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Wine Expo
Categories: Food Beer, Wine & Spirits Nightlife Bars Wine Bars Beer, Wine & Spirits, Wine Bars [Edit]
2933 Santa Monica BlvdSanta Monica, CA 90404
Neighborhood: Santa Monica
(310) 828-4428
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 10 am - 10 pm
Thu-Sat 10 am - 12 am
Sun 11 am - 10 pm
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Best Nights:
- Thu
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
105 reviews for Wine Expo
Review Highlights
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"At least "not so mild" cheese platter ($11) was yummy - I..." In 3 reviews -
"They have great selection of Italian wines and bubblys." In 5 reviews -
"The champagne selection is vast as well." In 15 reviews
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105 reviews in English
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Review from Kalika Y.
Santa Monica, CA
Updated - 5/21/2012
Here's what I love about Wine Expo and why I keep coming back:
Great prices
Knowledgable staff
Fantastic range of delicious, complex, robust wines
Staff knows you by name
Jeff always has a smile on his face
Sundays they have live music
Tips:
If you check in on Foursquare, you'll get great specials.
The mushroom pizza is great
Best deal:
20 tastings wines for $20 nights (I think they are on Mondays)
Added touch:
Eclectic food trucks
LOVE
LOVE
LOVE1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/12/2011
Fantastic affordable wines! This is my place to shop for gifts. Wow! Tried the wine bar / tasting… Read more »
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Review from Ada L.
5/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here on a Saturday evening when my bf and I were looking for a new place to taste/buy some wine. We ended up going into the wine bar after being told about the different flights available.
We got there at the right time, when it was happy hour, so all flights were 50% off! The guy at the wine bar suggested a flight to us based on our preferences, and we ended up buying a bottle of one of the wines we tried (Pinotage--with a 10% discount!)
Since I'm a lightweight, I also needed some food to go with my wine. We ordered a 6 piece crostini plate. It was good, but I'm not sure if it was actually worth $6. It was basically slices of baguette topped with different cheeses and/or meats, which we could probably make ourselves for a lot cheaper. But, I still enjoyed the plate along with the wines.
My bf and I are still fairly new to wines, so it's nice to go to a place like this where we can sample different flights at a good price. There are also other specials like 20/20. I bought a Groupon recently, so I definitely plan on going back to Wine Expo soon! -
Review from Emily S.
4/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
I love the Wine Expo and I'm not even a big fan of wine.
I was introduced to Wine Expo by fellow yelper and Wine expert Ben G! He invited me over to the Wine Expo on a Thursday night, what I didn't know then that I know now was that the Wine Expo has an AWESOME deal called the "20/20 Night" which are offered on Monday and Thursday.
What happens is that EVERY Monday and Thursday you have a chance to taste 20 different wines in a wide variety of styles for just $20 (exclusive of tax and tip) in their Bar. And each week's wine selection is different!!
You get to hang out at the Wine Expo, sample the wines and eat different food they offer. It's a popular event! And there's always a food truck there too!
What can get better than this?
They have their own parking lot too@! -
Review from Maxwell G.
Santa Monica, CA
Updated - 4/11/2012
This place has fallen off the map. The owner is back and the vibe is dead, the place is a shell of what it used to be. To bad, so sad another cool spot down the tubes. Check out the new Argentinian BBQ where Drago used to be, great happy hour, great wine, and great, great atmosphere!!
Wine expo is great when all else fails and you need to cut your heart out with a rusty spoon.
Good riddance Wine Expo!!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/30/2012
We live in the area and have been going here for years. This place rocks, the food is for wine… Read more »
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Review from yelpie h.
Santa Monica, CA
5/16/2012
I am really astonished at the positive reviews. This place had terrible acoustics, troubling, vacant service and highly acidic, bland wine options. The owner's blatant disregard of just generally everyone, is appalling. The food was HORRIBLE. HORRIBLE. really awful. I mean crackers and peanuts you buy from trader joes but not even that good with a 90 % markup?crostini was a pathetic sampling of bread with hummus (and as little as possible) smeared on top. no veggies, no cheese, no slivers of meat as the menu stated. worse than a college student's first year fare. and a 20$ corkage fee when you buy the wine there???!! and they did not even tell us when we asked? are you joking, no? then you stink. Not even worth a further thought. Really, really bad. terrible experience
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Review from Suzanne I.
