Where to buy a bottle of wine in Berkeley?
July 23, 2024 10:39 AM Subscribe
I'm in North Berkeley CA for a brief spell, but I don't live here. I want to pick up a nice bottle of white wine, under 25 dollars. Nice, but neither I nor my friends are wine aficionados. Planning to go to Berkeley Bowl in any case, so would I find something there? Or should I go to a wine shop, in which case, please suggest one. Thanks!
Response by poster: Also, please suggest places where parking won't be a big issue.
posted by gigondas at 10:50 AM on July 23
posted by gigondas at 10:50 AM on July 23
Berkeley Bowl has a parking lot and will be fine. If you happen to be coming from the north, see if there’s parking near Vine, and if there isn’t, the Bowl is an absolutely fine backstop.
posted by clew at 11:10 AM on July 23
posted by clew at 11:10 AM on July 23
Berkeley Bowl has an excellent selection for a grocery store, though I have never tried to ask for help.
Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant imports their own stock directly from growers, and the hand-selling is top notch. That’d be my choice. It also has a dedicated lot.
posted by wnissen at 11:18 AM on July 23 [4 favorites]
Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant imports their own stock directly from growers, and the hand-selling is top notch. That’d be my choice. It also has a dedicated lot.
posted by wnissen at 11:18 AM on July 23 [4 favorites]
Kermit Lynch importers have a very well deserved reputation.
posted by mmascolino at 11:38 AM on July 23 [1 favorite]
posted by mmascolino at 11:38 AM on July 23 [1 favorite]
Kermit Lynch, at the corner of San Pablo and Cedar, has a small parking lot (like half a dozen spaces) they share with Acme Breads, but it tends to be crowded in the morning up through the lunch rush hour because of the Acme line.
Vintage Berkeley has two locations, but neither one has a dedicated parking lot. You should be able to find street parking within two to three blocks of either location, though.
Berkeley Bowl West (on Heinz) has a couple of hundred parking spaces across their surface lot and parking garage; Berkeley Bowl on Oregon has around a hundred parking spaces in their lot. But at peak times at either location, you may still not be able to park in the lot; I highly suggest not going during the weekday evening or weekend morning rush.
All of these options will have good casual wines at your price point.
posted by Pandora Kouti at 11:39 AM on July 23 [4 favorites]
Vintage Berkeley has two locations, but neither one has a dedicated parking lot. You should be able to find street parking within two to three blocks of either location, though.
Berkeley Bowl West (on Heinz) has a couple of hundred parking spaces across their surface lot and parking garage; Berkeley Bowl on Oregon has around a hundred parking spaces in their lot. But at peak times at either location, you may still not be able to park in the lot; I highly suggest not going during the weekday evening or weekend morning rush.
All of these options will have good casual wines at your price point.
posted by Pandora Kouti at 11:39 AM on July 23 [4 favorites]
The suggestions above are good. Couple notes from me:
Kermit Lynch is kinda fancy, their selection at $25 and below is limited and looking at their stock; I don't see a ton at that price point that you can't buy elsewhere. It's all French and Italian imports, no CA wines and no wines from unusual less expensive regions.
Vintage Berkeley is adorable - I usually go the same store in Elmwood (which is technically also in Berkeley, but the parking and traffic in Elmwood is annoying if you don't need to go there) and selection and range of prices and funny tasting notes are great. I'd assume the Vine St location is similar. Their price point is also a tad higher (but more interesting wines at the under $25 range than Kermit Lynch).
Berkeley Bowl has an excellent selection (especially for a grocery store), but you won't get help the way you will at a wine shop. Still, great selection including some interesting local stuff.
I'd like to add a plug for Vino! in the 4th Steet shopping area. Has parking, though the lot can be challenging. They have a good selection and price point, including a lot of good value good quality wines. They're helpful too.
Also note that most of these places have fairly limited availability cold.
posted by vunder at 2:00 PM on July 23 [2 favorites]
Kermit Lynch is kinda fancy, their selection at $25 and below is limited and looking at their stock; I don't see a ton at that price point that you can't buy elsewhere. It's all French and Italian imports, no CA wines and no wines from unusual less expensive regions.
Vintage Berkeley is adorable - I usually go the same store in Elmwood (which is technically also in Berkeley, but the parking and traffic in Elmwood is annoying if you don't need to go there) and selection and range of prices and funny tasting notes are great. I'd assume the Vine St location is similar. Their price point is also a tad higher (but more interesting wines at the under $25 range than Kermit Lynch).
Berkeley Bowl has an excellent selection (especially for a grocery store), but you won't get help the way you will at a wine shop. Still, great selection including some interesting local stuff.
I'd like to add a plug for Vino! in the 4th Steet shopping area. Has parking, though the lot can be challenging. They have a good selection and price point, including a lot of good value good quality wines. They're helpful too.
Also note that most of these places have fairly limited availability cold.
posted by vunder at 2:00 PM on July 23 [2 favorites]
Vintage Berkeley on Vine street is nice for getting a solid recommendation for something under $25. I vote stopping by there and grabbing the $25 mystery grab bag and a loaf of bread at Cheeseboard as well.
posted by just.good.enough at 2:17 PM on July 23 [2 favorites]
posted by just.good.enough at 2:17 PM on July 23 [2 favorites]
For a choice outside the strict parameters of the question, you’re also practically around the corner from one of California’s best urban wineries. I would particularly recommend the Love White, a $25 white blend that magnificently combines fruit, flowers, and elegance. No parking lot and closed Mon-Wed, but a local and thoughtful option.
posted by wnissen at 2:42 PM on July 23 [2 favorites]
posted by wnissen at 2:42 PM on July 23 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks, everyone. I'm coming up on my decision deadline, and while I was leaning toward Kermit Lynch, vunder has tipped the scales toward Vintage Berkeley. Hopefully, I'll find parking. Hoping but not expecting to find something already cold. We should have time to sufficiently chill it before we want to open it.
posted by gigondas at 2:56 PM on July 23
posted by gigondas at 2:56 PM on July 23
Response by poster: Just coming back to say I went to Vintage Berkeley, found parking a block away, the guy in the shop was super helpful, and I left with a delicious bottle of Muscadet.
posted by gigondas at 11:01 AM on July 24 [4 favorites]
posted by gigondas at 11:01 AM on July 24 [4 favorites]
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posted by niicholas at 10:45 AM on July 23 [3 favorites]