lovely spot, smart and friendly staff, they turned me onto a wonderful, obscure biodynamic, woman made red wine at a great price, I liked it so much. I bought three bottles, will definitely come again. read more

Warm, approachable staff and a wonderful (sometime eclectic) selection of wines from all over the world. In-store tastings most Thursday afternoons for a nominal fee. Highly recommend! read more

Fantastic wine shop. We went here to buy all the wines we tried on the Elmwood Wine Walk! My goodness- what an amazing store. What interesting and affordable wines!! We love Vinho verde from Portugal- and we tries a superb one on our wine walk. Also loved the small producers this place carries! I can't wait to go back. We bought several delicious wines I can't wait to drink. read more

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The wines are all hand picked and are delicious. The wine club is a great value as well. Love the comedy shows they do

Vintage Berkeley is a step up from buying wines from Whole Foods, Cost plus, BevMo. Vintage, like K & L, are wine merchants, specializing in sourcing unique, small lot wines. of course, pricing is higher. buys: Selva Della Rocca, 2016 rose wine (11) -imported Italian wine, 12.5% alc very smooth, no harshness goes good with veggies, seafood, etc. i'm told wine notes: -not fascinated with high end wines -chardonnay, cabernet sav are no no's -prefer merlot, pinot noir, riesling, sauvingnon blanc.... mid range pricing.... -many wines here near 20ish. read more

Un-pretentious, great value, amazing selection. Most options are less than ~$30. Exactly what you want in a neighborhood wine shop!

A little expensive compared to your typical liquor store or supermarket wine aisle but you can't really go wrong here. Knowledgeable staff who are happy to help and recommend wines and some of the most unique bottles you'll find in one place. I've been here three times and each time have thoroughly enjoyed what I've walked away (with the exception of one bottle which, somewhat unfortunately, my floor got to enjoy). Also, don't forget the praise you'll get from whomever you share your wine with :). read more

Dan Polsby and the team at Vintage Berkeley take such good care of our team and go above and beyond time after time! We have hosted three virtual wine tasting events for our team at Practus, LLP, a virtual law firm. We have 50 attorneys and staff spread all over the U.S. and Dan has managed every part of our event seamlessly from helping to make fantastic wine selections to securing wonderful speakers from the different vineyards. He has done a great job locating hard-to-find Argentinian wine and shipping it to our team. Even the wine grower himself was impressed that Dan was able to find 50 bottles of his wine for a U.S. event! And then he goes above and beyond, by sending out interesting bios, backstories, factoids about the wine, the grapes, the soil, the region, the process, so we are all well informed before our events and can make the most of our time with the representatives from each vineyard. In short, Dan is the man, and I highly recommend Vintage Berkeley for not only personal wine selections, but company events, too! read more

Gayle was making a spicy chicken stew one night and we needed a nice wine for our meal. We stopped in (on the way back from our movie) and had a fun time looking over a very nice selection of wines under $25 and chatting with who was probably one of the owners. We got some great advice. We ended up with a nice bottle of Argentinian Chardonnay and one very tasty sparkling wine that went really well with our dinner. And the total bill was only ~$20. And both wines (over 2 meals including leftovers) went really well Gayle's very delicious and healthy dish. This is one of 3 stores that are owned by the same folks. I have shopped at their Solano Cellars (Albany) location for years and they also have an attractive place within the old PG&E Pump House on Vine in Berkeley (across from the original Peet's). Vintage Berkeley has done a nice job with this space, although I really do miss the old hardware store that used to be in this building. There also seems to be an embarrassment of riches regarding wine shops these days. Farmstead in Alameda and Montclair also has a great selection of wines and great service. read more

If tasked with bringing wine to a dinner party, let Vintage Berkeley be your tastemaker. I had received a missive from the host that said we were having lamb and to bring something appropriate. I went to text my oenophile friend for a recommendation but my phone was on the fritz. Eff technology. Was picked up by another guest who recommended VB, and he stepped on the gas and blew two red lights to get there before closing at eight o'clock on a Saturday night. Not my idea. I ran in while Basil the maniac circled the block, and had just made it in time. I told the shopkeeper of our exploits and he chuckled and said next time to just call ahead and he'll stay open for us. He recommended a rioja to be paired with the lamb, and it was perfect and only $20. Went back yesterday for a less rushed visit, and saw that most wines are under $25, and that the shop has a great diversity of wines, so not only are France, Italy, and California represented, but South American, Spanish, South African, and Slovenian wines are on the scene too. They also offer in-store wine tastings, so perhaps while us east bayers are impatiently awaiting a CM to arrive on a chariot and entertain us, we can converge here and be orphans together! read more

