One of the best things about living in the Bay Area is the abundance of hyper-focused, specialty retailers who have a deep history that connects to other neighboring hyper-focused specialty shops. I know that may sound vague, but allow me to explain...Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant is a perfect example for this point. On the one hand, stepping into Kermit Lynch's shop at San Pablo and Cedar in Berkeley might seem underwhelming. It's a windowless, brick-lined room that feels like a basement (or wine cellar). Wines are either showcased in racks, or more commonly stacked in their crates or in boxes on the floor. The wines here are not local Napa, Sonoma, Anderson Valley, or Central Coast labels, but the majority of wines are sourced from France and Italy. You might find the labels confusing or not initially know what grape varietal you have in front of you. So you might have several reactions. One might be, "Kermit Lynch doesn't sell the wine I like." But another might be, "Holy shit! This is gonna be an adventure!" I'm always in the latter category. I've been a fan of Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant since moving to the East Bay in 2001. They weaned me from my California-centric wine mentality and introduced me to the regions of French wines that I always thought were old, stuffy, boring, too expensive, or too confusing. They did this through their amazing staff who made the Old World of wines more approachable and understandable through outstanding service and explanations as well as having options that would appeal to my price point. Often this was through options that include the Kermit Lynch label of super reasonably priced wines like their Cote du Rhône. Sure, you can still find wines here that are pricey. But the real lesson I learned at Kermit Lynch was that great, new adventures don't have to break the bank. And as to that connection to neighboring specialty shops I mentioned earlier, Kermit Lynch in the literal next door neighbor to Acme Bread. Both of these establishments laid the groundwork for modern foodie culture. And these shops are down the street from Cheeseboard Collective. Which is up the street from Monterey Market and Fish Market. Which is close to Tokyo Fish Market. Which isn't far from Berkeley Bowl. It's this ecosystem of outstanding, deep history, hyper-focused excellence that Kermit Lynch helped create and why I will remain a loyal customer. read more

See all

I have been purchasing wines from Kermit Lynch for probably 3 decades, or longer. I spent 3 years in France in my youth and did the "vendange" (grape harvest) back in the day where we pick the grapes by hand and stomped them in huge barrels with our feet. We were paid with room and board plus 2 bottles of their wine/day. Anyway, I'm quite familiar with many French wines and appreciate a wine shop that knows their wines. Kermit Lynch is knowledgeable but their wines are not cheap, but European wines are not cheap in general. Having said that, there is a glut of European wines on the market these days from decreased demand, which should drive down their prices. In any case, there is a wide assortment of wines and the help is friendly and can assist you if you have any questions. read more

I've been Kermit's customer since before he opened his shop; he was working for somebody else. I couldn't recommend him more highly. It happens that I'm getting pretty old, and, sadly, my senses are less refined. So I won't be buying any hundred-dollar bottles of wine. One thing I highly appreciate about him, though, is that he also makes a point of selling inexpensive wines which extremely good. (I won't tell you which they are, because they tend to sell out quickly.) read more

There's just nothing like a visit to KLWM! The wines are just spectacular and the place feels like a wine shop for the ages. I'd like to meet the owner some day. read more

Very well stocked! Anything that can't be found at other place, you will have a better change here.

KLWM has been a LEGEND in Berkeley for 45 years. They import some of THE best small artisanal wine producers in France, Sardinia, and Italy). KLWM specializes in the wines of Burgundy and the Northern and Southern Rhône. But don't miss their incredible selection of wine from Alsace (Boxler, Kuentz-Bas, Meyer-Fonné, Ostertag), and other underappreciated small appellations in France: Loire, Provence, Savoie, etc. And don't miss the French EVOO from Les Baux de Provence AOP at $60. Pricey but worth every drop! read more

I screwed up and had to get a bottle of champagne to my brother for his 70th birthday on the same day. Bryant at Kermit Lynch could not have been more helpful. He took the time to help me select a bottle, write a card and, most of all, personally guaranteed it would be delivered that day. HIGHLY recommend. read more

Customer service at the new Marin Country Mart location could have been better. It felt somewhat pretentious and maybe a bit judgy. I was excited to know more about the various French rosé wines they had, was eyeing their more expensive ones, and it felt they thought I would just like the popular and cheaper $20 Gris de Gris which I ended up buying (which was ok) but would unlikely buy it again. My husband visited on a different day and he felt they were unwelcoming when he walked in. read more

