Amazing place. Very comfy, elegant, and the owner is an amazing person that understands a lot about…read morewine and has amazing recommendations. You definitely need to come and have a good end of the day relaxing with good wine.

"You telling me that wine is better than Pepsi? Huh, no way wine is better than Pepsi." - George…read moreCostanza, Seinfeld da Scene: Yelped them for pre-dinner spot. Kinda hidden on a corner right off University & 5th; make the right onto 6th & scoot around to park on 5th or University. They buzz you in, best to make a res., but seems like walk-ins are ok. Very modern, yet welcoming feel, tables spaced well for intimate encounters and a bar with Hightop seating. da Grub & Libation: I had res. for a buddy & I and belly up to the bar; they offered a table, but we're bar flies by nature. Very diverse wines by the glass & bottle so we had 4 different glasses w/ a modest charcuterie plate. da Service: Excellent, warm, friendly and genuinely so. I look forward to my next visit, whether it's for a contemplative glass in solitude or with the wife on a pre-dinner excursion. Hidden Gem, find them and enjoy!

Now that I have a lot more experience with Noria, I wanted to update my review. We've visited many…read moretimes and joined the wine club as well. First, these are the nicest people in the wine business. Warm and gracious and extremely knowledgable about the wine and vineyards. When we first qwnt to Noria, it was mostly superb Pinots and Chardonnay. Since, they've added a wonderful Gewürztraminer and a bomb Sauvignon Blanc as well. These are finely crafted wines from some of the best vineyards in Sonoma and beyond (no, they don't have rows of vines in Berkeley) and the bang for the buck is off the charts. I'm mostly a red drinker and only enjoy Pinots occasionally and Noria was my go-to. The addition of more white wines (and rosé) combined with my move to a warmer climate have made Noria indespensible for me. Absolutely check them out. Do yourself a favor and start at Noria, go across the street to Broc Cellars and then Donkey and Goat for a perfect wine tasting day right in Berkeley.

Nestled in an unexpected location, Noria Wines, a Japanese-owned winery, is a true hidden gem that…read moresurpasses all expectations. From its modest façade, you'd never guess the incredible wine that awaits within. Stepping inside, I was greeted with a warm and inviting atmosphere that harmoniously blends Japanese elegance with classic winery charm. The selection of wines is nothing short of impressive, offering a diverse range that caters to both red and white wine lovers. Each wine I sampled showcased unique flavors and a refined balance that spoke volumes! The barrel room and outdoor seating area made the winery cozy and comfortable! Definitely will be returning to try out more of their wines

Love love Hammerling! They are located in the Berkeley or Gilman wine block, an area with several…read morewineries. They are known for their California Sparkling wines. My first visit was for their "Thirst Trap" sparkling wine tasting. It is a very cute and comfy and spacious tasting room with seating inside and outside. They also partner with a few wineries in the area for1st Fridays, the perfect time to try wines and food from their vendors. This spot is on my list for wine tasting in Berkeley!

Who knew Berkeley had some nice wineries?! Parking isn't too bad and there are wineries close by…read moreyou can walk to. I only stopped by here for a glass but the ambiance was really cute. Their outdoor seating is perfect for a nice sunny day. They share walls with Donkey & Goat which is perfect for a nice wine hop. They do have different food vendors too, so be sure to check out their IG to see what's on the menu. Their wine was a pleasant surprise and very pretty colors! I admired their wine label designs too. Would probably buy a bottle just for the look haha. Can't wait to come back here again and try more of their wines. And maybe eat somewhere beforehand or afterwards.

Very nice staff, fun location with a really nice outdoor seating area, interesting wines!…read more We didn't try any of the snacks, but they had some that we might try next time. We did teo flights of wine and they were very light and crisp. The staff was super nice and walked us through the wine selections and helped us to an outside seating area where we got to enjoy the sunshine. The outdoor seating area looks to be great for groups as it's large and covered!

Great wine tasting service! Alex was very patient with my indecision lol!…read moreWe selected tasting the Thanksgiving table, $35 And Fox Hill harvest $30 Loved the 2014 Sunshine Rosato! Since it was a cold night we finished our night with hot tea Genamaicha

A little urban winery with back and front patios. They offer really unique and well-produced wine…read more Came for a break between jobs near by and enjoyed two glasses of the Greco Bianco. This was s totally new varietal for me and its so unique with beautiful color. They do offer little snacks but its more of a curation of prepackaged things that they them bring to you to open and enjoy vs a kitchen where they're producing the food themselves. Prices a little steep but I think thats just bay area things....

