Vin, Vino, Wine

 

0

2

Andrea C.

San Carlos, CA

It was ok. Kind of expensive but I guess if you are into the expensive wines its a good deal. I would go back with someone who was really into wine but your $10 Trader Joe wine lover...(Me)

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5

102

stevie G.

Palo Alto, CA

Wow, what a small world.  The guy who served us went to school in the same state as my uncle's girlfriend.  Is that sweet or what? Otherwise I can't stand this place.  Bathroom is just OK.

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7

13

Forrest G.

Oakland, CA

My favorite tasting is the vintage Champagne tasting.  You get to taste all those champagnes cost over $100 a bottle and feel like you're made of money.

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Elite '08

59

108

Mami T.

San Francisco, CA

GREAT tasting.  They do it every day that they are open (i.e. Tues - Sat), and they would include $200+ bottle wines in the lineup.  They pour generously, almost 1/3 glass, so you can easily share the flight with another person.  

So this place is quite educational, especially since their tasting flights have focused themes (for example, not just red burgundy but down to specific appellation) and the guy who works there (most likely an owner?) can offer great guidance.  

However, for some reason I can never find the wine I like here.  Yes, that's largely my problem, but because of that this place hasn't become my favorite wine shop...yet.

TIP: Their monthly newsletter becomes handy when trying to figure out what wines they have.  You can just pick it up near the cashier.

NOTE: Many French wines -- but no Bordeaux.

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Elite '08

463

2130

kim n.

Mountain View, CA

Great little wine store on the California Ave area of Palo Alto. Didn't give the tasting bar a try but picked up a few Italian wines, a Barbera, Dolcetto, and Sangiovese for some fairly good prices. If you don't decide to drop a lot of moola on a few expensive bottles, it's just as easy to drop a lot on many affordable ones.

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14

136

Patricia A.

Campbell, CA

Good Tasting and wine flights available. A little overpriced but worth the try.
I was going to give 3 and 1/2 b/c its small tasting bar and everyone knows I like a long tasting bar, you know in case you wanna get up and dance. :)

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3

19

Noah N.

CA

Vin Vino has a remarkable selection of French wines, peppered with a less extensive but well chosen selection of Californian, Italian, and German offerings. Spanish offerings are not what I'd personally hope for. So if you like French wine, you'll be happy. Otherwise, you're better off at K&L or Beltramos.

What I like about Vin Vino is that they know their wine upside down and backwards. They can give you a good understanding of how a bottle will taste, whether you're a sophisticated or casual wine drinker. The selection is also quite fun--you really can explore their offerings and take a small tour of France in the process.

What I don't like about Vin Vino is that there is an occasional sense of snobbishness towards younger buyers. I've been left standing at the register while older/more affluent buyers are fussed over, and frankly its highly irritating.

While there are limits to what you can ask from a smaller wine store, my sense is that Kermit Lynch in Berkeley is better both in terms of slection and vastly better in terms of service. Thus while Vin Vino is very good, it really isn't the world class wine store that some of the other reviewers seem to indicate. I would give them a 3.5, rounding down just because I question how they approach younger buyers. This is something they can improve, and I may revise my review depending on future experiences should I go back.

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Elite '08

18

102

Shannon M.

Sunnyvale, CA

I know I sound like a bobblehead (do they speak?), but it's all true.  The tasting bar is awesome.  I love stoppoing here for a nightcap after a tough day.   Nothing like a Premier Cru to take the sting out of an icky day!

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0

8

Nick R.

Sunnyvale, CA

A wonderful and unique wine shop. I can say with confidence that this is the only wine establishment in the area that I can pick a bottle from blindfolded and know with certainty that it will be great. They have tastings of their wonderful wines almost every day, in every price range (well, every premium wine price range, from $15 to $500, no plonk is carried here). They specialize in Burgundy, so if that's you're thing, know that you can find here well-stored examples from 1998 onward (and occasionally older).

I suggest going at lunch on weekdays or mid-afternoon on weekends, because there's only one register and it really slows down when it's crowded.

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227

72

A J.

South San Francisco, CA

My favorite wine shop in the bay area to play Empress Nympho from History of the Wold Part 1.  (Yes, no no no no no no, yes,  no no no no no no, Yes, no no no no no no no no YEEEES!)

