I was a guest at a friend's birthday party here. Truly mediocre experience. Definitely worth skipping on your trip to Spirits Alley. The tasting room is lacking (no bay view), the service was spotty, and the restrooms were unkept. And the wine was...fine. I wish I had not visited at all when I learned that the owner of this business has been weaponizing the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and claiming there is a "historic parking lot" (lol!) onsite to impede the Alameda Food Bank from. constructing a facility in the neighborhood. Absurd. Terrible community member. read more

Building 43 Winery - Wineries Near Me - Alameda, California

Even good wine (which is not on offer here) is not worth supporting a business that files frivolous lawsuits against a community food bank. And even great service (which is also not offered here) should not entire anyone to support businesses that harass and insult Yelp reviewers who have valid complaints - see below. read more

Quick Update: Hosted my party at Urban Legend Cellars a short distance away (1951 Monarch Street, Alameda, CA 94501) and the owners, Marilee and Steve Shaffer, could not have been nicer, more responsive or accommodating. The complete opposite experience than the approach by "Building 43 Winery." Even the flinty reply from the Building 43 manager speaks volumes, "...this was an event controlled by a promoter. It was effectively their private party and they control the door, just as you would at your private party..." Ummmm, no. I did *not* control the door at my event. The Shaffer's controlled the door at their winery, meaning all I had to do was show up and enjoy my celebration. Which is how professional businesses operate. read more

One Star -- Priorities Completely Out of Touch It's one thing to make wine. It's another to completely sour your reputation with a decision so tone-deaf, it leaves a bitter aftertaste no cabernet could wash away. A certain Alameda winery (you know who you are) recently decided that preserving a "historic parking lot"--yes, a parking lot--was more important than supporting the development of a new food bank that would have served countless vulnerable families in our community. Think about that. Pavement over people. Concrete over compassion. This isn't just shortsighted--it's shameful. In a time when food insecurity is surging, when neighbors are struggling to feed their children, when local organizations are stepping up to meet unprecedented needs, this winery chose nostalgia for asphalt over real human lives. And then tried to justify it under the guise of "history." What legacy are you trying to preserve, exactly? The one where privilege parks in peace while the hungry go without? This isn't what Alameda stands for. We are better than this. We take care of each other. We show up. We don't let a slab of pavement matter more than people in need. If you believe in a compassionate, community-driven future, maybe skip the tasting room and support businesses that actually care about the community they claim to serve. read more

The winery is located on Monarch Street and has free parking across the street. I attended a Reggae by the Bay Event and went with friends to get the group discount. The reserved tables were a bit expensive, $17.50 each and you had to pay for two for 3 people. I had a Sierra Nevada IPA in a frozen glass so it was refreshing on this hot day. The band, Namorados da Lua was playing and we enjoyed the music. Luckily we reserved indoor tables as it was definitely cooler there. There was Jamaican food for sale as well and we enjoyed that as well. Good place to listen to music, dance and chill. read more

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I really like the place nice shows and music but over priced on drinks too much!! Usually the drinks cost like $12 /$15 here almost double. read more

Building 43 is the best winery I've stumbled upon so far. Just driving around, this place has great vibes setting it apart. Friendly helpful staff! You can even sample some wines before making your decision. Enjoy your selection right outside, plenty of seats and there's usually a good food truck or two nearby as well. Great spot to hang out, catch up with friends or spend time relaxing before another event. I hear they also have live music and dancing sometimes too! Definitely got to check it out. But wine first and foremost is a yes here! read more

Building 43 Winery - Wineries Near Me - Alameda, California

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This place is amazing, when we came there was live music lots of dancing, games, lounge spots, something for everyone!!

Mediocre wine, with horrible hours (only open one day a week). Better options on the base that caters towards citizens and visitors (Faction, St George, Rake, Humble Sea, Almanac) with better range of hours, access to food, has visible signage, and better vibes. Rather than listen to feedback and improve on how to serve customers it looks like if you post anything negative the owner will accuse you of either being anti latina owned businesses, or hide behind a shield of their military service. Very telling. read more

I've been here before and I'm not sure why I haven't written a review.... This venue is a nice place to have a glass of wine and enjoy great company Venue has out door and indoor seating Does not serve food but there are food options available near by Wine is great Nice and crisp There is a game room and a lounge area available Customer service is friendly read more

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We come on occasion from Marin County to support our salsa community and favorite musicians. Dancing outside is always fun, but it comes with the reality of dancing on a less than ideal surface-which is very much the case here. But the people are nice, you can go inside to get out of the sun, plenty of free parking and of course great live salsa music on Sundays! read more

