Oh. my. god. I think I just died and woke up in a vat of scarlet salvation. August West wine is…read morea total knock out. I discovered them (strangely enough) at a wine convention in Chicago called 'Pinot Days' where all of California's best pinot makers were showcasing for local Chicago resturants and winos. Even amongst all the other delicious offerings (lets just say none of the bottles there sold for less than $40) they were a total stand out. Now, just a little background: If I understand it correctly, the August West label has two vineyards, one in the Santa Lucia Highlands called Rosella's Vineyard, the other called Graham vineyard located in the Russia River Valley. Both vineyards work with wine make Ed Kurtzman. Both rule. I ended up falling head over heals with the '06 Rosella's (though just to reiterate, both were incredible). The bottle I had is not even available for sale until Feb of '08! Can't wait... Me and my sweetie have plans to visit the winery but until then, I've discovered you can order it up in some restaurants and from local wine merchants, too. I got this from the website: Ame, Amphora Wine Merchant, Ana Mandara, Blackwell's Wines & Spirits, Boulevard, Campton Place, Gary Danko. Farallon, Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant, Fifth Floor, Hawthorne Lane, Jack Falstaff, Jardiniere, Masa's, Michael Mina, Myth, Napa Valley Winery Exchange, Postrio, Plump Jack Cafe, Rubicon, Vinfolio, XYZ. I'll post an update when I visit. How come no one told me about them sooner?

Ed Kurtzman is the winemaker/proprietor at August West Wines, one of the few (and one of the best)…read moreurban wineries in San Francisco. Ed's other label, also made here, is Sandler Wines, and he is consulting winemaker for several other labels produced in his winery. He's been at this for a while, and makes some of the nicest Pinot Noirs around - mostly from Russian River and SLH and other coastal fruit and all made with restraint and balance. This place is very casual - call ahead for an appointment. Highly recommended.

Family Winemakers of California has moved out of Fort Mason Center!…read moreThis year (2015) FWC event on August 16 will be held in the beautiful, historic Palace Hotel on Market Street in downtown San Francisco close to the Montgomery Street BART/Metro. Check out my review for the Palace hotel...

This was the 23rd Annual Family Winemakers of California's San Francisco Tasting held at the…read moreFestival Pavilion at Fort Mason. The tasting event focuses on small wineries that produce less than 5,000 cases with limited market outreach and are represented by family workers. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/family-winemakers-san-francisco-2?select=cTd6MeDJ0V1Jsls8Nk1zZA#CMleKOUMYjCcF_B79S3YVw) Upon entering, you are given a guide which lists the varietals and the wineries that pouring them and a list of all the wineries and information about them and the wines they will be pouring for the event. Then off you go to enjoy the wines from the 215+ wineries at the event. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/family-winemakers-san-francisco-2?select=cTd6MeDJ0V1Jsls8Nk1zZA#7kuC-CmfV9Btx0fY_9rMcw) (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/family-winemakers-san-francisco-2?select=cTd6MeDJ0V1Jsls8Nk1zZA#cTd6MeDJ0V1Jsls8Nk1zZA) (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/family-winemakers-san-francisco-2?select=cTd6MeDJ0V1Jsls8Nk1zZA#wEP8WJsjezD2eNuppcbthg) There are stations in the middle and back of the pavilion where there are bread and cheese available for you to enjoy with your wine. Besides the wineries, there were a couple of food purveyors present, Bakers of Paris serving samples of their delicious French, Brioche and morning buns and bakery items from Rustic Bakery. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/family-winemakers-san-francisco-2?select=cTd6MeDJ0V1Jsls8Nk1zZA#cj9EaWdXZFzTujRyoees3Q) (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/family-winemakers-san-francisco-2?select=cTd6MeDJ0V1Jsls8Nk1zZA#xloqcGnLfIr5tmtU9MAYaQ) (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/family-winemakers-san-francisco-2?select=cTd6MeDJ0V1Jsls8Nk1zZA#T7FP2jkxWSQGQK_snSQg0w) Before the Grand Tasting opened to the general public at 3pm, the trade and media tasting was held from 1 - 3pm. The event ended at 6pm. Overall, a nice event showcasing the small wineries of California.

The Rhone Rangers are "America's leading non-profit, educational organization dedicated to…read morepromoting American Rhone varietal wines." This means the reds are primarily Syrah, Grenache & Mourvedre and the whites are primarily Viognier, Marsanne & Roussanne. There a few other varietals mixed in there as well. It was a great event. Over 100 wineries from all over California were represented as well as wineries from Washington, Oregon & Idaho. All were only pouring Rhone styled wines even if they also produce non-Rhone wines as well. There were also numerous food vendors & caterers giving away free samples as well as free Fiji water. Highlights for me included: Copain (their Syrahs were incredible), Core, Edward Sellers (I had visited their tasting room in Paso Robles in the fall & loved their wines and their new Spring releases wowed me just as much -- http://www.yelp.com/biz/edward-sellers-vineyards-and-wines-paso-robles#hrid:Xr9rNJPjejlgV-oYs2-Vgw), Io Wines (I loved their Upper Bench Syrah), Qupe, Red Car's Speakeasy Syrah was awesome, Summerland, Summerwood, Terre Rouge (their 'Enigma' and Mourvedre in particular), Unti & Villa Creek. Their were dozens more to try but one has to edit at an event like this! It was great to get to try so many great wines and meet the great people behind them all. Check out www.rhonerangers.org for other events!

