The Best Wine Shops, Neighborhood by Neighborhood

Paul Einbund is the wine director of the Slanted Door restaurant group including Out the Door Bush Street and Westfield Centre as well as Heaven's Dog. He also runs the beverage program at Frances, and has worked at Coi and more. Look for him here every Tuesday. Follow him on Twitter @pauleinbund.

Now that the holiday season has come to a close, it’s time to replenish the wine cellar. Here is a short list of some of my personal favorites. Shop at any of these and you will not be disappointed. They all have good selections of fairly priced, interesting wines.

Biondivino (Russian Hill)
Located in Russian Hill, this place is the size of a closet. Luckily that closet is stuffed with possibly the most interesting selections anywhere in the city and owner Ceri Smith is as passionate as they come. She specializes in Italian wines with a few other goodies thrown in, and a fair amount of Champagne to.

Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant (Embarcadero)
Located in the Ferry Building (or weren’t you paying attention?), this shop probably has the most educated staff around. They always have a great selection and it's chosen by a tough-as-nails tasting panel. The wines that make it to the shelf here are the Olympic athletes of the wine world.

Terroir (SoMa)
Leading the way for the ‘natural wine movement’ in San Francisco. Gotta be the coolest wine shop in the city with its rustic feel, movies projected on the wall and…killer wines!

Bi-Rite Market (Mission)
From produce to great wine, this neighborhood market has everything! I mean everything, and it’s all first rate. Trac Le and the rest of the crew select eclectic wines and price them very fairly, always keeping up with what’s hot now.

Swirl on Castro (Castro)
Located in the heart of the Castro, this shop always has unique wines and many of them California wines that I’ve never heard of before, not to mention a really nice liquor selection as well.

K&L (SoMa)
This extensively stocked go-to wine shop does a lot of importing, which means you’ll find wines here that no one else has. They do a ton of their business online so check that out too.

Plumpjack Wine Shop (Cow Hollow and Noe Valley)
Two locations, both are cool. Always a solid selection of great wines but also really well priced and a helpful staff.

DIG (Dogpatch)
Ok, so this one is kinda cheating because it’s not open yet but I wanted to get a little note in here saying that the Dogpatch, where I live, is getting a wine shop too. I’m eager to see what wine writer Wayne Garcia can put together for his own place.

Bernal Heights: VinoRosso for Italian as well as California wines!! Love it.

By Gessica (not verified) on February 15, 2012

Come on you have to have The Wine Trading Company on Taraval. They also have excellent cheese.

By mark kroeker (not verified) on December 27, 2011

Representing the finest output from the most renowned Champagne houses in France, these prestigious Champagnes are envied for their exclusivity as much as their taste.digital photo frame

By Derlierpro ssy (not verified) on December 13, 2011

Arlequin does a fantastic job as far as their stock, their knowledge, tastings and they have a beautiful patio out back where you can drink their wines. Who else in town is having a Chave tasting this year???

By Reno (not verified) on October 26, 2011

Most neighborhood crime prevention groups are organized around a block or a neighborhood and are started with assistance from a law enforcement agency. Volunteers who donate their time and resources are typically at the center of such programs, since many do not have a formal budget or source of funding.

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By rack mount (not verified) on October 20, 2011

Located in the Ferry Building (or weren’t you paying attention?), this shop probably has the most educated staff around. They always have a great selection and it's chosen by a tough-as-nails tasting panel. The wines that make it to the shelf here are the Olympic athletes of the wine world.

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By Derlierprossy (not verified) on August 17, 2011

Impressions Wine shop in the Laurel Heights shopping plaza is great. layed back and good advice. That being said, I do like Plump Jack in Noe (not the Marina branch)

By Ian (not verified) on May 12, 2011

Including Terrior and excluding Wine Club SOMA makes me inclined to take this list with a grain of sediment. Terrior has a small, boutique stock, and although the staff knows their selection, interacting with them is typically unpleasant and expensive. Just a few blocks east, the Wine Club has a knowledgable and pleasant staff, large selection in every varietal and range of prices.

By Stacey (not verified) on April 25, 2011

Paul, I think you did a great job with this list selecting quality locations with solid wine programs. Kudos...although I do concur, Wine Club is a great place to pick up value wines or the eclectic import.

By Stephanie M. (not verified) on January 21, 2011

What about the Nappa Valley Wine Exchange.

By Anonymous (not verified) on January 15, 2011

This list is very anemic.
The title is very misleading, but the clarifying line in the article, "Here is a short list of some of my personal favorites." brings it all into perspective.
We all know there are many more worthy wine merchants in San Franciscos 7x7 miles.
Thanks for the list of your faves.
Derek
@BigToys

By SFDerek (not verified) on January 14, 2011

What? No Wine Club? That's just crazy. But soon one ring will rule them all - go DIGWines!!

By thedevilhimself (not verified) on January 12, 2011

We have wine shops West of Twin Peaks, too--or is your writer unaware of the large area of San Fancisco in the Outside Lands?

By Amiable 1 (not verified) on January 12, 2011

You obviously did not do your homework. You missed out on one of the best wine shops in the city- and this one IS open- Ruby Wine located in Potrero Hill. Paul, please do some work.