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Been here a couple times, even more now on Sundays as they have live Salsa. Good drinks, vibes and music. Always in! read more

I attended a private party at this location. The space is great. The wine is meh. I know everyone's taste buds for wine are different but from my perspective, and that of others in our group, the Sauv Blanc/Chardonnay was not good. The rose was drinkable but meh. I did not try the red. I also tried the "vodka" in a vodka soda. The club soda was flat. Beyond that, I think I'm just not a fan of this type of alcohol. I'm drawing a blank of what it's called...the type for which you don't need a liquor license. read more

Seems like the owner doesn't care about the Alameda community and would rather right with the city then run a business that takes customers feedback and serves good product. Wine is meh. read more

What a fun vibe! The views aren't as good as some of the other wineries in this area but it's a beautiful winery. They had live music outside and a food vendor of delicious Jamaican food. Because of the band, we did have to pay a $20 cover charge to get in so that was different for a winery but the music was good. The owner came around and talked to my friends and I and she was very friendly and spent a little while with us. We'd like to come back for the Salsa dancing next time! read more

If a no star category was available (as it should be), Building 43 Winery would qualify for the ZERO star. After purchasing tickets on eventbrite to attend the 12/3 Bay Area Salsa party, we arrived at this very rough location, nestled between homeless camps and abandoned air hangers at the old Alameda Naval Air Station, Alameda Island. After paying $35 for a table for two, we arrived to find no band (musicians) present, just a wimpy d.j. WARNING: the drive out of Alameda Sunday evening was a NIGHTMARE, reminiscent of a Los Angeles rush hour traffic jam. Final note: When we asked the staff if they had a hard liquor license, they said yes, although no bottles other than wine were present, very weird. We would not advise this place to our worst friend. read more

Crowded on Saturday's with few good dancers. If you are an experienced Salsa Dancer then don't waste your time!... 50+ crowd and a lot of overweight people! read more

Fun live outdoor music every Saturday and Sunday 4-7. Nice wine, cocktail cocktails and beer. Friendly staff

Building 43 is a GREAT time. It the typical stuffy winery vibe you'd get from a place in Napa. The vibe is chill, closer to that of a brewery and they know how to have FUN! One of the best parts is that on Friday nights during the warmer months they have live salsa nights so you can bring a friend, grab a bottle and dance the night away under the stars. They also have food trucks come by and it's close to the rest of the action at Spirits Alley. read more

Building 43 Winery - Front patio with white wine - Wineries Near Me - Alameda, California

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Cute winery with good wines and games to play! Came here on a rainy day and we were entertained by the friendly staff awesome atmosphere! read more

Building 43 Winery - Wineries Near Me - Alameda, California

I like the SpiritAlley scene so was a little let down by this place. The Syrah was too hot and alcoholic--and the Tempranillo was bland.

Fun, hip, and enjoyable! I was introduced to this tasting room by fellow Yelper James R and it left a great impression on me. Alameda's spirit alley is a place that I seldom visit, but now I have a wonderful reason to. The interior is like a big old warehouse that's decked out with comfy sofas and tons of barrels. It has a very laid back atmosphere with fun lighting and games for entertainment. Their outdoor seating area is flippin' adorbs! I can already tell that this place is the spot to be at during the summertime. I could picture myself camped out on one of their patio chairs just sippin' away on my wine on a lovely summer afternoon. I can't forget to mention the views! On a clear night, you'll have the most beautiful view of the glowing Bay Bridge. A tasting here consists of 5 wines with a mix of red and white, but they'll let you substitute. What I really like about Building 43 is that you can purchase wine by the glass. Sometimes, I just don't want to invest in a full bottle but need more than just a taste. This place will do that for you! Their recent tasting menu featured wine from the Sierra Foothills with 4 of them being reds and 1 white. I actually enjoyed tasting all of the wines, but the standouts for me were their 2014 Bomber Red #3 and their 2015 Viognier. The Viognier was light, crisp, and perfect to sip on a warm sunny day. But their Bomber Red... that thang was just... "BOMB"! I love my reds, and I thoroughly enjoyed this take on a red blend. The wine stewards were very friendly and knowledgeable. I really appreciated the fact that they weren't super pushy about making a sale or wanting me to sign up for a membership. They are all about having a good time and that created a relaxing atmosphere for me. I would recommend vising Building 43 if you're looking to have a chill time while sippin' on some vino, especially if you find yourself in Alameda's spirit alley. read more