Santa Monica, CA
5/16/2012
The service is abysmal. We made advance reservations for 10 women for a girls wine group. The first 3 to arrive had to wait for 45 minutes for the waiter to even come to our table. I finally walked up to him at the bar and asked for service, and he said he just hadn't made it back to our table yet. (there were just 3 other tables with people). Mind you, it was a Tuesday night, and not busy at all. We were there for about 2 1/2 hours total, but only had 1 wine flight each, and two bottles between all of us. We had to wait about 25 minutes between flights. We'd planned on spending a lot of time and money there, but it was just too frustrating. Also, the acoustics are horrible. I would recommend any other wine bar before this one.
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Review from Julia G.
Los Angeles, CA
4/8/2012
I held an alumni happy hour here for 20 for $20 Thursdays and had a great time! The staff was very friendly and accommodating in hosting our event. The tasting room is hidden in the back of this wine store. Glasses are waiting for you at your table. Just pick one up and hop up to the bar and let them know which drink you want from 1-20. By the way, if you don't already know this, 20 tastes is a lot of wine! I only made it through 12 but I am determined to come back and try the rest! The wines themselves can be a hit or miss but this place is more about the fun ambiance. You'll like some and you'll pour some up but you'll have a great time while doing so. There is also a food truck outside in the parking lot. You can order your food and have them deliver it to you to eat inside the restaurant! No more eating food truck dinners outside. Come here to relax and get tipsy!
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Review from Nicole H.
Los Angeles, CA
4/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
Happy hour wine tasting from 5-7pm is awesome!!
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Review from Bridget P.
Santa Monica, CA
3/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here for dinner last night. I had no idea they even had a restaurant, but we had a Living Social deal ($60 for $30). I'll get to it:
THE BAD:
- One non-friendly guy staffing the whole restaurant.
- Paid no attention to us for a good 15 minutes, took our orders (2 flights, cheese plate, prosciutto plate), brought out the food, dropped it on the table and ran off without saying what anything was (no cheese names/descriptions on the menu).
- No wine for 30 minutes. That's right, did not come back for 30 minutes, no exaggeration. He poured for a few other tables more than once, appeared to be cleaning/restocking the bar, but didn't even so much as look in our direction.
- On top of that, he got our order wrong.... brought the salumi plate instead, and forgot the white truffle honey that was supposed to come with the cheese. But we couldn't ask, because he was MIA. We wanted to save some of the cheese for the wine, couldn't touch the other plate since we were sending it back, so we just ended up sitting there, doing nothing.
- FINALLY came back with no apology (I KNOW he noticed we had been sitting and waiting, staring him down), traded for the right prosciutto plate, and brought the saddest honey I'd ever seen. It was a basic ramekin dish with a thin, almost invisible layer of honey on the bottom..... it just looked like a dirty dish. You had to scrape it with your butter knife to get anything at all.
- Poured our flight out of order (starting with the 2nd wine). When we told him we never got to try the first pour on the list, he tried to bring the 3rd one another time. We politely told him that he started with the second, and we had already tried number 2 and 3. He tried to argue with us, finally saying, "I don't think I did, but I'll give you the first one anyway." Surprise, it was the one we hadn't tried.
- We ordered a glass of port for dessert and he dropped off a sample-size pour without saying a word and left again.
Basically, everything that could have gone wrong, did.
THE GOOD:
- the cheese was very good, especially the blue cheese... very unique. I wish I knew what kinds of cheeses they were.
- I looooooved my third pour (2005 Gravitas Reserve Chardonnay) so much that we picked up a bottle on the way out. Excellently priced for how great it was.
- Cozy, intimate dining atmosphere and ambiance, and wines featured in flights are well-labeled with the flight # right in front of the register.
I really had high hopes for this place. I love finding hidden, underrated gems. Who knew that such a pretty restaurant was tucked in the back of a wine shop in a strip mall? I'd driven by it for years. Sure, we had a Living Social deal, but we were planning on staying longer, ordering second flights and maybe some extra glasses of whatever we liked. We were planning to spend much more money than the deal offered (and come back, I'm sure). But we were so turned off by EVERYTHING about the service that we just decided to leave after the port. There was never any explanation, apology, or anything.... just guy with a bad attitude who REALLY seemed like he didn't want to be there and was making it crystal clear. When I checked in on my phone through Yelp, I was offered a free small crostini plate through the app, but we didn't want to bother asking for it because we felt like it would just piss him off.