We used to like this place enough that we were actually members for several years, but definitely…read morenot anymore. The biggest reason is how extremely unwelcoming most of the staff are. We regularly felt ignored, talked down to, or just uncomfortable. We also got repeatedly over charged for things and would have to get it fixed. We went back for an event today for the first time in 5 or 6 months, and were reminded of why we stopped all over again. We got 2 glasses and the pours were tiny, and we got over charged TWICE. Even after catching it the first time, they messed it up a 2nd time that we noticed once we saw the emailed receipt. I just can't go back counting on an unpleasant or frustrating experience almost every time at this point.

Cute little spot and delicious, unique wine! The winemaker poured our tasting and was very friendly…read moreand knowledgeable. Dog-friendly and relaxed!

A small winery, with a cozy tasting experience. This spot is cool because you get to sit where the…read morewine is made and interact directly with the owner who makes the wine himself. All the wines were delightful and would be worthwhile visiting for again :)

Had the Mensch wine last night. The red was excellent. I don't drink much white wine but I had…read moresome and it was quite drinkable. If looking for a wine for a Jewish holiday I think this fits the bill

We highly recommend a tasting experience at Covenant Winery in Berkeley. The Morgan family has a…read moreheartwarming approach to making wine, coupled with years of experience and vast knowledge of the science as well as the art of producing a truly great product. We'll be going back again!

Attempted to call as choice one to visit this business the the # located on the yelp…read more.. I call apparently unaware that I am reaching someone's personal phone. I had to ask probing questions about if this phone # is affiliated to this business because the person on the other end seemed to not know what I was talking about. Found out it's the "owner" and u must visit by appointment. The add on yelp is very misleading and left a foul taste speaking to the owner that seemed completely unaware that this # was listed for his business on yelp.

This place is an incredible find. A friend of a friend recommended this place. The wine tasting and…read morepaired with some delicious za. We truly enjoyed both their whites and red and even bottle of sauv blanc to enjoy at home. Can't wait to come back, though they only are open on weekends.

What an amazing tasting experience!…read more The tasting room requires a reservation. I went there with my sister on a Sunday afternoon for their shopping experience (no rsvp required) and was greeted by Vivienne. Luckily for us, she let us know they still had two spots available for the tasting experience if we were interested and we went for it. The first part is watching the video of the sake making process. Not only was it interesting to learn about the process, but I didn't think i would enjoy the soundtrack to the video as well. The tasting experience itself was very educational and informative. They have a tasting menu you can choose for your sake flight experience and also individual tasting. I don't usually drink alcohol so I had a "non drinker" placard on my table, but it did not stop me from taking some sips from my sister's sake flight. I ended up trying the Mio sparkling sake and the Nigori Sake in White Peach -- both are very sweet like a dessert drink. I also learned why Berkeley was the ideal location for Takara Sake to have their factory, and let's just say the Bay Area is blessed with good weather, good water, and good food. We also got lucky to try one of the sake (forgot which one) they usually do not sell outside of their factory! Afterwards, we went to the museum to explore and to see the actual tools used in the sake making process. We did not see the silos though, so we might need a repeat visit. Overall ambiance is very nice. Exudes calmness with Japanese architecture designs. The tasting room cost can be quite pricey especially when you start adding individual tasting to the flight tasting. They do sell sake (duh) so if you tried one you like, it can be convenient for you to get it there. If you are in Berkeley and are wondering where else to explore, definitely check this place if you like sake and appreciate the art and science that goes into making them!

Amazing tasting experience with Vivienne!…read more She's so enthusiastic about sake, I enjoyed hearing her talk about each sake. What a gem of a woman! We opted for the daiginjo tasting menu- they newly refreshed their tasting offerings to offer more tiers to choose from. We got lucky and tried their Nama Nama sake in house - this is a sake that's so fresh from the brewery it's brought in unbottled to the tasting room and they don't sell it anywhere else outside of the tasting room. Would come back to do another tasting or get a pour here. This experience was so great- I loved how quiet the tasting room was and the large art mobiles in the tasting room.

I went to a party at the winery in December, 2009 at which Rob (the vintner) released some of his…read morerecent wines. His attention to detail and love of enology (wine making) shows. He sources his grapes from all over, and at worst, the wines are 'quaffable' (a pretentious word, I know, but applicable). At best, the wines are getting to the point of being world class. His recent blackberry port is nuanced and delightful, while the 2007 Petite Sirah is a $30-50 bottle of wine which he happens to sell for $12...The review by Ron R. got it exactly right. The balance of tannins/acidity and fruit bouquet is so perfect I don't even know how to describe it.

Bob Boggs is a small winery in the Tannery area of 4th St. Very talented at wine making. I am a…read morefan of his pinot noir.