, goat cheese crostini, and tomato mozzarella skewers. The dip was especially tasty. We will be back again!! read more

Backstage Marin - Goat cheese prosciutto crostini, spinach artichoke dip - Wineries Near Me - Larkspur, California

Came here on a Thursday after a long day at work ... had a wonderful experience! Laura was amazing and made sure that I was taken care of and gave me plenty of suggestions based on my taste preference - I got the green room Zinfandel and syrah as glasses and charcuterie board (it's for sure big enough to split). I will definitely be coming back when I'm in the area! Thank you again backstage read more

Backstage Marin - Charcuterie board with Green Room Zinfandel - delicious - Wineries Near Me - Larkspur, California

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New to the area, we came in to try this place, based on great reviews and, well, WINE. The interior is cozy and welcoming but we were drawn to the patio firepits. Great wine list featuring SEVEN Napa cabs (and other varietals/blends); we did not try food this time but other patrons recommended some items. Service was prompt and friendly. Met a lovely local couple and very much enjoyed Backstage! read more

Quick stop after a 60 mile ride on three hottest day of the year! Still, after a few whites (their Pinot Grigio is eeeeexcellent!) a flight of 3 Cabs really hit the spot. The Encore was my favorite but the Green Room was similarly memorable! Marty was very kind and down to earth, making me feel welcome and less out of place dressed down as an informal cyclist. The best part? You can build your own flight instead of having a defined one. I can go back and try a completely different mix. With how cute downtown Larkspur is, why wouldn't I?! read more

Backstage Marin - Wineries Near Me - Larkspur, California

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What a stylish spot to kick back and relax with friends and family! If I lived closer I'd be here all the time. If you appreciate aesthetic and great customer service, Backstage Winery is a real treat. Their outdoor area in the front is perfect for a sunny day and totally dog friendly (there were adorable pups roaming about on the Sunday afternoon we stopped by). Their interior is decked out in black and gold details and finishes with a bar and little, comfy nooks to settle into. It looked to be a one man show when we arrived just past 4pm on Sunday and he was delightful. Very attentive, friendly, and made sure to make us aware of the deal of the day: half off wine bottles (dine in only)! We opted for their Mountain View Pinot Grigio, which was light and very refreshing. Just perfect for the afternoon drink the 4 of us were hoping for. Before taxes, the half off bottle came to just $13. Such a steal for Marin County. This spot is great for dates, birthdays, drinks with friends, or even a drink with yourself! 5/5. read more

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3.5 stars Not to be confused with Mountain Winery in Saratoga where big names perform at their gorgeous concert venue. We had a "goodbye" party for yet another colleague moving out of the Bay Area due to high cost of living. Somehow, we like to say "farewell" at tasting rooms with endless vino LOL! I'm glad there's another wine tasting room in downtown San Rafael; however, it's not really my scene. I'd rather make the trek up to Napa/Sonoma, where all the wines are tasty and bold, overlooking stunning vineyards. Emily our hostess with the mostess is not a Somm, but super friendly. She didn't quite know the regions of the wines and not familiar with most of them. I don't think she was familiar with the Bay Area though. I'd expect someone in the wine industry, even just a tasting room, to be a little more knowledgeable about their wines, especially when pouring them. From her answers, I gathered the winery is in the South Bay, where they source their grapes - Morgan Hill? Just to clarify, I'm not a wine snob at all ;-) The highlight of the evening was listening to a one-man band Kevin Conley strumming his guitar and hanging out with my lady friends/colleagues; we rocked the joint! Ladies night out woo-hoo, definitely not girls gone wild, can't do that in Marin...nothing stays open late enough HA! Overall, a decent venue, show your Groupon vouchers ladies. Btw, that's why we came, our party had a fan who uses the Groupon voucher, not a bad deal ~ cheers!!! read more

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Stumbled upon this place while waiting for our dinner table across the street. Very happy that we stopped in. They are usually very busy, but we were lucky to get a table around the fire. They have a couple of couches and a few tables, each with their electric fireplaces. Beautiful views of the redwoods. Nice wine selection. They have tasting sizes as well as glasses. We tried a few reds and a little snack. The servers are suuuper friendly and created a relaxed environment. read more