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I just discovered this place after a visit to Hangar One and I am so glad I did. Their wine offerings are really good and the customer service was great. It's a cute place to go either with friends or on a date and they do have a private lounge area if you want to see about reserving that. The highlight is the taco truck (they have other food too like wings and pizza). The tacos are so good and I loved that they offer an impossible taco. I cant wait to come back here and try more wines. read more

I recently went here for my nieces reception. What a amazing venue. Beautiful place for a reception. I truly hope we are invited to another function here. The every aspect of this place is simply beautiful. The service even better but nothing beats the ambiance of the place. The owners Estella and Todd they are amazing great people they were very kind. There cosmo drinks are absolutely wonderful. I would highly recommend. D. Gabasa read more

We just had our wedding reception here and was a blast! Estela and Todd thank you for making it the perfect evening! Great city view, and Estela had the best prices in town! Was close to City Hall where we got married. They even have a ferry boat that can take you back to the city to avoid traffic, which some family members did and enjoyed. Dog friendly which is always a plus! Estela even had given them doggy treats! There was a game room which was great area for the kids to play. Estela and Todd were on point with serving the alcohol and catering to us brides in our special moments. My glass was always full :) she let us have our decorations we wanted and even came in early for us to set up! Not only is there wine, but also had a full bar as well! We partied to the nights end! If you want to hold parties here I would definitely recommend it! Works with you and your wishes, great prices, and fast responder. I know we will definitely be back and will see you soon Estela and Todd! Thank you once again for all your hospitality. read more

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i love the space. i went to see eric rangel's salsa band. my partner & i went to see eric, enjoy the music, but mostly dance. it definitely has potential, however, for dancers, bring your jazz or practice shoes: the floor is cement and not where you want to ruin your dance shoes. the people there were very nice. they have wine on offer as well as food, but we didn't get food that time. it looked interesting because it was latin/hawaiian fusion. definitely next time. the only thing that was a miss is the music was way too loud. i love music, but not sure if the av guys were there, but the sound could be improved. all in all, if you're down for a mini adventure, this place is a bit of a treck from sf, but a nice place to hang out at. especially, in the warmer months. read more

Estella and Tod are so wonderful. We rented their venue for a graduation party for myself on a Saturday night for 4 hours. Although I was pretty drunk (thankfully) for most of my party and didn't get to connect with Estella as much as I wished, she and her staff were very courteous to my guests and kept our glasses full. Estella is SO personable and friendly, I could just talk to her all day long. Tod, who may or may not agree with this, sounds just like Matthew McConaughey!!! I had an absolute best time as well as all my friends and family who attended my party. I highly recommend Building 43 for any celebrations you have! They are also latina and veteran owned - I am both, so that was a plus for me! It was a safe and welcoming environment and cannot wait to come back and visit for their Rumba nights on first Friday! read more

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Great people, atmosphere and some delicious wines. Really enjoyed this place and the old decor. read more

Building 43 Winery - Rose and Red blend. - Wineries Near Me - Alameda, California

Been going here for a while, Pre-Covid Saturday afternoons were magical with occasional live music, excellent service, great wines, and a totally chill vibe. Post-Covid this is the best place in town- period. Don't tell anyone else as I don't want it overrun. Thanks to Todd and Juanita for always providing a warm welcome and keeping us well imbibed with the best wines especially in these difficult times. The food trucks are awesome also especially the Russian Soul Food truck. As for those morons who wrote the earlier review about not being kid-friendly, I witnessed that group and they were gross, left all their litter behind, and did nothing to curb their manic kids who were stuffing their faces with sugary foods and running wild. Todd is a gentleman and runs a Top-Top establishment. Check it out if you haven't done so already. read more

We are members of Rock Wall across the street but sadly they have been closed during this time because of COVID. So what better time than to try a new spot! :) There are plenty of tables and it never seems to get too crowded. There are various guest food trucks. The wine is also super delicious, I like their chardonnay. I wish there was a little more shade with umbrellas because it gets quite sunny but other than that it's a great place to be on a nice weekend afternoon to meet up with friends in your social bubble. read more

Were my friend and I a bit tipsy already when we got here? Yep. Did the kind and attentive staff deal with us like champs? You betcha! From sharing their cupcakes with us to making friendly conversation, they made us feel like friends or guests instead of customers, which made this a great experience. The set up is super cute and perfect on a nice day. The inside is comfy and inviting while the outside has plenty of seating and a lovely view of San Francisco. I was also digging the view of everyone's dogs, especially since not all of the wineries around this part of Alameda are dog friendly. I ordered a dessert wine and the pour was quite generous. A glass runs around $12ish dollars, making prices comparable to other places around here. The service went above and beyond though and the setting is awesome, putting this place towards the top of my East Bay wine stops! read more

