I want to review the events space but I will talk about the wines first. They make some of the best wines in the Bay Area. It is a specific style and they have a specific perspective on what makes great wine, but I think that is what makes them unique. The wines are pretty different from typical grocery wines. The events space is spectacular. We threw a 40th birthday party. It rained but that just made it feel more intimate. The indoor space is in the middle of the barrels and their outdoor space has picnic tables and a bocce court. We brought in live music and a food truck. They are super flexible and easy to work with. Highly recommended for events. Probably perfect for events of 50-150 people but not sure what the capacity would be. read more

A winery and tasting room in the middle of Berkeley? (to be fair, there are actually 2 on that block) Cool little spot that does 5 small pours for $10, or waived if you buy a bottle. The wines are ok.... Sincerely enjoyed the Grenache Blanc....the noir was ok, but unspectacular. Chardonnay and Syrah were pretty good....the Syrah was super acidic. The conversation starter is their white merlot...yes...white merlot. Not sure how I feel about it....didn't particularly like it - but it definitely warranted a conversation. read more

I love Donkey and Goat. I used to live in the East Bay, and the cozy, beautiful tasting room was my favorite wine tasting room south of Napa. I don't generally like white wines - often they are cloyingly sweet or too oaky - but I love the mineral, light, round whites and orange wines that Donkey and Goat produces. read more

Visiting this Winery was a real treat on a Friday afternoon. Erin was very knowledgeable, friendly and welcoming! A great place to hang out with friends, play games and taste local wines! I recommend it! read more

These folks were kind enough to host a YEE today - a beautiful, breezy, sunny Sunday by the Bay. As others have mentioned, the wine is grown and created using naturally-based materials and techniques, resulting in some intriguing reds. Chatty owner described the process, a bit techie but enlightening. We'll be back when it's not as filled with like-minded Yelpers as today. read more

Donkey and Goat Winery - Yelp Elite Event, July 29 2012. Some have wine glasses, me a milk jug. - Wineries Near Me - Berkeley, California

Most of my wine adventuring has been limited to the North Bay - Napa and Sonoma are far enough away for me to feel like its a vacation, even if its a day trip. However, since moving to Oakland, I've needed to stay closer so that I can get stuff accomplished. What a fantastic discovery Donkey & Goat was - now I have a STAYcation location where I can visit, learn, and enjoy great wines!! We wandered into the tasting room around 230pm today, and while active, it wasn't so busy that I felt as though I couldn't get attention. Justin, the fantastic wine-tender who was taking care of us, poured us a glass of the Grenache Noir, and happily answered my questions as we sipped an swirled. If you taste and don't buy, its $10/tasting, which includes 4 wines, but they waive that if you buy anything. The wine is lovely, but before we talk tasting, let' talk about responsibility. Tracy and Jared are committed to making their wines the old fashioned way, and to kindness to the earth. Donkey & Goat is made biodynamically, organically, and with care. Justin actually took us back behind the bar area to the barrel racking area, where the punch-down tanks are stored. Its all hand done, all done in neutral (or 12-mo) oak, and only native yeasts are used in the fermenting process. And its delicious! We were treated to four different wines during our visit - Grenache Noir, Roussane, Carignane, and Syrah. The Grenache Noir is light, but with a soft, pleasant mouth feel thanks to the unfiltered, unprocessed winemaking. Fruity, with a nice acid balance, we enjoyed the first pour, but... The second was magic. I love Donkey & Goat Roussane. Its done on the skins, which lends it a slightly orange color, and its very murky. You might think that sounds foul, but its amazing. The nose is like honeysuckle perfume, and the flavors are bone dry, peach, citrus, and minerality. Its like no other white wine you've had before. You need to try this wine. I'll spare you the remaining wine reviews, but every wine we drank was really unique and tasty. Combine that with the wonderful service we received from Justin, the nibbles of cheese/crackers, and the proximity to my home, I know I'll be back again and again. We bought a case (6 bottles carignane, 4 bottles grenache noir, and 2 bottles roussane), and I doubt it will be the last. Thanks so much for the hospitality, D&G!!! read more