Amazing selection with kind and knowledgeable staff. Always enjoy coming here for a restock

I love this place! I belong to their Reds club, pick up two red wines each month that I always find tasty and new to me. I love talking w the staff as they help me buy certain varietals I'm interested in. A long established fixture in Berkeley and an affordable range of prices. Dog friendly w treats as well! read more

My brother and I stopped by to look for a Christmas wine bottle for my dad. We don't know much about wine and were very pleased with the service we received. The man that assisted us took the little direction we were able to give about the kinds of wine my dad enjoys and he made great recommendations. We came out with two bottles. See pictures for names. My dad loved both wines and said they were both really delicious, sweet, and decadent dessert wine. Thank you so much for helping us pick the perfect Christmas gift. read more

Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant - a bottle of wine - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

They Know and Sell Wine Quite an ok wine store. Yes, the attendants know their wine. This shop stocks only wine from Italy and France. None of that 'ordinary' wine. You will pay a little more here than at a regular wine store for an equivalent bottle. I'd guess between 10% and 20% more - an approximation. I found them prompt and eager to assist me but you can expect hype with the help. The wine expert helping you is a professional salesman. All that said, I'd still shop there again. read more

I'm not a big wine person but if your able to offer something that I will actually love then I'm all for it and this is what I got from here. Customer service was on point. Lots of choices. Finally got a good champagne for my morning mimosas and some great white wine. They also have a bread shop right next door. Will definitely go back again. Fiance loves this store. read more

Love love love Kermit Lynch! Every time you walk in someone will help you out, ask you questions, and meet you where you are at both with experience, knowledge, and price range. Each time I've checked out a new selection of wines I leave with a fun story and knowing just a little bit more about the notes, tastes, and origin of the wines I'm bringing home. read more

I decided to visit this Wine M. wanting a few cases for a party...stopped after work and walked around the different wine options and no employees at least to me do not offered any assistance. Especially that, the way that they have the wine all over the store , is a little confuse for new customers or at least to me. It was almost empty on a Friday afternoon . 2 customers came after me, and then I noticed that they got help right away. Can't understand why a few employees walked by me, but they totally ignored me, after 20 minutes inside I decided to leave and nobody asked me if I needed some help...the energy inside felt weird for me. I never had an experience like this ever before. I also noticed that they may have long time customers that probably are very familiar with the store, but also it's important to welcome possible new customers that may turn into long time customers. I doubt it that I will return. read more

I've been purchasing wine from Kermit Lynch for about 20 years and I've recently noticed that their customer service, which used to be really good, has taken a nose dive in quality. The employees who now work there can be downright hostile. The last employee who helped me looked upset right off the bat before I even said hello. My suspicions were confirmed when he ended up getting angry at me because I asked for recommendations. He seemed to think I was wasting his time even though I only took about 3 minutes to finish my transaction. Not sure what has caused this change in attitude. Are the employees in a covid funk? Is the worldwide freight backup causing massive anxiety? Whatever it is, they need to hire people who won't take it out on customers. Their saving grace is that their wines are good even though they are not as good of a value as they once were. They need to realize, however, that there are a ton of options for good wine in the Bay Area and customers will not put up with such poor customer service. read more

We are very lucky to live in Kermit Lynch's back yard. Since he fell in love with wine we have been his beneficiaries. Look at the wine programs at most top restaurants and you are sure to find Kermit Imports on that list. For years his team have trolled around looking for value, taste and expanding our horizons on the left coast. The staff are very friendly, highly knowledgeable and an ease to work with. All in all its my go to place when I get tired of California wines. Cheers! read more

Great marketing vs great wines I have purchased two cases of wine - the first, bottles in the $15-$30 range - pretty awful stuff. The second case, I upped my game, getting bottles in the $35-$70 range. Each bottle I open is incredibly disappointing - a Brunello di Monticello ($70) should be darn good - not KL's. And yet if you read their brochure description - "wow! this is great." Hah. It's all great copywriting not great wines. read more