Vintage Berkeley - Elmwood - redefines bubble bath - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Berkeley, California

5 stars for their "$5 for 5" wine tastings! As a complete wine airhead, I was slightly nervous that some hoity-toity workers would take one glance at me (and my t-shirt and shorts), and cast judgement, noses upturned. But there was none of that nonsense here. This place is certainly classy, but also casual, and the staff was patient with me and all of my (progressively less coherent) questions. == Wine Tastings (Thursdays, 5 for $5) == Journey all the way to the back, beyond the "no kids under 21" sign, and your tasting adventure will begin. A handsome guy will greet you, ask for your IDs, and then present a series of wines accompanied by some fun facts about the alcohol you're drinking. There's no pressure to finish any wines, and if you really liked a particular wine, staff is happy to pour you a second glass (if there is any left over!) Volume-wise, all 5 wines combined would easily amount to more than a glass of wine. Taste-wise, I found 2 loves (pictured), 2 likes, and 1 hate (pictured). Overall, I walked away with a greater knowledge of wine than when I entered :) They run through different wines each week. Sometimes there's a theme, sometimes there isn't, but either way you'll bound to refine your wine palette. == Layout & Other Remarks == This place is spacious and beautiful, with a layout reminiscent of upscale clothing boutiques. They hold an interesting variety of affordable wines, prices typically hovering around $15-$30. I'll definitely be coming back and will be purchasing bottles in the future! Extra note: The place also has excellent maps summarizing locational origins for certain wine types. They also possess an enchanting periodic table-esque chat detailing which grapes result in which wines. The organizational nerd in me cried tears of joy. read more

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Really great little shop to pick up wine for a dinner party (or to have at home :)). The employees are knowledgeable about the different wines and always offer to make recommendations based on whatever you're looking for. I think they also offer tastings on certain nights! Note that this wine shop is a bit on the pricier end (the least expensive wine is maybe $15?) but it's also really convenient if you're in the area and don't feel like going to a grocery or liquor store. read more

I love this wine shop so much that I no longer even know how to shop for wine anywhere else! This is the perfect wine shop for when you want to buy wine in the $15+ range for any occasion. They have a huge selection of imported and domestic wines ranging from the more traditional to the more unique. While the shop has tasting notes on all their bottles that make it much easier to shop for wine yourself without memorizing regional varieties and years, the real move is to walk straight up to one of the workers and describe what you want. Everyone who works here is DEEPLY knowledgable about wines, genuinely excited to share recommendations, and super unpretentious about finding you the right bottle for the day. I've walked up with the whole spectrum of 'we're doing a treat yourself miso cod today, so what are your more interesting bottles in the $30-40 range' (went with this french white with sesame notes and a super full bodied, buttery white), to 'it's a cheeseboard pizza kinda day, so something simple in the $15-20 range' (went with a 'salty' volcanic soil Italian white), to 'tbh, I'm just planning to get wine tipsy this afternoon, but in a classy kinda way so what are your cheaper reds' (went some simple, fruity red). I just walked through the shop with the task of finding a ~$20 bottle to pair with the ragu and papardelle that a friend is making tonight and was recommended a more traditional Chianti with deeper cherry and spice notes or a lighter, more modern biodynamic red with brighter fruit notes (went with the Chianti). This shop has become the only place where I'll spend a decent bit of money on wine because EVERY SINGLE recommendation I've ever got has been perfect in ways that have changed the way that I think of drinking wine. And every single interaction that I've had with any of the folks who work here has been super fun. The only downside of this shop is that it'll make you snobbier about the wine that you drink. But that's what being old is for anyway, so go buy some wine here! read more