Nice tasting room down below Picante in Berkeley. Taste 4-5 wines for 10 bucks, or spend $30/person on wine. We had the Chardonnay, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Noir, 513, and a Syrah. I wasn't actually a fan of the Grenache wines (though I am not a big fan of Grenache in general), but I enjoyed the Syrah and 513. The Grenache wines were a bit minerally for me. Pros: Really nice pourers, the wines are biodynamic, and they have free saltines you can munch on. Also, it's a nice break from Pinot Noirs (which I'm used to tasting around here). The wine will really remind you of "French" wine, more than "California" wine. Cons: They had so many other wines they were selling, especially ones from the Anderson Valley & Mendocino ridge (which I was really excited to try) but they only poured the Dorado ones. I just wish they had poured at least one wine from a different region. I think they change their wines often, so you could probably go back and try 4 different wines pretty regularly. All in all, a sweet little spot - I'm glad biodynamic places like Donkey & Goat exist! read more

We went to the first Friday of the month event that they host regularly. The band (Radiokeys) was astonishingly bad and loud. It was like being hit over the head with a hammer, and we couldn't wait to escape. The food was not available to order until 6:15 (advertised as opening at 6), and our order was lost. The food was mediocre. Everything was very expensive. The event is advertised as suitable for kids, but the music was too loud for kids and there were no cups or drinking water for kids and no napkins. The wine is uninspired. We were excited to attend this event, which sounded fun (kids, music, wine!), but they managed to create a terrible vibe. Broc, down the street, is much better. We will not return to Donkey and Goat. read more

Had a tasting at Jardiniere's on April 8 with my cheesemonger dude in tow. Donkey and Goat has broke the Chardonnay curse. Really, every wine we sampled was great. Nice, nerdy wine-makers too! We enjoyed talking wine and cheese in between great Jardiniere courses -- perfectly paired with Donkey and Goat wine! read more

Grenache Blanc. Yes effin please. I've been travelling the road of blends lately and have happily stumbled upon the Grenache Blanc at the YEE recently. After tasting 4 of their varietals, this one stood out for me. I bought a bottle, pleased and anxiously trying to figure out when I'd sip my way through it. Inside, it's comfortable and not intimidating as most bigger wineries can be. The life of the urban winery is thriving and I'm glad Donkey & Goat is among the best. read more

Not sure where those photos were taken, but doesn't look like the tasting room we were in. Went on a Friday afternoon. Lots of people came in right after us. Cute place, but didn't care a whole lot for the wine. Highlights: - standard tasting schedule. They have one list for the day, and take you through in order. Same spiel for every person. I believe our tasting featured one white, and 4 reds. - all pretty acidic wines. you definitely get that in both the flavor and mouthfeel. not realy my preference, so only had a few sips of each glass. - even though the owner's speech was the same thing for every person, i did appreciate the information given. i'm not super versed in wine terminology and tasting, so the info given was helpful Drawbacks: - no food! only a basket of crackers. I want to know where people had those breads slices and jam... on the plus side: the owner did say he was hoping to incorporate more food in the future - only the owner was there to talk to visitors, so felt lost in the mix. Wouldv'e been nice to have another employee around to talk It was a quick visit so that's as much as I can say at this point. Not sure I'd go back though. Unfortunate that there wasn't a more significant first-time impression. read more

We stopped by to do a tasting and arrange for some wine to be shipped for the holidays. The wines were as wonderful as always, with nice fresh tastes and you could really enjoy the flavor of the varietals we tasted, with the fruit shining brightly in the different tastes we enjoyed. Good wines in California are easy to find, but the people in the tasting room had a passion that was catching, so it was fun and pleasant and made the wines even more enjoyable. It doesn't hurt that the wines are a for real bargain given how great they are. Come, enjoy and don't tell anyone else, because we want to keep this gem for ourselves, read more

We had a wonderful time at Donkey and Goat last Sunday. It was my first time here and will definitely be returning! Everything we tasted was delicious, and our hostess, Kristen, was lovely and engaging. We enjoyed the sun in the back area where we played board games and drank chilled red wine. Looking forward to bringing my friends here for a weekend get together. read more