Honestly want to love this place and be a regular, even if for their lower priced bottles but with an occasional splurge, but over the 10+ years I've lived in the neighborhood and gone in occasionally to find something to buy, or even when I've gone in to pick up an online order, I have consistently gotten the most off-putting vibes from staff that I've gotten at any wine store ever. It makes me want to never go there to choose something in the store, but have been tempted to buy online because of their inviting emails, artful descriptions of their wines and their occasional good deals. The wines themselves have been hit and miss, from impressive to downright funky, but that happens everywhere, I guess, but would expect more from a place that carefully curates their selection. Just picked up an order of bubblies I got from a good deal via email and hoping they stand up to the descriptions on the website. They definitely have some good writers for their publication and promos, just wish they weren't so weird to customers in the store and that the wines were always as good as described, although sometimes they are... read more

This should be , a bay area iconic wine shop. Instead it had become a extremely overprice pile of marketing garbage. Beware or the 20 percent discounted wines. These are basically very overpriced crap that someone over ordered at one l point. The limited quality products are on the average 10- 15 percent higher than most wine retailers in the USA. For exactly the same branded product returns of unsatisfied wines or other food items, they will find anything and all ways not to refund for poor or overpriced ) wines.imilar wines. read more

I stopped in yesterday to pick up a few cases of wine for the fast approaching time when Gayle and I are wed. We're having about a 50+ person reception after a small family-only wedding. We had already taken advantage of the BevMo 5 cent sale (which isn't always a good deal) for some Chardonnay that we both enjoy. However, our reception will include at least one Frenchman and one wine aficionado who wishes he was. So I decided to return to Kermit Lynch and check out a rosé and a red and at around a $10 per bottle price point. You'll never hear the words "White" and "Zinfandel" in the same sentence at Kermit Lynch. However, he does have a new CD out. Sam took care of me, starting with a prompt response to an earlier email. He found me a nice case of each variety (rose/red) that met my price point goal. He also didn't flinch when I mentioned BevMo and via dolly, carried the cases to my car. And it was fun to be here again as the wine energy and knowledge "flows" and without any pretension. I'm sure that our guests will enjoy this very good and well-selected wine. read more

Ask a Yelp Whisperer QOTD - Thanksgiving Week extra Dear YW, so I like wine. In a good healthy way, you know? For holidays, festive weekends, splurge of the moment Mondays, that sort of thing. But it kinda scares me. Especially the French and Italian varietals. I mean, I never took a foreign language in college, or been to Europe (the Amsterdam airport doesn't count). I've been reading on Yelp that "Kermit Lynch is a living legend" and stuff like that, and now I really *want* to visit his famous shop on San Pablo Avenue in Berkeley, but ... but, but, but. What should I do, like walk in off the street? And say that I want a good bottle of French wine? Please! That sounds like walking into the Museum of Modern Art and asking to see a "pretty painting" by someone with an unpronounceable foreign name. I need to take that next step beyond Trader Joe's Plantinum Reserve Russian River Valley wines. I need to stop buying California Chardonnay and start drinking wines that truly reflect their "terroir." Or so I gather from the Internet. And my boyfriend, Han, is not going to be of much assistance. He drinks Yellow Tail, for goodness sake. I am sooo ashamed! It's like he's from outer space or something. Help me, Whisperer. You are my only hope. Leia O. Point Reyes Station, CA (but formerly from Alderaan). Hi Leia, I think you should go to Kermit Lynch, and soon. They have a wonderful selection of holiday wines, the sort of thing that you won't find at Trader Joe's. But you shouldn't cold call on the Lynch - that's kind of like landing on a foreign planet without having scanned it first. Or something like that. Humor me. First, get that flyboy hubby of yours to buy you a $200 gift certificate from Kermit Lynch. That will give you some spending room to work with, I'd say. For the holidays, you understand! Have him sell the Falcon on eBay if need be; it's outdated technology anyway. You'll receive a beautiful hand-written certificate in the mail, very classy. Next, email one of the excellent wine staff/sales reps who work at KLWM to arrange an in-store consultation. Pick a date and time that works, maybe noon on a Saturday. It won't be Kermit. He's more of an absent presence, if you know what I mean. Kinda like someone you can feel but not actually see. A force, if you will. You just have to know how to use it for good, not evil. The sales rep/wine person you choose is up to you. But they will become your mentor and guide. They will instruct you in the use of the force. Like a Jedi, one might say, if you and Han are still into the whole "Star Wars" thing. Tell her or him what kinds of wines you like ahead on time by email - maybe a grape variety you enjoy, or a region in France or Italy that sounds interesting, based on Google Maps. Alto Adige. The Loire Valley. A sparkling Vouvray. Gruener Veltliner. Pinot Blanc. They even kind of sound fun to say, don't they? Be direct. Don't be afraid to sound silly or stupid. Laugh it up, Leia. It's not an exam or test of your level of sophistication. It's the fruits of the earth, products of the soil, real down-to-dirt stuff. Then, go to the store, meet with your contact, walk around the aisles, pick a pretty bottle that looks good, ask questions, and don't worry about price that much. Some of the best wines are less than $30, some even under $15 - the Vaucluse red Vin du Pays from the Leydier family, for example. Or the Rosso Pietro Barbera from Montferrato in Italy. And definitely the Loire sparkling Vouvray from Champalou. And a Cabernet Franc from the Bretons. And anything from the Val d'Aosta. See? You'll get the hang of it, Leia. Remember: there is no try. There is only drink or drink not. Have a great time! Say hi to Han for me. I'll bet he'll love the Barbera, even if there isn't a huge hopping marsupial on the label. read more