Backstage Marin - a patio with a table and chairs - Wineries Near Me - Larkspur, California

This place is a gem. Great atmosphere, friendly and attentive staff, delicious wine and food. Beautiful outdoor and indoor space. Plan accordingly - it gets busy! read more

Backstage Marin - Wine and cheese plate-perfection! - Wineries Near Me - Larkspur, California

Backstage Winery is a fine place to meet up with friends, have a nosh, share a bottle of wine and enjoy their outdoor seating area. We like to stop here as we visit Larkspur, wait for our dinner reservation, or have a glass of wine before a movie. It's like having your own wine tasting room "on the go". The sunshine, fresh air, and people watching suit the comfy sofa-setting out front. It's our go-to place to gather, and go from there. Their Cheese Board and Charcuterie Board are our favorites, but they have lots of good choices. read more

Backstage Marin - Wineries Near Me - Larkspur, California

Goodness, super cute, especially during these covid months! They have done a fabulous job creating an outdoor wining and dining area. Staff are so attentive and nice, they try to accommodate everyone, even people who do not have a reservation. *I highly recommend making a reservation*. If you don't have one, you can put your name on the waiting list and hope to get in. Food is flavorful, the bruschetta is nothing special, I would recommend trying something else, like the fig and cheese flat bread. Wine list extensive and thorough. The woman who took our order (maybe the owner??) was very knowledgeable if you have questions about which wines to choose. There is an option to try a flight! Mix and match. read more

Great wine, and service and cozy. Highly recommend! Really liked the Cabernet Sauvignons.

Always a fun time! This is our go to date night spot when we need a drink and to get out of the house! We joined their wine club and it's been such a great deal! Good bites and great wine! We love the Matinee rose! Great service and a beautiful view of the redwoods and downtown larkspur! Such a gem! read more

Backstage Marin - Wineries Near Me - Larkspur, California

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Service was ok. Nice outdoor seating area. Hostess bordered on rude and we tried to chalk it up to her having a bad day, but she never rebounded. Server clearly did not understand their own wine and tried to tell us that something was not a blend when we pointed out that it had the word blend in the description on the menu. Items received were incorrect, however, they quickly rectified their errors. Wines were surprisingly bland. read more

This is a wonderful place to sit outside (or inside) and relax with friends while trying some really good wines and awesome snacks! In fact, I can't believe I haven't been here before and now that we're all feeling a little more comfortable being out and about what with vaccines and all - I'm so happy to have discovered this gem. We had some artichoke dip, olives, and a cheese board with our lovely wines and were very happy thank you! The staff is pleasant and attentive as well as knowledgeable about wine and they made the experience very fun. We will definitely be returning here again and again. Highly recommend! read more

wow. I have never seen blatant prejudice / racism in Marin in my life. I went to have a glass of champagne tonight. It was just before close. A short haired blonde lady (pretty young) came out in a mask, and said they were close and were no longer serving anyone. I parked right in front of backstage. When I went to get back in my SUV, I notice 3 white gentlemen came and were allowed to sit (keep in mind the fire was also turned on for them). Its sadden's me that staff at backstage behave this way. I come here with my friend Doug ( who is pretty regular there) and have never seen stuff like this. Pathetic and disappointed. If you are a person of color, be careful and beware. read more

I haven't been to this wine bar in a year. I don't know why I haven't set foot into this venue sooner !The decor and staff have change quite a bit, but tonight was definitely a good way to start this weekend off. If you're looking for a wine bar with an intimate envo, make sure to come early. We came in around 530-545 and the place was practically ours until the band started setting up for their performance. They have a 50% discount on wine bottles from Thursday - Saturday and it was definitely worth it. We had a couple glasses of Chardonnay and although it wasn't my favorite.... it wasn't all too bad for 20 dollars. Sure wished I tried a few others wines before settling on their Chardonnay. People were raving on about the reds... and since I'm not much of wine guru, I can't tell you what's too good. What I can say is that their ambiance and prices are worth coming in. Doesn't hurt to try something outside of your comfort zone and live a little. Forgot the young lady behind the bar but she was a doll! read more

