Hands down GGWC is my first-thing-in-the-morning email destination. Frank does a wonderful job of finding new vineyards, wines, winemakers..not just the same old stuff. And he carries wines across the cost spectrum. Visiting his shop is a thing of wonder - if he's not too busy which is rare! Thanks Frank for making GGWC. read more

Got a chance to work under Frank! It was a great experience! He taught me the ins and outs of business models from a small time business perspective! I don't drink Wine but seeing how happy it was in that building during the wine tastings and alumni workers gratitude towards Frank's knowledge and understanding was inspiring!! I thank Frank for a lot in giving me a shot at working, also his wisdom on relationships, marriage, and life! It was a true work opportunity! Thank you Frank Merry Christmas and happy holidays!! read more

The owner is super friendly and knowledgeable. He was nice enough to stay open even though we showed up for tasting 30 minutes before they close. Lots of local smaller vineyards. Would come back. read more

Golden Gate Wine Cellars - Wine tasting - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

We were fortunate to attend a fabulous wine tasting hosted by Frank of Golden Gate Wine Cellars. Not only did we get exposure to great wines, but we also met many of the wine-makers or distributors. It was a great event and introduced us to many new wines. After the tasting we went back to the actual shop to pick up our bounty and chatted with Frank for sometime. He's a great host, friendly and warm and super smart about wines. I highly recommend GGWC for your next wine purchase! One note of caution - the storefront can be tricky to find - keep looking - it's there! read more

This is such a fun cute wine tasting room. Frank is so nice and knowledgeable. Its like you are drinking wine with an old friend. It is easy to miss. So keep your eyes peeled for this little gem. But definitely worth the stop. We will for sure be back. read more

Went there during the hours posted here on Yelp and not only are they open by appointment only, there's a note on the door for the delivery person saying that they're closed today read more

Frank is so knowledgeable about wine and every wine he recommends is awesome. We joined the wine club and it never disappoints, we have discovered some truly wonderful wines from some of Napa's hidden gems. Bruce and Sharon Carpenter read more

I worked with Frank to ship 70 individual bottles of wine to clients for the holidays. He recommended a great bottle and was fast, thorough, efficient and very reasonably priced. I'm so pleased. read more

WE first attended a wine tasting event a year ago and were thoroughly impressed with Frank and his knowledge of wine. We learned of a few new wines that we absolutely love. We recently attended the tasting for a well respected california winemaker and again were amazed at how much information Frank has at instant recall. For anyone looking to learn about good wine from someone who really respects the craft, I would urge you to go check out Frank's store. read more

Who knew this amazing collection of boutique California wines was tucked away near West Portal? No need to travel to all the wine regions, set up appointments at exclusive wineries. Frank has done all that legwork for you. And Frank knows quality and makes the wine tasting experience thoroughly accessible. I feel so fortunate to have discovered this place. I might just spend every Saturday afternoon here, tasting and purchasing. read more

Frank is super knowledgeable and loves to share his knowledge with his visitors! We were there for 1.5hr just to chat with him. We learned a lot and sincerely enjoyed our visit. You can tell Frank is very passionate about wine. When he recommended us what to buy, he didn't choose the ones with higher price tag. In fact, when we picked a bottle on our own that's in the higher price range, he suggested another bottle that better suits our needs AND cheaper. Parking is super easy. You should definitely check it out! read more

What a hidden gem! This place is a stone's throw from my home and has been here for a couple of years just never knew it ! Could have to do with the location..you walk thru this doorway into a small alley way and back...Lakeside District on Ocean Avenue. Once inside you will find a treasure trove of outstanding wines!! The owner, Frank, is a delightful man...very generous with his humor and especially in sharing his knowledge! The beauty of a spot like this, that features offerings from small production/boutique wineries, is that you won't normally see them at BevMo, Safeway, etc...because they are produced in such low quantity! they would not "blip" on the radar of a wine buyer for some behemoth chain! That's what makes this place so precious!! The selection of pinots and cabs (I mostly play for Team Red Wine) was amazing!! Prices are fantastic for the quality of the product!!! Stop by and visit with Frank! Open Monday thru Saturday, closed Sundays! (Every so often he will host a wine maker's dinner at a local restaurant, call or visit his shop/web site for any upcoming events) Cheers! read more

Due yourself a favor and skip Bevmo and Safeway and get some quality stuff from Frank at Golden Gate Wine Cellars. He has a really great selection of small production and hard-to-find wines. Frank is a very personable guy that really takes time to learn what you like and manages to find something to your liking. One negative is that his shop is small and does not display everything he has, so its not exactly a great place to browse. So it's helpful to know what you want before you go in. Also, majority of his wines are on the pricier side, his selection ranges from $20 upwards of over $100 per bottle. If you happen to get an invite for his tasting events, I highly recommend going to those too! read more