This store has atmosphere - it's almost like walking into a winery or wine cellar. It can be overwhelming and intimidating - with so many winery names and varieties that are unfamiliar, you have to nab the staff and confess to your California-centrism and begin the process of naming wineries and varietals that you like so they can make suggestions. Their suggestions, of course, are bang on. The prices are a bit high, making this more of a special occasion splurge for me. Do yourself the favor of popping in here and expanding your wine horizons! read more

Bryant helped us with a recommendation and he was super helpful and gave us great service.

I am 2nd generation Italian-American. I am a wine fan. I drink wine with dinner - always. For me wine is liquid food. It compliments the meats, vegetables & starches. It's a digestion aid, wine cuts the butter and oils, & cleanses the palate between chewy mouthfuls. I live smack-dab in the very center of the Sonoma Valley. There are 24 wine tasting rooms within 10 miles of my house. All the wine shop sales people know me by name or at least on sight. I have 300 bottles of wine in my storage closet, 90% are Sonoma County, 4% Mendocino County, & a few bottles of Washington / Oregon. I grew up in New York. I drank French, Portugese, Spanish & Italian wine long before moving to California. I landed in Boyes Hot Springs, Sonoma County in the early 1970's. My opinion of Californian wines was not sympathetic. The wines lacked finesse compared to a reasonably priced French burgundy. Some California wines have gotten better over the past 35 years, & I grew accustomed to them - especially the fruit bomb Zinfandel & Merlot varieties (I still hate oak barrel tannic California Cabernet Sauvignon). And 4 days ago I decided that my wine collection was too narrow in scope. Bambie, the quintessential California born & raised wine snob has no real experience with French wine, outside of the 2 trips we made to France in 2006 & 2007. I announced; "It's time to broaden our wine perspective; we're going to Kermit Lynch to buy a case of European wine". Bambie argued that we have more wine on hand than we can drink in 2 years. My response was; "It's like having a CD music collection that's only classical orchestra recordings. Sometimes I want to hear some Rock & Roll!" She acquiesced. Kermit Lynch's shop is a humble wonder and wine lovers paradise. A simple 1,000 square feet of wine cases stacked on the floor, with just enough room between the boxes for one person to amble up & down a row. No shopping carts, no display racks, no gaudy posters, no extraneous bullshit. I love it! Sales guys are serious, studious, & efficient. Maybe they are a little grim for wine connoisseurs. I asked them to assemble a case of employee favorite bottles with a price cap of $20 per bottle. They assembled a case of their favorites for $159! A miracle. I'm having a simple shrimp stew tonight with Acme rustica bread (purchased next door at the bakery) and a bottle of Petite Chablis. Aaaahhhhh.... Vive la France! read more

I've been in and out of Kermit Lynch my entire life. Went in yesterday and picked up 3 bottles and it felt... and smelled ... exactly the same as it did 20 yrs ago. Staff: friendly, helpful, knowledgeable. I was greeted, asked if I needed help; then was left alone to peacefully wander the aisles; then, when I had questions (what happened to Les Pallieres Gigondas?) were able to explain, recommend, etc. I would deduct half a star because I would love tasting notes for the wines and if they had tastings -- I suppose that this is offset by staff knowledge, but some of us prefer to see, read, taste rather than ask. If you enjoy French wine, it's well worth a trip to Kermit Lynch: good wines, helpful staff, wide range of prices. read more