Came in looking for a Vinho Verde but they were out! The gentleman recommended me a Txakolina (Basque Country) that was a very similar profile to a Vinho Verde. Also, I was so used to getting spritzy Vinho Verde's that he informed me there are different kinds! Vinho Verde is just the region, but there are different kinds of wine (not just the slightly effervescent kind I'm accustomed to). Great help and great knowledge and he kept it fun too! read more

After hitting the Basic Bird store across the street, I saw the word wine and just had to come in here to see what it was all about. Judging by all the rave reviews, this place appears to have quite a following which I think is wonderful. Sadly, this place just did't do it for me. It is different from any other wine store I've been to. Instead of racks of wine and a bunch of cases stacked on the floor like most wine stores, Vintage Berkeley has a fairly empty floor and a line of wines against both wall...quite spartan and empty looking in comparison. Also, it has been a long time since I walked into a wine store and had a weird feeling that I didn't recognize any of the wines. The selection of wines was unusual, to say the least. That's not to say that the wines aren't good, they might be fantastic, but their selection just didn't do it for me. To be kind, I could say that they have a selection of unique, small production, boutique wines. However, when all is said and done, the selection just looked oddball to me and I didn't find anything that looked appealing. One of the workers was nice and very helpful though and it was nice to hear that everything in the main room, except for the little back tasting area (higher end wines), was $25 or less. Then again, after looking at the wines, I understood why. Never have I seen a wine store with so many oddball labels and also so many screw caps. I know it's no fault of the wine stores and that there is a worldwide cork shortage (there really is), but hard as I try, I just can't get used to the screw caps. I realize that the screw cap is a superior closure, but where is the ceremony...where is the romance? I admit it, I'm just a hopeless romantic...and I prefer cork. Even a cork substitute will do if they can come up with something good. I'm not sure, but I think Etude winery even had a cool glass cork on one of their wines. I think the screw cap debate is like LED wrist watches and digital speedometers in cars. The technology is superior and has existed for decades, but people still prefer conventional watches and also a real needle and number speedo and tach in their sports cars. Brand new Rolls Royces and Aston Martons have a conventional analog clock in the dash, not digital. Superior technology exists, but sometimes, people just prefer the old way. Whenever I open a bottle with a screw cap at home (most often Australian since most of them have now converted over), I often joke about the ceremonial uncorking as I twist it off. So anticlimactic! Anyway, after looking at all the quirky wine labels there, I saw a label that comforted me like an old friend and made me smile...Kistler! Okay, now we're talking...that's more to my liking. Maybe there's some hope yet. Will have to go back in the future and see how good their wines really are. My review is actually three stars, but I'll up it a star since I haven't tried any of their eclectic selections yet and I believe we should support our local businesses. We were the only customers in there though and every time I've walked by, they've been empty. Hope they can survive in this economy. read more

Much of traditional wine culture is comprised of bloated bags of wind who regurgitate Parker, Enthusiast or Spectator as if it were her/his own. It's a sham and a shame... Class-ist pompousity at it's worst. It doesn't have to be that way. Vintage Berkeley=Vin Populi The selections are well chosen, the store is well laid out and the staff enthusiastic. Whether you are on your way to the Wood Tavern or need something to pair with popcorn at the Elmwood Theater, Vintage Berkeley is a good stop. Support them. read more

so why would this place be deserving of 5 stars? Let's see, 1. free daily wine tastings 2. over 100 wines under $25 3. descriptions of what you will be tasting in each bottle 4. friendly, knowledgeable, helpful staff 5. displays wine from the little guy Thanks to Hanna(h) for all the suggestions and information she provided. read more

It's been a while since I've lived in Berkeley, but I stopped in the other day and was reminded of just how much I miss this place! The wines are great, and quite affordable since most everything in the shop is less than $25 a bottle. And they're hand selected from often small production wineries. Each bottle usually has a fun description of the wine, and they have daily tastings for free. It's uncluttered and open, and these guys really know what they're talking about. This location is one of three and each place has their own personality and usually they stock different things, so be sure to check them out! read more