Wine is great, vibes are really chill and the customer service is top notch. Not kid friendly (it is a winery) but it is dog friendly overall a great place to just relax with friends and wine. Shout out to Tod , Estela and Junior for the great customer service, keep up the good work guys! read more

Building 43 Winery - Front patio area on a salsa night - Wineries Near Me - Alameda, California

We stopped by this wine tasting spot while visiting another distillery in the area. There were spots to sit inside and outside, but the outside has no shade so we opted to go inside for a glass. I had a glass of red, but forget the name, the price was average $12 per glass and the pours were generous. The space itself is very chill, lounge areas or high chairs at the bar or by wine barrels to sit at. At the time there was a private event going on in a separate room as well as a musician setting up to perform. We had the chance to stay for a while to hear her perform. read more

Building 43 Winery - Wineries Near Me - Alameda, California

Had my 40th bday here. Estella is so hospitable, sweet, and hard working. She invited me to taste and pick out wines in advance and was onsite with her son the night of the party. Everything was delicious and smooth, and she even allowed us to keep some food donations we had collected over night. Highly recommend this unique and family owned venue. read more

This is in response to a post that was dated 11/3/18. While I respect everyone's view point I have to say I totally disagree with this post. As a POC, which I'm assuming is person of color, not only will I show more support for Building 43, but I appreciate the fact that they are always open and transparent to all walks of life regardless of your career choice or political affiliation. Cheers to you Building 43 for keeping a positive, safe and open atmosphere for all to enjoy. BTW, GREAT FREAKIN WINES!!! read more

Building 43 Winery - Original Photo posted on 11/3/18 - Wineries Near Me - Alameda, California

The wine in this so called winery is pretty bad. Although they charge you like if it was a top winery. If you want to get a bottle it'll be about $50 and $18 for a glass. You'd be better off going to the local supermarket , where any bottle in the $12-$15 range will run circles around any bottle from Building 43. read more

This place is terrible! Me and my wife, Donna, stopped by a few weeks ago because she wanted to support the smaller wineries in the Bay Are. The first thing we notice is Todds rude demeanor almost like he didn't want us there. The "ambiance" was little to none, weird smells, dirty bathroom, and Grimy walls. Their wine has a weird vinaigrette taste, almost like it's rushed while it's being made. I definitely would not recommend this place to any of my friends or family and definitely not worth the money. read more

Building 43 Winery was my first Spirits Alley experience, and a memorable one. My friends and I came here on a Friday night since Building 43 was one of the only businesses open later than 8pm. I was pleasantly surprised by the laid-back atmosphere, compete with super comfy chairs and cozy blankets. While ordering our bottle of Petite Syrah, we were greeted by the very hospitable owner who personally introduced himself to each of us and happily answered any of our questions. We enjoyed our wine and our relaxing evening here. The only thing I would change about the atmosphere was the weird, yellow lighting. Not my jam... but also not a deal breaker. Indoor twinkle lights, anyone? read more

Building 43 Winery - Petite Sirah - Wineries Near Me - Alameda, California

This is my favorite. Ever since I found Spirits Alley I loved it but hated how crowded, loud, and hot it all seemed. I absolutely hate being shoved into small "tasting rooms" with a hundreds other people and kids screaming and running around everywhere. So you can imagine how happy I was when Building 43 opened. It is perfect! Ample seating and never crowded. The owners are almost always there with lots of answers and funny stories. They have games outside and inside they have couches and blankets. Every time I go I am always guaranteed a great time to just hang out with whoever I bring. And who doesn't love their Petite Syrah or their Viognier? They are fantastic! So when my SIL and cousin wanted to do a group birthday I couldn't think of a better place to have it. Meredith was quick to respond to my emails and was so helpful and kind! She really went above and beyond helping me plan out the party even answering my questions late into the night! The day of Lisa and Brady went out of their way to make sure I had everything to set up the party and were so nice and accommodating. Honestly we were a small group but they made us feel like a million bucks! I have never had a more effortless and fun birthday and I was getting compliments all night about how cool Building 43 was and how great the wine was. Seriously everything was just aces! So if you're looking for a place to bring a friend or a few and want just a chill, fun place to hang out and not feel like one of the millions than come over to Building 43 where they treat you like one in a million! read more

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So I finally decided to give this winery a try. I was very pleased. If you're a red wine lover come here. I was greeted by a lady name Karen and she helped me right away. Tasting is $12 for 4 wine not bad. Karen was very informative on all the different wines and gave me a little background/history in the establishment. We had great conversation about wine and life. Just made me felt so comfortable. Definitely coming back here. read more

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