Your fives senses will bless you for visiting this place on a regular basis. Why settle for less? This place is ONE STOP SHOPPING: Ethiopian food? CHECK. Heading over to Pizzaiolo? CHECK. Dinner party for eight? CHECK. Engagement/Birthday celebration? CHECK! The staff here is stellar! Gotta love them. They're walking vinopedias. The prices are spectacular. Considering the mark-up restaurants and "boutique wine shops" are able to get away with. read more

See all

went in the store briefly on Saturday to check out their selection...lots of regions of France & Italy are represented but the first thing that came to mind were the prices!!! Loire reds in the $30/50 range???? wait a minute, the Loire is an area where wines whether red or white are known to be great value, a good Sancerre is or should be within $15 and a Saumur champigny or Chinon around $15/20 at the most! what I saw there was way overpriced, and not just in the Loire but Bordeaux, Rhone, Alsace, etc...I skipped the entire Burgundy section knowing after I had seen in the store that nothing was gonna be good value! its too bad because the location is great and conveniently located next to a small café/wine bar and Acmé bakery... I can picture spending hours in that part of Berkeley with endless possibilities of drinking wine, good bread and cheese...and pastries! but not at those prices. read more

I'm on their mailing list so when I saw they were having their annual Beaujolais Nouveau Party I decided to check it out. They had huge tents w/ tables & chairs for people to eat set up in their parking lot. They had some kind of sausage w/ some potatoes & sauerkraut for $15 - I thought it was small & not a good bargain. They had some tastings of their Beaujolais Nouveau wines - I tasted one, it was ok for me. B. didn't think it was anything either. He liked the champagne Grande Reserve Brut instead so we bought a few bottles. Regular price $47, on sale $39.95, two bottles was $79.90 + $6.99 tax = $86.89. Yikes. Inside the store tons of wines - ask for help & they will help you. At least one unisex bathroom to use. read more

I don't know that much about wine, but my husband is a oenophile. However Kermit Lynch is located in the perfect place for us since it is in the SAME parking lot as Acme Bread and I just happen to be a lover of all things bread related. That being said Kermit Lynch is known for having great French and Italian wines. If you are in the area you owe it to yourself to stop by and check it out. Everyone needs a bottle (or two) of burgundy. Afterwards, go to Acme and pick up a loaf of delicious bread, you can thank me later. We stopped by on a Friday afternoon and just parked on the street (metered). The parking lot is small, but the turnover seemed to be pretty quick. read more

Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant - Side of the building. - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Berkeley, California

Great selections of wine and friendly and helpful staffs here. I'm not person who pays lots of money for wine but the guy was so helpful to choose wine and I had one was great as the price. Thank you so much!!! read more

We are newer members of the Adventures Kermit Lynch wine club but have been really happy with the wines and customer service so far. We get 2 wines per month, one red and one white. There is a write up that talks about the wines, the region and the winemaker. You also get a recipe from Christopher Lee although some of the recipes are bit too complicated for me to make. ;) If you are looking to try some really interesting varietals from interesting regions in France and Italy, give Kermit Lynch a try. Wines don't have to be super expensive although Kermit Lynch also carries that as well. Customer service is also top notch. Dustin is our main contact and he is really on top of things. read more

Considering how many times I have been to Acme next door, I find it rather surprising that I had never actually been in here until last Monday. I was over at Acme bread trying to get some ham and cheese turnovers when my friend and I decided to pop into Kermit Lynch to take a quick look. I was definitely not expecting to like it as much as I did! As soon as I walked in I immediately felt like I had entered a wine cave. The atmosphere was very calming and welcoming, very similar to a lot of wineries I have been to. We started to look around at the awesome selection they had when I decided that maybe I should buy a bottle to supplement the Christmas present I had purchased for my dad. They had so many options ranging anywhere from around $10 all the way to $100+, with most wines coming from France and Italy. I'm definitely a fan of European wine, especailly from those two countries! I picked out a bottle of Cabernet with an appealing label costing around $15. Most of the wines there I had never heard of or seen, which is awesome if you're a person that loves trying new things! (aka, me!) After being rang up, they offered me a gift box along with a Kermit Lynch sticker to seal the top, completely free! Why would I even consider saying no? Side note: if you love warehouse sales and wine, you will definitely find this place appealing! read more