5 stars for the Saturday afternoon in-store wine tastings. Last week Frank was pouring six Pinot Noir, they were all worth sampling (the five I recall are Dumol and Small Vines from Russian River Valley; Luli from Santa Lucia Highlands; D. Matthew Taylor from Chalone/Monterey; and probably my favorite, B. Kosuge's The Shop from the Carneros). The tasting is not expensive and you can pre-pay on the website. Along with the wine comes great stories from Frank, he has deep knowledge of the winemakers and how their wines are made. read more

I have been doing business with Frank for several years. If you like great wine, great service and fair price to value then look no further. Frank has a knack for finding great wines that no one else can. I highly suggest joining one of his clubs to get some variety and try wines you otherwise may not. Overall great expereince. Don't know how anyone could give Frank a negative!!!! read more

Best little Wine Shoppe in SF! Found this shop online and visited my last trip to CA. Was impressed by the way wines are kept cool and dry. Fantastic selection for every budget, friendly and knowledgeable owner Frank, who is also well-connected to many boutique tasting rooms in Napa and Sonoma. Highly recommended. Tell Frank that Jake sent you! Just kidding Frank will take good care of you however you were dispatched! read more

Frank Melis owns Golden Gate and for the past nine months has given me great advice on purchasing wine. Over the summer, with his knowledge, I built two cases of various wines. On October 21 Frank sent me my wine to my home in Michigan by Ground UPS. UPS put the wine on a train and it derailed. It took a week and a half to finally get to me and as I opened the boxes I was concerned about the wines condition. Frank's packers had done a brilliant job and because of the addition of a couple of ice type blocks the wine was still cool. They had also taken the time and care to wrap the more narrow bottles to make everything fit perfect. I have bought a lot of wine from Napa and various other suppliers in California but not anymore. Frank and Golden Gate are the best by far. His advice is great and guess what, he personally always answers the phone. Dennis read more

Had the opportunity to visit the Golden Gate Wine Cellar in San Fransisco, Ca this past weekend while in town fir the New Orleans Saints and 49'ers game. We had the most amazing time meeting Frank and learning about the history of some of the many selections he had to offer there is his immaculate cellar. We talked, we laugh,we got to know each other a little better and we sipped 9 different wines from his cellar getting a little history from each one. An amazing time was had by all if us. So if you are ever in the San Fransisco Bay area look him up, you wont be disappointed. Frank at Golde Gate Wine Cellar. read more

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Hats off to Frank Melis aka St. Frank - The Patron Saint of Tannins and owner of Golden Gate Wine Cellars in San Francisco. Franks hosted a "meet the winemakers" event in NYC last month at a really cool venue - the NYC Fire Museum. The event was a wine extravaganza with 30+ wineries/winemakers happy to talk about their wines and there was about 70+ wines to try. A ticket to this event is worth every cent! You can also buy wine by the bottle or case, mix and match and they get delivered to you by mail! No heavy lifting!! It's superb!! read more

Frank and the Golden Gate Wine Company is a dream to trade with. Excellent customer service and truly go above and above to make the customer happy! I live and work in Hong Kong and whenever I make my wine order it is to go in days and to me in record time. I highly recommend Golden Gate Wine and Frank's personalized attention to his customers. read more

Great little shop with a huge selection. All the wines are super reasonable and the service is awesome. They'll also hold your wine for you in a temperature controlled cellar. Will be back again! read more

Frank Melis know's a heck of a lot about wine. I was so happy when he decided to open up this storefront after being only online. I stop by on most Friday's to pick up something good for the weekend, he has a fantastic selection of boutique and hard to get wines at good prices. read more

The owner Frank is the nicest person and has such knowledge of the wines. And the selection is great . I really love this place .... A Wine Lovers delight! read more

You meet lots of great people in the wine industry. Frank is the Valedictorian. His knowledge and customer service is unsurpassed. I needed a case of Cabernet and gave him the parameters. I'm on the east coast. A couple of days later I got a case of amazing cabs. Whenever, friends ask me about wine purchases I tell them to just call Frank. If you ever have a chance to attend one of his tastings it will be an event you'll cherish. At his New York tasting I met so many great winery owners and wine makers. It's an event I'll go to each year. read more

I have been doing business with Frank Melis & Golden Golden Gate Wine Cellars for nearly a decade now. When it comes to knowledge of fine Napa wines, there is NOBODY that I trust more! Frank is always helpful with suggestions and has something to tempt me with every time we talk. read more

I placed an order from NY and received excellent service. My bottle was shipped the same day with upgraded shipping speed. Plus, the owner Frank is a really nice guy. I will be sure to stop by in person the next time I am in town. read more

The best wine shop I have ever been to. The wine selection is top-notch with many hard to find wines. But more important than the fabulous selection of wine, this is the place where your find Frank, the business purveyor. He is the friendly owner of this establishment and by far the most knowledgeable person in all things wine that I know. Highly recommended. Also visit the Saturday wine tastings as you get to meet winemakers of the excellent wines that can be found in store. read more