I know little to nothing about wine, viticulture or etiquette (nothing is more accurate- any major celebration calls for Korbel & orange juice in Dollar Tree wine glasses) but Vintage Berkeley makes me wish that I knew a little. :) This little wine shop is gorgeously stripped down to the basics. The only notable decoration? A vintage clawfoot bathtub, filled with, what else? bottles of wine. VB feels irreverent and pithy, cute and yet, a little smug. But what wine shop (other than your wayside liquormart) isn't smug? I like how each bottle comes with a little description tag, extolling the flavor, region and pairing perfect for its particular taste. So helpful, so personable. The truth is, VB snagged me the moment the words "Have a glass of champagne?" left the shopkeeper's mouth one special day. I don't remember the occasion, but I remember thinking "Yes, I will have a (free) glass of champagne! (Love.)" And I came back. The last time I visited, the staff left me to browse as I wished. Very low-key, but I rather hoped for an offer of help (maybe a quick tutorial?) as I cluelessly browsed through syrah, rosé, cabernet sauvignon, sauvignon blanc... etc. It was a hard decision for someone like me, who is easily lured in by bottle artistry and clever pricing. (Yes...I'm a total putz for marketing.) I ended up vying for the "safe" buy- a $10 bottle of Targovishte Sauvignon Blanc that promised notes of "lychee, green melon, gooseberry and asparagus, grassy and herbaceous, with a green tea finish!" Yeah... not so much. But not shabby either. It had a very dry, crisp taste, grassy, not too acidic. (I suppose you could stretch it and call the crisp mouthfeel a "green tea finish" haha.) As recomended by the VB tag, I had it with curry and other "Asian foods." And it was good. I will be back here to buy presents for family and friends! With most wines under $25, Vintage Berkeley is fairly affordable. Bottom Line: Why can't supermarkets be like this? I imagine the tagged food descriptions would be pretty fun. ("Heinz ketchup. Notes of sour tomato candy. Pairs well with Oscar Meyer weiners & buns.) read more

Sunday afternoon... strolling in to this wine shop. Not looking for anything in particular. The owner was super friendly and asked if we were looking for anything in particular. We weren't really... but then I hit the "key" word and asked if he had any suggestions for a good bottle and reasonably priced Barolo. Owner was super stoked and recommended me a bottle to try... since hubby has never tried Barolo before I thought I'd get a bottle. read more

Walking into specialty wine shops/sections often I'm intimidated and afraid of being looked at by the person who's working. Will they immediately know I'm not a wine connossieur? WIll they laugh at me if I ask silly, novice questions? Should I just leave?? Aghh!!! Phew. Right upon walking in I knew I'd be all good. There are helpful, witty descriptions of every bottle of wine they sell (makes for some fun while wine shopping!) and the person who was working (didn't catch his name, damn) was awesome. They do free , random tastings every weekday from 3-7 -- we came after 7, and homeboy offered us to taste anyway. All the wines are reasonably priced (many are cheaper than the wineries sell them -- most between $10 and $25 a bottle). Def coming back for some tasting action. read more

Stopped in yesterday in the early evening...had been walking College from Rockridge and passed by the store noticing it's organized, easy to scan set up. Bottles are organized by grape and then geography and the left half of the store is red, the right, white. Old world in the front of the store, new world in the back. All wines under $25, special section for $25+ in the way-back. I always pop into wine shops when I'm away from home to see what we might not get on import in Boston. My favorite thing in the world is to find unusual (esoteric, yes) varietals from my fave wine producing country, Italia. I didn't get this but I did pick up a bottle from Slovenia that sounded interesting (white) and a light bodied German red. I can't tell you the last time I bought a German wine. I'm excited to try them. The shop keeper was a friendly guy who recognized I had either worked in the trade or knew what I was 'scanning for.' He gave me a recommendation to another shop (Paul Marcus) indicating that my Italophile wine tendencies would be well addressed in that particular shop. He knew his stuff and wans't a snob about it. Love it! I'd definately go back to this place. Especially if I were in a hurry to get something...the amount of stock and the way it's displayed makes it easy to find what you may be looking for. Had been to "Vino" in Rockridge earlier and had an experience that PALES...not very knowledgable about stock or Italian regions...to be fair there was a little drama going on in the background involving a credit card machine that wasn't functioning properly...store attendants were distracted because of this I'm sure. I'd try Vino again though. So much of retail can vary and the 7 mins I was in the store may be a unique 7 minutes of time. read more