Backstage Marin - Wineries Near Me - Larkspur, California

This place really is as good as it gets. We spend a lot of our free time wine testing, and so I'm used to really great wine venues, but this place is something special. First, it's a great location. Sure, it's nice to drive out to the back of beyond and taste wines, but this place is right near the mission (Mission San Rafael- which is not open Monday and Tuesday), and smack in the middle of foodie central. There are some great restaurants and a fantastic bakery in the same block as this place. Now the wine- you get to try 11 wines, and they're all good, but very different. I found them all pretty drinkable, but loved the Monterey Pinot- so I got that one for my Groupon wine. My friend chose to take home a pinot grigio. The Groupon deal was excellent! 19 bucks for two tastings and two bottles of wine was super. And the pinot noir (Monterey) had a nice smokey edge to it, that I know my single malt scotch loving husband will really enjoy. So the place has a great location, and very good wines, and on top of that the service just could not be better. The host (Jeff) is charming, and is very knowledgeable. We had to hustle, a little, since I did not want to get caught in rush hour traffic (we started around 1:30pm)- but the next time I visit, and there will be a next time, I plan to take my time!!! Thank you, Jeff, for a wonderful day. read more

You'll find many more Yelps at their other page where they are identified as Mountain View Vintners . . . but I'll take a "First to review" on this page:) Jeff Strohm, the humble & non-pretentious part owner was our server. $15 will get you 12 generous tastes of 4 whites, 7 reds and a dessert wine. Now when I say generous tastes, I mean pours that are probably about 3 ounces. Multiply that by 12 and you've had ALOT of wine after completing the flight. The fee is refunded with the purchase of a bottle, which you'll want to do after tasting the wines, which are quite good. Bought a cab and a zin, which Jeff then filled our glasses w/ a complete pour for good measure. Needless to say, I was flyin' after tasting there. Good times! read more

First. I fully admit that I was wearing my wine-goggles. Second. I loved Mountain View Vintners! My friend and I had a great slurping through four "large pours" each, for a total of $5 each (thanks yelp deal). The breadsticks and hershey kisses were a great appetizer for the popcorn we chowed down on at the 10 o'clock movie. I really loved watching people of all ages have an awesome time: a group of dudes in their 60s yukking it up and grubbing on food walked over from the Lighthouse, a 20-something couple whose chairs inched closer and closer together as their glasses were emptied and refilled time and time again, and a foursome somewhere in the middle, on what looked to be a great a double-date. read more

I was surprised when my GPS led me and my wife to the place. We were thinking of a wine cellar setting but definitely this is one of my best wine tastings. Jeff was very fun and people can talk to each other unlike some of the more popular places in Napa that are snob. If I just live local I would chill here often. Best of luck guys and hope your service does not change. Don't get Ford Drunk =) If you are going, 'dry hole' is definitely the best, the other Cab is definitely a buy as well. The place is for fun people. If you're too uptight, don't go. read more

Backstage Marin - This is their best wine for me - Wineries Near Me - Larkspur, California

Unfortunately, we won't be going back. While the fireplace vibe was nice and the prosciutto-fig flatbread was good, the wines were horrible. We ordered 6 small glasses so that we could try several of their wines. They were minuscule pours for $5-6 each and every wine tasted like they had seriously watered it down. Our bill came to almost $70 and we left very unsatisfied. Would have gotten much more flavor for our money across the street at Pico's. read more