If you're nearby, there's no reason not to stop in....after all, the triumvirate of Cafe Fanny, Acme Bread Company and Kermit Lynch is right here in one little mini-mall. Just knocking off one star because if you don't have an idea of what you're headed in for it can be a bit daunting and I think they might be able to do some things to make all the French wines a tad more accessible/understandable to the average joe. Pretty unpretentious compared to what it might all be though. read more

The selections at Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant (KLWM) rarely disappoint. I believe this is so because KLWM is a relatively small business compared to some of the global wine importers and national distributors thus permitting Kermit Lynch to actually taste the wines that he sells. However, Lynch, Sr. is elderly now. Therefore the tasting has been delegated to his son, Anthony Lynch, and staff. But Kermit Lynch's credo of finding the little gems in carefully crafted artisan wines sets him apart from larger competitors in the industry who are more interested in the palate of the masses. Now let's peel back the layers and expose the core of the modern-day KLWM operation. Anthony Lynch is not Kermit Lynch, and the arguably bloated bureaucracy that comprises the present-day KLWM business entity is not the one man operation of the good ol' Kermit Lynch days. With that said, the current business backdrop at KLWM lends itself to charging boutique prices for wine that generally falls within the upper 80s to lower 90s range on a scale of 100. Essentially what the consumer is paying a premium price for is not wine in the superb to classic range but, rather, for the perceived value of the Kermit Lynch's brand. See, Kermit Lynch has made a name for himself in the wine industry, say, like Nike or Apple or some other successful brand, and that is why Lynch's wines, which generally fall within the very good range, fetch a premium price that one would usually expect to only pay for a superb to classic wine. Ready to peel back some more layers? It has been my experience that KLWM wines often do not represent a fantastic value. I attribute the high markup to the increased overhead caused by the expanding staff at KLWM. For example, multiple employees manage the Wine Club division when one employee with one administrative support assistance should be able to efficiently handle the job. This streamlined approach would translate to reduced operational overhead and, ultimately, a deflation of high wine markups. KLWM holds itself out as being a direct importer. That is, KLWM buys directly from the producer and then sells to the consumer. In other words, the wholesaler and retailer tiers in the traditional wine distribution model are eliminated. Under this business design, the savings of bypassing the second and third tiers in the chain of distribution should be passed on to the consumer. However, despite bypassing the middle links in the chain, KLWM still charges a boutique price (i.e., high retail markups) rather than a reduced direct importer price. For example, if a winery sells a bottle of wine to an importer for $10 dollars, then the importer may sell that bottle to a wholesaler for $20 dollars. The wholesaler may then sell that bottle to a retailer for $30 dollars. The retailer then may sell the bottle to a consumer for $40 dollars. That is the traditional high markup model for wine distribution. Conversely, a direct importer, like KLWM, that eliminates the wholesaler and retailer and the concomitant additional markup at the middle distribution levels should pass the economic savings onto the consumer. However, because Kermit Lynch's name is now a well-recognized brand in the wine industry, KLWM charges consumers a premium boutique price for wine that should be more in accord with a reduced direct importer price. In conclusion, KLWM is charging excessively for wine to realize maximum retail profit in order to cover the increased overhead of its expanding operation. This is not the Kermit Lynch value of yore. I have my doubts that the present model (charging boutique wine prices for direct imports of average to above average wine) will succeed in the long run in today's competitive wine retail industry once consumers realize that they are not getting a good bang for their buck (i.e., value) at KLWM. A good case in point is made by comparing Wine.com (also in the San Francisco area) to KLWM. Wine.com will often ship a case of wine to me for $0.01--yes, one penny-- whereas KLWM charges about $150 dollars to ship a single case of wine (twelve bottles) to my location. Both Wine.com and KLWM ship via FedEx. Another example is the award-winning K&L Wine Merchants (also in California). K&L will ship a case of wine to me for about half the price of KLWM. Additionally, K&L has a considerably larger wine selection than KLWM. Therefore, it's a no brainer on who to purchase from, and who not to purchase from, unless you just must have the KLWM trademark on your wine bottle like some fancy status symbol. In fact, at the current high boutique prices and limited selection (just a handful of wine regions in France and Italy), I cannot see many reasons to shop at KLWM. Not only does KLWM charge several dollars more than the competition on many selection, but KLWM comes in last place regarding shipping cost because it charges substantially more than Wine.com and KLWines.com. read more

