Bay Area’s Best Wine Spots

What makes a great wine bar? The answer, like most things related to wine, is very subjective.

On a personal level, Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant played a vital role in my early understanding of wine. When I was first getting interested in the subject, I would frequent the Ferry Plaza to taste textbook examples of traditional grape varieties from classic regions. Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre, Grüner Veltliner from Austria, and Shiraz from Australia are just a few examples of wines I found being poured at the bar. On my first visit, the bartender immediately picked up on my interest and offered me some extra tastes just for fun. This helped me realize how valuable it can be to taste things side-by-side.

On one visit, I sampled three Pinot Noirs, one from France’s Burgundy region, another from California’s Russian River Valley, and the last from New Zealand’s Central Otago. Tasting any of these wines on their own helped me to understand and explain an individual wine’s flavor profile, but experiencing them all in one sitting illuminated their differences, which made it easier for me to comprehend the characteristics of each region. The Pinot Noir from Burgundy was bright but very dry and the flavors leaned towards the earthy side of the spectrum. The Russian River Pinot was juicy and plush with sweet flavors of dark red fruit. And the example from New Zealand fell somewhere in between the first two, as it was clearly riper than the Burgundy but not as sweet tasting as the wine from California. As I tasted more wines from these regions that confirmed these stereotypes, I became more and more confident in my ability to identify what a wine ‘should’ taste like depending on where it came from. Eventually, I would sit at the bar and ask the bartender to pour me four or five wines blind so I could try to deduce what they were simply by tasting them. I didn’t always get them right, but the exercise was fun and there is no doubt my palate and knowledge grew as a result.

I’m not telling this story to inspire you to become a sommelier, but rather to illustrate the potential value of a great wine bar. The bartenders always made me feel welcome and they seemed genuinely excited to be a part of my experience. Learning about wine, from asking seemingly ‘basic’ questions to eventually tasting blind both required me to put myself out there, but the staff never made me feel uncomfortable or embarrassed. They were always encouraging, even empathizing with my logic when I mistook an Italian Nebbiolo for a Sangiovese.

The experiences I had at Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant align perfectly with our mission at Somm Demand. Our favorite wine places all offer a wide range of wines available by the glass and a warm, welcoming staff that is eager to share whatever they’re most excited about at the moment. This list highlights some wine bars that align with Somm Demand’s philosophy that wine should be fun, approachable, and delicious.

Fool's Errand – San Francisco

John Dampeer has created one of San Francisco’s most exciting wine bars, specializing in small artisanal producers from relatively esoteric wine regions. Countries like Slovenia, Hungary, Portugal, and Greece share the stage with more famous appellations from California, France and Italy. The mark-ups are incredibly fair, with most wines by the glass ranging from $12-18, a structure that encourages one to try new things. In addition to the wine selection, there is a deep, eclectic list of beers that can be as much of a draw as the wines are (a chalkboard outside often says ‘Come for the beer, stay for the Riesling’). Great wine and beer calls for food, and Fool’s Errand keeps it simple with a number of seafood conservas along with cheese and charcuterie boards. Next time you get the urge to try something new, head to NoPa and Fool’s Errand will satisfy your most obscure cravings.

Birba – San Francisco

Hayes Valley boasts many great places to drink, but Birba is our favorite watering hole in the neighborhood. Proprietor Angie Valgiusti curates a diverse selection of wines that focuses on Europe and California, with examples to satisfy traditional and adventurous palates alike. Vermouth and Sherry are particular favorites, with six of each available to sample. Add some tonic or club soda to a Vermouth and head out back to the cute patio that feels like a calm oasis in a bustling neighborhood.

High Treason – San Francisco

Business partners Michael Ireland and John Vuong spent years running some of the best wine programs in the Bay Area before opening High Treason in San Francisco’s Richmond district. They’re wine experts - and their experience means there is always plenty of world-class wine to drink, but this wine bar is decidedly casual and there is no pretension in sight. The guys are usually there spinning records while offering wines rarely seen by-the-glass, so the vibe is always fun and energetic.

Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant – San Francisco & Napa

This wine bar is one of the original tenants in San Francisco’s beautiful Ferry Building, and its success led to spinoffs in Napa’s Oxbow Market and more recently in SF’s Mission Bay neighborhood. While many of their contemporaries are promoting the natural wine movement and new wineries from unheralded wine regions, partners Debbie Zachareas and Peter Granhoff have resisted trends. All three locations boast an impressive selection of classic wines from some of the world’s most famous regions, so these wine bars are great places for wine beginners to taste benchmark wines and develop a base of knowledge that will benefit you throughout a lifetime of drinking. They regularly host wine tastings featuring winemakers or importers, so you can learn directly from the source!

Bay Grape - Oakland & Napa

After a decorated career in Michelin-starred restaurants, Josiah Baldivino and his wife, Stevie Stacionis, opened Bay Grape in Oakland, just one block from Lake Merritt. They too opened a second location in Napa. While both carry classics from traditional Old World appellations, they offer a deep selection of hip wines that demonstrate the exciting new wave of producers who aren’t afraid to try something new. Blind Tasting classes are available if you want to hone your skills, and Themed Tasting Flights on Saturday give you an opportunity to dive deep into a particular grape variety or wine region. These are just some of the many special events Bay Grape offers at both locations!

Ordinaire - Oakland

Located in Oakland’s Grand Lake neighborhood, Ordinaire is anything but ordinary. Founded by Bradford Taylor in 2013, Ordinaire is a beacon for the natural wine movement. They specialize in wines from all over the world that are made from organically and often biodynamically-farmed grapes that are vinified with as little intervention as possible. While there is no universal definition for natural wine, the bottles featured at Ordinaire definitely have a certain vibe. Next time you’re looking for something fun and unique, Ordinaire will help you discover organic wines that are more of an experience than a simple beverage.

Somm Demand - Virtual and Oakland

Although we’re not a wine bar and you cannot visit us to taste some wine, we are local to Oakland and we can come visit you – virtually, that is. Whether you are hosting a wine tasting at your home, or would like guidance developing your palette in private, our sommeliers are always available for a virtual event. Of course we also do in person weddings, corporate events and occasional tastings in the neighborhood.

Our goal is to make wine fun and approachable and to empower you with knowledge. We would love to help you every step of the way, from understanding what you do and don’t like to developing the vocabulary to describe your preferences. Our sommeliers are always available to answer questions and make suggestions based on your drinking history. Whether you are a wine beginner trying to understand the difference between Pinot Noir and Cabernet, or an experienced oenophile (wine expert) hoping to become more familiar with the Crus of Beaujolais, Somm Demand wants to be part of your wine journey!

Aside from bringing wine education and wine tastings to you, we are also your go-to wine shop near by! We have wine you can buy online to ship, or to pick up. We make our selections carefully, working with great local wineries and our favorite European vineyards.

If you have unanswered wine questions, would like a virtual wine tasting, or need help choosing a wine, schedule a free consultation with one of our somms here.