Woo. Freakin Hoo. I love this wine store. I've been allergic to certain wines lately and I was shopping for something that might cause less redness/histamine reaction. The owner was approachable and was then curious about my criteria. I felt no pressure at all and we picked out a chill-able light red and an effervescent white they he thought I'd have a lesser reaction to due to the way they were each made. OK, so. First of all: little to no reaction to either which I didn't think was possible. To top it off, I bought two of the coolest wines I've ever tasted! Like it's Tuesday midday and I just want to go back and get them again so I can have one with dinner tonight. The owners knowledge and care for his product is top notch. Get your wine here! read more

3 times I've gone in there, 3 times I've experienced really crappy customer service. Not once did anyone even say hello, let alone help me decide what wine to buy. The first time I went in there, both sales people never budge from behind the cash register (my friend and I were the only customers in there). They got one star because I did find a great wine for under 20 bucks but you know what? There are a lot of great wines sold in the area and I can buy them from friendly people who appreciate their customers. I definitely won't be back here. read more

Great staff, great selection, selections in every price range! It doesn't matter if you know nothing about wine, or everything about wine, this is the place to go. The staff are approachable and happy to help you pick out a bottle for the holidays or discuss the case production of the latest northern Italian white they just got. One of the best things about a wine shop like this is because there's almost no chance of getting a bad bottle. If it is in the shop, it is there because they tasted it and bought it with confidence that you'd be happy buying it from them. The tastings are a super fun too! read more

Holly hell. I have been visiting some wine shops lately some old school and some what one might describe as soft hipster in search of the perfect wine. These guys blew it out of the ballpark with 3 out of 3 suggestions. My request was very specific around price, import region, qualities and process. All matched! And they had a lovely, story telling attribute to their customer service. A big yes for these guys. read more

On a sunny New Year's Eve afternoon we were on our way back from grabbing some supplies for a New Year's dinner when we saw Vintage Berkeley on the way. We parked halfway between and brought our little dog with us on the walk. Vintage Berkeley, at least in this location - haven't visited any others yet - has some outstanding wine deals under $25. The front section is wines under $25, the back for the more expensive selections. They have a sign out front that promises free daily wine tastings Monday-Friday 4-7pm and Saturday 2-4pm but since it was a holiday they weren't offering a tasting. We'll be back for one soon, though, guaranteed. There are a number of smaller wineries represented here, and there were so many promising selections under $25 I didn't know where to start, but I think I got a good one. I'm in the middle of the first glass of Green & Red Vineyard '03 Syrah, from the Tip Top Vineyard at up to 1,700 feet. It's a rich Syrah, slightly tannic, but an outstanding Syrah for the price of $16. Give this one a try if you love Syrah! And they're dog-friendly, they let our little Griff, Brimley, in with no hassle. Small dogs and wine on College Ave. are a relaxing way to spend a lazy day off . . . read more

The guy that was working here that day was very knowledgeable and had a cool story for some of the wines I wanted, such as knowing the winemakers and if he thinks it's worth the price of the wine. He really knows his wines. read more

This is the sweetest little neighborhood wine boutique. It has an awesome selection of small production wines. Hannah was a great help navigating our journey through her store. This is fun place, I only wish it was closer to me in San Diego... It will be a stop on my next Berkeley Trip! read more

This is a lovely shop. Everything is well organized. It's not fancy but it's just what you need. They have a great selection and of course, very reasonably priced. I really like that they carry stuff that most others don't, so almost everything is new and exciting. I actually just accidentally stumbled on this shop walking by, and I did not realize I walked in just as they were about to close. The gentleman kept the shop open for me, which was very nice. My only complaint is that I asked if they carried any port. I was in the mood for an aged Tawny, but he replied that they don't carry any fortified wine. It's not that they don't carry it that I had a problem with. No problem, just their choice. But he replied in a very condescending manner, as if I must not be a true wine enthusiast because I drink fortified wine. May I remind you that Portugal has one of the deepest traditions in wine culture, that have stayed true throughout time and are still alive today. I did not appreciate his tone. But I won't get my panties in a bunch. Still a fun shop and one I hope to revisit. read more