Kermit is a legend in the wine world, because he imports the best wines from the best parts of Europe (in my modest opinion), and brings them to Berkeley. How nice is that? Clearly, my expectations were high and mostly met, except for the realization that the prices are definitely reflective of import costs - most bottles are $30 and up. The set-up is very basic, with rows of wines displayed in boxes. It seems that their customers like to buy by the case, so they don't need to do much unpacking. The selection is heavily French, with a bit of Italian too. Truthfully, the shopping experience here is better suited for wine nerds who can decode the confusing French wine labels (they are labeled by appellation, not varietal, so you'll need to know which grapes are grown in which region). Of course, there are cork dorks on staff who can help, but that can turn into a passionate schpeel you may not be bargaining for. They throw amazing BBQ & wine parties, which I've only stumbled upon. Surely there must be a way to get invited to these things, but I haven't figured it out. Euro wines are worth the splurge and Kermit has made a living off that fact. Visit him! read more

Dustin you helped. Now I know in LA where to get Kermit Lynch wines when I need it. After reading Kermit Lynch's "Adventure on the Wine Route", I consider kind of a pilgrimage to see what his entire portfolio offer today. Except you'd be lucky to get half of his selection in this flagship, Lynch's one (and only) store. It is a small space. There is nothing adorable or remotely grand about this store. The wines literally are still in their shipping boxes. I feel like after 40 years being successful in a business, there will be a half-assed attempt to incorporate the cultural grandeur of the areas Lynch imports from, or at the very least, a fan service for, dare I say, us. The long-suffering wine enthusiasts are bounced from one clinical austere wine store from another. Europe is Baroque--pointlessly excessive, gilded to the hilt from materials of brutalized colonies--that is the kind of wine store that wine people in 'mUrica deserve. Nope, there are sidewalks newsstands that sell Hustlers in San Francisco with more architectural panache than this place. Lynch's red wines surprisingly sucks. That 'Irefrigeraytwheniship' stuff in his book? That's what drew me to his wines, but alas, ugh. The white wines though are phenomenal, yes, even the sylvaners. I bought my most expensive wine here, and shit, that thing sucked. It was a Burgundy they shouldn't be selling, or at least warn buyers that these goddamn vintages go into hibernation (go dumb) and should only drink at a set period of time. read more

Incredible selection, it's all good. Helpful staff too, they have great tasting notes and advise for whatever you're looking for. Prices are reasonable too. read more

He imports a stellar portfolio of wines. His life's work is one of the best stories in the industry -- and wine and the culture of wine in this country would not be the same without his immense contributions. The selection is awesome -- and though I am on the other coast, the customer service is always friendly and attentive. Any shipment from Kermit Lynch is always a treasure. A vintage would not be a vintage without a shipment from Kermit Lynch. Essential. As Eric Asimov noted in his profile of Lynch: His influence can be seen almost any time you go into a good wine shop and spot people looking at the labels of wines to check the importer. Instead of memorizing esoterica about producers, regions and vineyards, these canny consumers learned that finding an importer they can trust is a reliable navigational tool. Nowadays, many names they follow are those of the spiritual descendants of Mr. Lynch. If he had been only an importer, Mr. Lynch would have left a significant legacy. With little company, he traveled the back roads of France, seeking esoteric producers whose wines were fresh, delicious and unaffected by the industrialization shaping the post-World War II wine industry. The little-known names he turned up are now a pantheon of French country wines: Henri Jayer, Raveneau, Coche-Dury and Hubert de Montille in Burgundy; J. L. Chave, Auguste Clape, Thierry Allemand and Vieux Télégraphe in the Rhone; Didier Dagueneau in Pouilly-Fumé; Charles Joguet in Chinon; and Domaine Tempier in Bandol. read more

Did someone say wine??? If you are looking for an amazing selection of wine, especially French, Italian, German, this is the place. We walked out of their with 6 French roses, a couple of DOCG Chianti bottles, and lots of Bordeauxs. Helpful staff with great recommendations. read more