$36 groupon deal for 4 people; 10 extremely generous samples and 1 bottle (your choice from the ones you tasted) to take home. If you count toll fare, that's only $10 a person! Our "winetender" Bob was super chill, funny, and non-pretentious. They provide Hershey's kisses, cheesy bread sticks (the thin salad ones), and malt balls to snack on. Only 1 bathroom but it's really clean and waits were short. Not really the kind of wine tasting where they teach you the different notes/how to swirl/etc but great for catching up with friends. The live music after 6pm-ish was also really nice. Dangerously close to Berkeley. We'll definitely be back!! Lots of good food in the area to stumble tipsy to after your tasting. Wish they provided some outdoor seating for nice sunny days, but I guess that would be hard for the staff to come check on all the time. Tip: Sit at the bar to get faster refills! read more

Backstage Marin - Wine tasting groupon deal: $36 for 4 people! - Wineries Near Me - Larkspur, California

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Nice service and set up but the scent in the The bathroom was so overpowering and disgusting and it is now fully in my hair and I have to go home and shower because of it and I'm really angry.You cannot put scent that strong in a small enclosed public space. It's totally toxic. It lingered in my hat my jacket and even my shirt under my jacket. I mentioned this to the manager before leaving a review and he walked away from me like I'm a crazy person. I can't help it that I'm allergic to artificial fragrances and I think I was fairly sane and polite when I let him know that it would be great if they didn't put scented candles in there. Guess I'll never go there again. read more

Backstage is a great little abbreviated date stop. We tucked into a nice outside sofa, sitting next to some strangers and ordered appetizer plate after appetizer plate. All was tasty; the wine paired up nicely. Nice selection...might have been nice to also have some more substantial nibbles but honestly it suited quite nicely. We really relished the warm weather setting outside. I don't think the vibe would have felt as nice sitting inside. Service was great, despite it being quite busy I never felt we were left out. But even given the small place, it also felt that they weren't all over us. It was a great date! But I really recommend a visit in warm weather. Which, in Marin, is never too far away. read more

Very nice wine bar. Great ambiance, nice selection of wine and small plates to snack on. This is a very nice addition to downtown Larkspur. read more

Backstage Marin - Yummy meat and cheese plate. - Wineries Near Me - Larkspur, California

Service is terrible and staff a bit rude. I've been here twice and had rude staff both times. I felt unwanted and unwelcome. The second time when I went we asked about food. We asked about recommendation for the right amount and we're told "I would start with just 2 things, and you can always order the flatbread later if it's not enough. Kitchen isn't closing yet.". We followed the staffs recommendation, and it wasn't enough food. So we asked to put in an order for the flatbread and were told (by the same server, who hadn't checked on us once since she gave us the first food we ordered) "oh sorry the kitchen just closed". Not happy, and very hungry :) read more

My friend and I visited Backstage while in town for just one night. We had a great time. We each got a few wines to taste with the 2oz pours, and a couple appetizers to share. The patio is comfortable and inviting, and the wait staff was attentive. The goat cheese spread and wine were fantastic. read more

I really, really wanted to like this place! Unfortunately, my final straw came when a friend and I went last week and not only received bad service again, but this time one of the owners happened to be there WITHOUT a mask. He approached us at our table, so he was very close. When we tried to give feedback about our experience with his staff, who are overwhelmed, his son-in-law (who was sitting a few feet away unbeknownst to me) began yelling obscenities at me across the space followed by a lovely, "get the f@&k out if you don't like it". Sadly, the owner didn't say anything to the young many (his son-in-law). I can understand feeling stressed under the current circumstances, but this type of behavior is unbelievable. We are local residents who've really tried to support our local businesses. To be treated like this unacceptable! And for an owner to be walking around unmasked is shocking. I'm very disappointed and will not be going back! Go to ZINZ WINE BAR down the street!!!! read more

What a great new find! The patio is a perfect place to sit on Magnolia Avenue and people watch, but back far enough not to be on top of the highway. They have a fantastic wine list and with the Sunday half Price bottle cell, I'm not sure how they make money. The service is great and I plan to go back and try the food! read more

Terrible experience. We arrived just on time for our reservation. The place looked overbooked and the staff overwhelmed. They ignored us completely for about 25 mins. I finally had to approach them and we were able to sit down. They ignored us for another 25 mins. So almost 1 hour in, I had to approach them again and they finally served us wine. Next thing you know - they ran out of one thing on the menu we wanted. Really disappointing and unacceptable customer service. read more