Daily pours are varied and are probably the easiest way to travel the world of wine without dropping a fortune. (Although once you've found some new favorites, it's game over)  Check out the newsletter for the daily horizontal or vertical.  It's really tough to understate the breadth and depth of their selections, and they travel the world of bargain bottles as well as the chi chi with equal ease.  You know it's serious business when just about every square inch of floor space is dedicated to boxes of wine piled high.

Some quick tips:
-Plan a good amount of time if you go for a full set
-Be kind to everyone's olfactory cells and avoid wearing perfumes or colognes
-Try to keep your tasting notes to yourself unless someone else specifically asks for them...it's more fun discovering the nuances and flavors of a wine yourself rather than having someone tell you what flavors you're supposed to detect.

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19

110

Tyler H.

Palo Alto, CA

This is a great local wine store, with very knowledgable experts.  I love browsing the shelves and looking for deals or wines you can't easily get anywhere else.

It's also not too large.  It has a more informal feel to it, though it is true that you are walking through a bunch of wine bottles in boxes, for the most part.  I like looking at their specials, and sometimes they have some unique tastings.  It's nice to branch out from the typical Chardonnay & Cabernet tastings you get at most places.  VVW helps to diversify your palate and show you that there is more to wine than just California.

It's a nice place to get a real glass of wine before heading to a restaurant nearby.  You'll definitely get something with character.

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3

6

Jon C.

San Jose, CA

V V W may be the most unique wine shop in the Bay Area. It's all about the tasting bar. Each day there is a different theme. The theme usually has a basic thread, like a common winery, varietal, region/vintage, etc. Let's say you want to get an idea about 2004 Red Burgundies, then VVW is your place.
VVW is the one wine shop that can effortlessly separate you from your $$$...and you're happy to shell it out. Victor, Anton, Paddy, and the rest are very knowledgeable and can get you exactly what you need.
Check the website for the tasting bar schedule. This is a great way to educate yor palate and figure out what you like. Applies for newbies and vets alike. VVW rocks!

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12

29

Jessy A.

Palo Alto, CA

The best tasting bar in the area and splitting a fight makes for an awesome date.  Bring some bread and cheese, grab a table in the corner of the store, and enjoy healthy pours of some amazing wines.  Check to make sure that you will like the flight (and the price of the flight) being offered that day on their website and I recommend planning to walk to one of the great restaurants on California for a chance to sober up after the tasting.  

As a wine shop, there is a wide selection for such a small place, although the wines do tend to be on the pricier side of things, and the staff is quite knowledgeable.

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6

28

Anh Thu V.

Cupertino, CA

It's a gem of a wine shop.  Prices are a little higher than other shops but the selection is unbeatable in the Bay Area.  While Kermit Lynch has a more eclectic selection, VVW specializes in Burgundy, Rhone, Italian, selected American and Austrian wines.  The changing flights are well thought-out and amazing, if pricey at times.  

This is the first place I usually go to for that special bottle for an important dinner with friends and colleagues.  It's also the place to shop as you build out that noteworthy cellar.

All in all, I have Victor and his staff to thank for helping me spending my disposable income, building up my taste buds and my fledgling wine collection.

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Elite '08

54

167

Donna W.

Palo Alto, CA

I took a short flight (read: the cheaper of the two wine tastings offered) tonight with a group of folks from my apartment complex. The guy pouring our pinots was helpful and knowledgeable and helped accommodate our big group of folks. I like the fact that they're Spartan in decor and reserve the majority of the space for displaying lots and lots and lots of varieties of wine. This is definitely the place to go when you're serious about wine as they're not there to sell the whole wine tasting experience, but wines. The fact that they're upholding this goal is slightly a drawback as they only offer slices of French bread to cleanse your palette/soak up alcohol and there are like 4 seats and a table in the whole place. So you best be ready to stand up and line up at the counter to get your tastes and not think about lounging leisurely on a divan as you wax philosophic about the subtle hints of cherry, oak and raspberry that dance across your tongue. Another ding is that they had a mistake on their internet posting for today's flights, so we were expecting $18 instead of the $24 they were charging. Alas, were it not for these flaws they would be a five star establishment in my book.

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10

72

kittenheel s.

Mountain View, CA

Excellent selection, knowledgeable, helpful and friendly staff.

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1

11

Mats H.

Palo Alto, CA

The definition of a great local wine store.

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