Very fun, great food, good wine, nice people. I really enjoyed it and will be going to the one in…read moreLA in June and November in Soho. :)

We love Sam and his family. They've been in our community since I was a kid and ever encounter is…read morehandled with care. They've got what you need. Just talk to the man in charge

Sam's the best! Always helpful, open when we need quick urgent things. Hope they stay in business w…read moreall the renovations of st Francis square

5***** Want some booze?, this place is for you…read more Very good liquor store. That have all kinds of liquor and beers in very affordable prices than nearby stores. Must visit, friendly and nice people.

Been coming here for years but they recently expanded and have a good selection of different beers…read moreor beverages. The guy that works here is always so nice and friendly.

I have wanted to try Bill's fruit wines for months but he has been in the middle of a move and does…read morenot have regular tasting hours. So when I saw he was at the EB Passport event and pouring inside Two Mile we had to make a stop. Specializing in tropical fruit and dessert wines puts many people off but everyone should really give him a try. His wines are done well, very well and they are oh so good. We started with Mango Wine. This is made with 100% mango. It smelled sugary sweet but it was crisp and refreshing and went down smooth and easy. The Mango dessert wine followed. It had the same sugary sweet smell and this time, it tasted that way. The persimmon wine was next and was the same and the mango wine, delicious! We finished with his signature Chocolate Dessert wine. It had a chocolate nose. It tasted like chocolate wine. Summer is around the corner. Stock up with Adams Point Wine for the next heat wave. You'll thank me later.

I recently had the opportunity to try various fruit wines, but passed, so I was happy to have the…read moreopportunity to try this at the recent east bay passport event. I generally adore stickies and am thrilled when I find a good local one - sadly, that was not the case here. To be fair, all I tried was the persimmon sweet wine and the mango wine and I believe they're known for the chocolate wine. After trying the two listed above, I really didn't want to try anything else. The mango wine was reminiscent of a rancid mango snapple and the persimmon wine had a distressing turpentine top note. Based on how much I "enjoyed" the wine, I'd give them a single star, but I like the idea of local wineries, so an extra star for that.

Well, a great experience, had little workers who must have done over time, and was made by only one…read moreman! Had two toilets, however neither were marked with gender specific signs. Had some amazing carpets also! Some red, some pink and some purple. I guess the only bad side was that a minor was able to invest, also it got suicide bombed twice and cost the lives of two. The owners also pushed two customers in a pit and ran with all the stock. One got killed, and the other escaped. Amazing restaurant and one I would love to see open back up!

The couple here is super nice! There's a reason why they have such high rating - because they are…read morea honest couple making a honest living. Unlike the pizza store down the block. If you want respect come here! Recommend highly because they don't play games just business!

First, sort these reviews by date. Nothing new is good. I pretty much never write negative reviews…read more I take feedback to managers or owners. But this place has gotten so bad over the past couple of years, it's time. The people who staff this store couldn't care less about customers. They ignore you when you go in, they (sometimes) blast music really loud so you can't hear what they say IF they talk to you. The things they stock have dwindled to almost nothing but snacks and drinks. Instead of shelving they now have cardboard box "shelves" for things in one part of the store. The last time I was there I put something on the counter and was waiting to be helped and the person just kept stocking the shelf. He was the ONLY person working, looked at me when I came in but didn't say anything, and then turned his back and kept fussing with boxes. I could have taken something and walked right out the door. Not that I ever would do that but it's THAT unhelpful. Then when he finally slowly sauntered over he pointed to a different spot on the counter for check out. 3 feet away. Just go behind the counter and grab the item and move it where you can check it out. I walked out. I "get" that it's hard to find good retail help but the key word is SERVICE. I have never heard anyone say thank you after a purchase, a hello when one comes in. At best one gets a shrug. I was looking for a specific beverage for cooking once and I got a point from the counter. Another time I needed ice and I asked them to help grab them out of the freezer (I needed multiple) and it was as if I asked them to stand on their head. I have lived in the n'hood for more than 10 years and used to go here to pick up a beverage here or there and always threw in other things. Now I go to anywhere else. I tried again today and was reminded just how OUT of TOUCH this place is with what it means to have basic manners and the simplest customer service. The owners need to do a better job of learning about how to run a retail store or sell it to someone who does. There's a perfectly good convenience store a few blocks west and Gus's has plenty of beer and wine. Stay away from this place until they do better. How will you know? If you walk in and they don't look at you or say hello and stay on their phone just turn around and walk out. If they are trying, then see how it goes and come back to Yelp and share it's better. I wish it would be! I miss the former owners and people who used to work there who at least acted like they gave a #!@&. I'd give this zero stars for multiple visits over more than 2 years.