The great visit to their 5th Street Tasting Room began even before we got there, when I emailed the winery two days before to ask about a largish party of us six visiting and if any special arrangements needed to be made. Tracey, one of the winemakers, quickly emailed me back and CCed the staff person who was working that day to alert her. Tracey said, "Nothing else is needed except for you to enjoy the wine." Thanks, Tracey-- what a nice way to feel welcome! The tasting room is very comfortable and the woman who was working that day was great: super knowledgeable and very patient with our slowly moving party. The wines are pretty unusual: they use a bunch of natural techniques (See here:https://donkeyandgoat.com/our-story) and all Northern California grapes-- perfect for an progressive East Bay Winery! Unfortunately, there bocce ball court wasn't open, but I guess that means we have to go back, soon. read more

A nice find of a local winery in the Berkeley area. Their hours are later in the day from 2-6 which makes for a nice afternoon stop in. The wines themselves are good, different than much of whats being done in Napa/Sonoma. The atmosphere of the place feels hidden away well once you're inside, feeling more like a cellar room than a place just off the street in Berkeley. Their wines are made more in a Rhone style so they're softer and lighter than many which you would find up in Wine country. read more

Avoid this place at all costs. My wife and I wandered in here on a Saturday afternoon to do a tasting and will never come back. We talked to a couple that were the owners and they couldn't have been more pretentious and unhelpful. We know a little about wine, but aren't experts, sorry. The overpriced wine they recommended was nothing special. Not sure why this place has any good reviews. read more

Donkey and Goat has some unique wine options, which I love - the lady pouring was passionate about the winemaking process and gave some great information while visiting. We ended up purchasing the Twinkle Mouvedre and the Clairette Blanche because they were both so different than what we've tasted in the past. read more

Donkey and Goat has the perfect combination of a great space, and a fantastic team. The Eluvio holiday party was a smashing success due in no small part to all of their hard work. read more

This place is amazing, the service is great. Really love how there's named after their kids so sweet. I would def try Isabel's cuvee its the best wine out there. read more

To each his own. Our entire party did not like any of the wine we tried. The space is cool but the wines are not.

Music was great on August 2. Food was passable. Typical Berkeley overpriced greasy stuff passing as authentic. Worst of all, the wine was crappy and they charge a corkage fee to drink their bottles at their own location. This is simply unconscionable. I am yet to be impressed by organic, biodynamic wines in the Bay Area. If you are still drinking them, you are falling for the gimmick, especially given that the winery is right next to a cement factory and Interstate 80. Berkeley hipsters need to wake up to the hard realities of post industrial landscapes. read more

Was completely surprised to see any negative reviews about this place. I've been a member for about half a year now and I'm only able to come in every month or two because I'm in San Jose. Everything i come in one of the staff always remembers me and goes out of their way to catch up. The service is always above and beyond. I became a member after tasting just one of their wines, and I remember falling in love. Since then I haven't been disappointed once. Then again I love funky natural wines, and I love when they change it up. Every time I come in I end up leaving with so many more bottles than I planned. The prices may be a little high, but that's because your getting really good quality natural wine. Natty wine is always more expensive. Plus if you are a member you get really great discounts. If your not a natural wine fan, this might not be your jam. However, if you haven't tried natural wine, I highly suggest you start here. read more

Really good organic/biodynamic wine, but as a local I've been coming here for 5 years and sad to see the service change for the worst as it's gained notoriety. We went today, and got badgered by one of the pourers. There was a kid who was being problematic and the pourer assumed that because I also had a kid with me, the other kid had to be mine. When I said otherwise, she asked me who that kid's parents were - like all parents intuitively recognize other kids' parents? The tone, the attitude and the assumptions were really off putting. This couples with a generally cold attitude when pouring the wine and unwillingness to pour some of the extras that other guests were receiving. Sadly, this isn't the first time we've had bad service. With lots of other great wineries on either side of Donkey and Goat, I'll be thinking twice before coming in again. read more

I'm a big fan of D&G wine and I was so excited to visit for a tasting. I was not disappointed! Our tasting was super special - everything was delicious, of course. Love the casual environment, the snacks are great too. Kelsey helped us through our tasting and we really enjoyed her. She has a ton of knowledge and she's an all around lovely person to shop and talk with. We will definitely be back for more! Thank you, Kelsey! read more

This place is a great gem! $10 tasting with a bocce court and very friendly staff. I will be definitely coming back and the wine was great!