Great service both at the door and through the online delivery process. Always have good information about options. Solid natural wine choices too! read more

This place is great! I had gone in a few times before, and always been given good thorough advice, but was especially pleased with the service I received around the holidays. We went in for suggestions for our Christmas dinner, and everything they suggested was right on, and then went back for NY to get some sparkling wine, which was elegant and tasty, all at a good price. Everyone that has helped me there seems to really know their stuff, and not put on airs like you would find at many high end wine shops. Great place and great wine. read more

they have a huge, vintage claw-foot bath tub right in the middle or the store, filled with nothing but pretty bottles of champagne. (don't worry, they have a chilled selection in the refrigerated area if you want it ready-to-pour) um really, need i say more? they also have this magnificent "last chance" wooden table, right by the door when you walk in. heavily discounted wines, from all regions, all varietals.... and you can usually find a bottle or two worth taking home for your collection. i love these guys that work here too. always extremely eager to help, and so charming and nice. the minute i walk in, they come right over to help. since i never walk in with a certain bottle in mind, i let them guide me, depending on what i'm in the mood for. i recently had a dinner party. we did a lobster paella, gazpacho, all spanish-themed dishes. we came in to see what they suggested, and they steered us through several flawlessly-paired bottles to compliment each course we served. lastly, the prices are completely reasonable and they occasionally have wine tastings. wine lovers in the area, here's your spot. try not to stampede or anything. read more

No smile. No price. No cold champagne. Purchased a $65 bottle of champagne, and the wanted to charge me $4.50 more for a gift bag (that I saw for $1.50 at Target). Come on! When you spend $$ on a bottle, can't they include a gift bag and a smile?? read more

This is a great store. They've got a very eclectic choice of wines, but present it in a very simple and approachable way. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly (although I didn't talk to them much because I was listening to my itunes lineup). My bad, I did find really interesting wines that were priced correctly and when I did have a question, the staff had the answer. The layout of the shop is very friendly, the wines are along the walls, with stacks forming islands in the middle. The wines themselves run the gamut from the pedestrian to the super eclectic, but the descriptions make everything seem that more approachable. Take a risk, wine drinking is really about experimentation and learning about new regions and varieties. The benefits largely outweigh the risks. Cheers. read more

I'm pretty sure Hannah at Vintage Berkeley knows what I'm looking for in a bottle of wine better than I do. To back up what other's have said, these people are not pretentious and they know their wine. read more

This place was extremely disappointing!!! We came in for a tasting and were then rudely ignored!!! We were told we were in the wrong colors!!! Go beavs!!! As an Oregonian and involved in the wine community we expected more! read more

We like their selection of champagnes. We have had 32 Champagne brands. (Champagnes, not sparkling wines. Brands, not bottles.) A quarter of them were from Vintage. Edgy or extravagant, they were all delightful. A few examples: - Larmandier-Bernier (Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru) - Marie Courtin 'Efflorescence' (2007 Extra Brut 100% Pinot Noir) - Emmanuel Brochet 'Le Mont Benoit' (Premier Cru Extra Brut) - Pierre Paillard Acte 1 (Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs) Matt, the knowledgeable long-time manager, has moved on. The atmosphere has changed. read more

Whatever you do, do NOT shop at this wine store. They are so OVER-PRICED. I purchased a bottle of Rose there for $19.00 and then found the very same bottle of wine at a nearby store for $9.95 (I kid you not). I went in to see if they had a bottle of wine that was included in a recent column in the NY Times on 20 bottles of wine for under $20. They had the wine I was looking for, which was listed at $17.99 in the NYT article, but they were selling it for $24.00. There are so many good wine shops in the area...try Vino just up the street on College Avenue or Paul Marcus Wines further up College Avenue in Market Hall. They both have great selections, are very helpful, and won't rip you off. read more

The best wine shop I have ever frequented. If you're looking for different, hard to find (not just highly allocated) stuff, this is the place. The inventory is really fantastic for small, California sourced producers. There's interesting varietals, regions, and wineries to discover. They also know how to select for value, with the majority of the inventory between $15 and $30. The proprietors and attendants are super knowledgeable, passionate, and approachable. read more