I am updating my review. The owner personally reached out to me to offer me and unfortunately I only saw this now, but I appreciate the effort. Be sure to call ahead to make sure they are open, but I'm going to go with other reviewers and say that it is a good place. Hoping to visit during a tasting or the right time, soon! read more

This shop is definitely under the radar... featuring many outstanding boutique wines... Great selection of pinots... and great prices... I also highly recommend having a chat with Frank ... very delightful, knowledgable and humble... read more

What a wonderful hidden gem! Regrettably, for years I lived in the neighborhood, ignorant of its existence. Now I swing by often. Pros: - The proprietor, Frank, is a wonderful Belgian-born gent who seems to know just about everything about the CA wine scene. He's really fun to talk to/learn from--if you have any questions about his inventory, the history and politics of CA winemaking, this well-connected man knows it all. - Frank focuses on small-batch, boutique CA and west coast wines. This is a highly curated inventory. He sources all of his wines directly, and knows each winemaker/grower personally. He doesn't carry anything he hasn't personally vetted for quality. - Cozy, intimate atmosphere. Not big/overwhelming, not too small either. Frank is always available to help you find the right bottle for the occasion. "Friendly neighborhood" feel. - $10 - $15 covers wine tasting for two people most Saturdays. The selection of 6 - 8 wines usually reflects a theme (varietal, region, winery, winemaker) but still provides useful variety for comparison. Occasionally the winemaker will be pouring, so you can learn even more about what you're tasting. Each week's wines are available for purchase at a discounted rate (roughly 10%, more if you buy 6+ of same wine). - Easy to get to by Muni (K), walking, biking or driving (street parking always available) Cons: - Pricey for many (typically $30 - $80), but appropriate for the value. I couldn't afford to buy much of my wine here (wish I could!), but it's great for gifts or special occasions. - Some may find the variety lacking, or miss specific/recognized labels. If you're into wine, definitely check it out. read more

Golden Gate Wine Cellars - "Meet the winemakers" tasting: Y Rousseau and Campesino - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This is a great little shop hidden back off the street and a wonderful find! The owner is super helpful and gave me more education about fine wines in the 20 minutes I was there than I have had my entire life up until then. We have been back many times and highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for something new or different that you won't find anywhere else! read more

Found this place on Yelp, so I went in to check it out. The reviews are right, this place is excellent. I got a few bottles off Frank's recommendation and I've loved every one so far. I can't wait to come to one of the Saturday tastings! read more

Just completed my first online purchase with Golden Gate. Very pleased with the entire transaction. The website was easy to navigate, and the communication was top notch. I received a call from Mike as soon as the wine was picked up by UPS to confirm that it was on its way! I will definitely add Golden Gate Wine Cellars to the list of the wine websites that I do business with! read more

I've been purchasing wines from Golden Gate Wine Cellars for about ten years now. Frank Melis, the owner, is not only extremely knowledgeable, but he also cares about his clients. I've never been steered wrong, and always appreciate his calls; always with a new find, and always something Frank knows I'll like! read more

Frank is extremely knowledgable regarding the wines sold at the store. He meets with the winemakers and understands the process in how each winery creates their wines. read more

I've purchased wines throughout the Country over the internet for many years. Over the past year or so I've been purchasing domestic wines primarily from California and Oregon from Frank at Golden Gate Wine. He is very knowledgeable and has developed personal relationships with many hard to find smaller fine wine producers. Amazingly this is not done on a carte blanche pricing scheme but rather very competitive pricing with shipping often provided at no extra charge. By speaking to Frank I've had the opportunity to experience several new wines that I would have otherwise never heard of or considered. Needless to say I have been pleasantly surprised and continue to benefit from his expertise of hard to find wines. Enjoy. read more

Frank is the man. A lot of wine stores say they get boutique, hard to find stuff but it's usually just random labels no one's heard of. I'm a pretty serious wine geek and can say GGWC gets a lot of stuff that is sought after, otherwise allocated and rarely sees retail. The quality is across the board good so you can almost pick any random bottle off the shelf and do well. read more

I visited this charming wine store for the first time last week to attend a tasting for Switchback Ridge Vineyards. I was thoroughly impressed with the inventory of wines sold in this store. I have traveled the world in search of great wines and experiences and can add another winner to my list with Golden Gate Wine Cellars. The owner Frank is extremely knowledgeable and owns a fabulous space in a great neighborhood. Although I live several miles away, I plan to go back for his wine tastings because there is no wine store in the Bay Area which compares to this one. I highly recommend to all the true oenophiles to check this fabulous place out. You will find great small allotment wines. Cheers! read more

Excellent wine shop. Local top notch CA wines. A must visit wine shop. Thx agian Frank!! Tom read more

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Frank Melis of Golden Gate Wine Cellars. Not only that, but also a large number of his East Coast customers as well. GGWC has always been a great help in finding special wines for my events that I simply can't get easily any other way. For a treat for the palate, try GGWC for delightful gems from California. Bethesda, MD read more