What a cool spot in Berkley!!! I really enjoyed their wine. The pourers were very knowledgeable, and the general scene was super laid back. I really enjoyed the space, and am always swayed by a good bocce ball court. read more

Great food pairing wine. A great blend of lightness, mystique and brightness. They have beautiful seasonal wines that are minimally touched. They even use some foot stomping techniques, occasionally. Unfiltered and fined... they let the grapes speak for themselves. They have wine tastings on the weekend. It is an amazing local family run business. Make sure to check them out. read more

Wonderful little winery in Oakland. Stopped in after checking out a local brewery and had a fantastic tasting. The staff there clearly cares and have a passion for the wines that are produced. Ended up buying a couple bottles but the wine club membership would be great if you live in the bay area! read more

We had the best time at Donkey and Goat Winery! It's the perfect venue for large parties- the picnic tables, armed with blankets for the colder months, offer a cozy, family dinner table vibe. Our server, Roxanne, made us feel so welcome and offered lots of interesting information about the wines without being overbearing. Go and enjoy the wine and warm ambiance! read more

I tried the wines, joined the club and haven't looked back. The wines are different, but each sip gets better. I find myself purchasing a bottle or two consistently after each new release. I highly recommend. read more

I LOVE THE SYRAHS!! This boutique winery has amazing wines. They aren't your typical CA. wines. They have more of a french influence. The wines can be hard to get - pre-order if you can! If you aren't a CA Chardonnay fan, try A Donkey and Goat... you may be afterwards. Highly, highly recommend trying them out! read more

I had a tasting of the 2012 Chardonnay Lily's Cuvée Anderson Valley Sparkling Wine last night. Wow was the good. Sweet with a hint of bubbles. Yum read more

This is a nice spot for east bay wine tasting! Great value for a single tasting and delicious wine.

I had their Rosé at Cafe Rouge. I don't usually drink Rosés, as I prefer zins and cabernet, but this wine surprised me. It was not at all light and fruity like many other Roses I've had. It was aromatic, but slightly earthy and grounded. read more

I wandered in here after shopping at REI and the North Face outlet. I was really skeptical because of the location, but I enjoy patronizing local businesses, so I thought what the heck. I am so glad that I did! The wines were excellent and made in a natural French style. All wood, no filtering, foot stomping etc. I especially loved the Carignane and Syrahs. read more

A little expensive wine tasting. It was 5 wines tasting for $15 and the tasting were so small that it wasn't worth it. I glad I shared the wine with my boyfriend because it wasn't worth it. I really only likely one wine. It was kind of a sparkling wine. The atmosphere was really nice but I wish I could have been able to go back to where the wine club members were because they have cheese and a place to sit. read more

Went on a Sunday... it was really quiet (maybe people were a little scared of the drizzle), but that was a good thing... We got to relax and savor the wine as well as chat with Allyson, who was very helpful and friendly and knowledgeable... I went away really liking their wine. I like the low alcohol and higher acidity. Their desert wine isn't really a dessert wine like you're used to... more for cheese, but really delicious! Went home with a bottle! Definitely worth checking out! read more

Donkey and Goat Winery hosted a pretty awesome Yelp event recently. Their space is a wonderful urban courtyard replete with artsy grafitti and Pétanque game. The day was sunny and perfect. I don't know if it's a place where you can hang out on regular tasting days, but for the event it was a nice place to just be. I wished that I had grabbed an Improbable Chardonnay. It's a little hard to take the time to find your best one when there are people clamoring at your elbows and the winemakers themselves are busy. I guess it just warrants another future visit to really learn my favorites. read more

This is such a nice place to visit with their wine parties. I always buy a bottle; but am not crazy about their wine in general. It is the lovely atmosphere that I enjoy and am always happy to contribute to their business. read more

Three months after writing this review I was contacted by the owner of the Donkey and Goat Winery who offered to refund the $10 corkage fee I was charged to open the bottle of their own wine I had purchased. I accepted this gracious offer and I felt it deserved mention, as it speaks highly of the company's professionalism and their concern with customer service issues. I did not ask the owner whether they had taken advantage of this opportunity to rethink their general practice and the appropriateness of charging customers a corkage fee to open a bottle of Donkey and Goat's own wine which is opened and consumed on the premises. But given their demonstrated customer service responsiveness, I am hopeful that they might do so. read more