Awesome place to hangout and order a bottle of great wine. Unique location in historic Larkspur Have some yummy appetizers...leave with a bottle. read more

I came here with a Groupon, and was prepared to be blown away based on the reviews here on Yelp. I'm still a beginner when it comes to wine, trying less expensive wines at home and going to a a couple of tastings in Napa and Sonoma in the past few years. That being said, I couldn't get over the "college friend's basement" decor, the cramped and noisy atmosphere, and the close proximity (physically and visually) to every single staff conversation and "storage space" (i.e. the bathroom). The evening didn't exactly start out well. Whoever was supposed to open was late, so they piled us into their partner restaurant downstairs and we ended up waiting 30 minutes to go upstairs. When we finally got upstairs, I noticed that everything on the menu was $2 more. Why are they charging an extra $2 to carry a dish upstairs? We ordered the crab & lobster cakes anyways because we were starving, which tasted more like celery and fried-ness and thousand island dressing; not even remotely worth it. They crammed as many people as possible into that tiny basement-like space, and the entire tasting felt chaotic; the opposite of an ideal tasting experience. The staff seemed overwhelmed and confused, and were not particularly friendly or professional. I never once felt relaxed there, despite how much I had to drink. They were easily pouring more than 1/2 a glass with each tasting (there were 11 wines!), which I just couldn't finish. They were great about refilling our water, but they were so disorganized that they kept skipping wines and filling our glasses without checking in with us about where we were in the tasting. My goal at a tasting is to actually learn something about the wines, their different characteristics, and the process behind making it; not to get wasted. I also felt like the wine was a bit watered down, as none had any memorable or stand-out flavors. Looking at my notes now, there were even a few that smelled a bit off or had nasty flavors at the back. I didn't even want to take home the 2 included bottles, although we ended up with the California Moscato. My boyfriend's remark, "The best thing I've had has been the Whoppers" sums up the wine perfectly. I hit a wall at the 6th unimpressive wine and really battled through what was left, although I ended up dumping most of it so I was sober enough to drive home. It seems like all anyone there cared about was guzzling booze, including the staff. MVV seems very confused about what it's trying to be, and I think they need to take a moment to refocus their vision. There's nothing wrong with being laid back, but there's a difference between laid back and sloppy; the low ceiling, extremely cramped tables and chairs, stained carpets, drunk servers, open boxes scattered about were just too much for us. The whole place feels carelessly thrown together and quickly slid towards trashy as the evening progressed. It was definitely not worth the drive up to San Rafael, even with the Groupon. read more

We paid a visit to Mountain View Winery a couple weeks ago and it was very disappointing. The majority of the wines seemed watered down and didn't have much flavor. The three whites tasted the same (chard, sav blanc and pinot grigio). The reds weren't much better. One of the reds had an aftertaste like spoiled milk (can't remember which one it was - sorry) and I dumped it into the spitoon. I'm not a big fan of moscato, but it had some flavor at least. Our Groupon allowed us to take two free bottles, which was tough as nothing was really that great. We ended up with a 2010 Central Coast Cab and a 2010 Amador County Zin. The most interesting thing was the Whopper candy with the pinot grigio. The taste worked but I think it's because the candy gave the wine some flavor. Normally, the winery gives 4 tastes for $10. With the Groupon, we got to taste 11 wines and the pours were generous. Sounds great - right? Not really, it's just a way to get folks drunk. I recommend when tasting that many wines, use a pour-stop. I'm all about generosity but it was a little heavy handed. And then there was Jeff, our host for the day. At first, we liked his fun personality but after awhile it became obnoxious and his use (and overuse) of the F-word was unnecessary. He even said "mother f'er" at one point. Totally not appropriate! I'm not usually offended by such language but it was simply too much. Be respectful of folks who don't like (or use) that sort of language. It is a place of business. Everyone who came in had a Groupon that day so I have to wonder if this is the only way to get people to visit the winery. read more