The shop had a large variety but nothing was clearly labeled or organized (unlike my beloved Wine House with clear country/type signs for each section). I'd stop by to pick up bottles of wine, especially with the fantastic prices, but had such a horrible experience at the restaurant that I won't be back. -
Review from Joe F.
Santa Monica, CA
1/10/2012 8 Check-ins Here
Who knew a grown man could love a wine shop so much?
This shop stocks a wide selection of all types of wine. They specialize in Italian wines of all variety. They also have a pretty good selection of beers too. All the prices seem reasonable. This place really cares about the neighborhood too, which is very refreshing. They sponsor a different specialty food truck in the parking lot frequently as an easy option for their patrons who want to go to their wine bar on the west side of the shop. This comes in handy because we all know what happens to people who drink on an empty stomach.
My FAVORITE part is on Monday's and Thursdays. They have a 20 tastings for $20 at the wine bar. This is an amazing deal and a great way to sample so many different quality wines. I have done this many times and have brought quite a few people to do the same. I have yet to hear a complaint or someone who hasn't had a return visit. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable without being snooty. All the wines on the list were good, even if they weren't all my particular taste. For a fun night out, you should absolutely check out this place for the 20 for 20 deal.
For a good bottle of wine, a great beer, or a fun night out this place can't be beat. HIghly recommended for anyone who is a fan of amazing awesomeness with a side of two thumbs up. -
Review from Christine Y.
Brentwood, CA
3/21/2012 2 Check-ins Here
You cannot beat the selection of inexpensive wine flights and tastings, especially during all-day Sunday happy hour! Checking in on Yelp got us a plate of free crostini, and the 10% off bottles after tastings can't be beat. I want to come here every day!
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Review from Lily L.
I'm willing to give this place another try because I'm sure there's more potential than when we went on a Sunday evening, which was pretty empty.
I'm not sure why everyone raves about the crostini because to us it was just baked sourdough with a little bit of stuff on top. Our mixed platter had pepperoni, anchovies, sundried tomato and garlic cheese--each on a different bread. http://www.yelp.com/bi... Though not very exciting, it's nice bonus when you get a free sampler by checking in on Foursquare!
Our cheese and meats assortment platter was also underwhelming http://www.yelp.com/bi.... I did appreciate that the bread/crackers to cheese/meat ratio was perfect. The meats were very underwhelming, some tasted like just odd deli meat (I'm actually not sure what animals they were... prob should've asked =/). Cheeses were better, but we couldn't even finish some of them--particularly the gorgonzola. It's good but we didn't need a huge slab of it. No cheese breath for me thank you!
Service-wise was friendly, but we were anticipating our bartender to talk a little about the wine that he served for our flights. He never even mention the wine's name so we had to constantly refer back to our menu so it would've been nice to learn a little more about what we were drinking.
If it weren't for the Groupon, I don't think I would pay full price for the tastings. We tried the most pricey one is the $33/red flight and most of the wines were from Europe). And though the wines were good, they were overpriced for the quality.
Next time I'll come during happy hour. -
Review from Sandee T.
Beverly Hills, CA
1/6/2012
Food (& ratings):
- N/A: came here to shop for wine & scotch gifts. see Service.
When:
- last week of Dec
Crowd:
- locals
Interiors & Service:
- Interiors (4): simple open layout. low-end to high-end liquour. Intimate tasting room adjacent in back.
- Service (5): knowledgeable and helpful staff!!! I forget name of nice gentleman that helped me but he recommended both wine and scotch. Then introduced me to tasting room to try a Pinot Grigio that was recommended (b/c I didn't have time to sit down and enjoy, he knocked off a gift accessory for my purchase). On occasion, they have food trucks outside so you just order, bring in, and have either some flights or tastings in the back. What a great concept!
Overall:
- Definitely coming back here for next wine tasting & food truck night. -
Review from Wendy L.
Los Angeles, CA
1/5/2012 2 Check-ins Here
4.5 stars but people there are so nice that I'm rounding up.
This place is so understated but such a gem. It's never crowded the few times I've been. Sometimes there will be a food truck parked outside so you can order food too. The wine tasting is really great. They always have good deals going. They don't' serve real food but does have appetizers. If you go there, check in on Yelp or Four squares and can get a free 6 piece crostini plate. Yum! The cheese plate was good too both the strong and the mild. Each time I've been there, I always end up liking at least one or two wines and buy several bottles. The man in the front who I suspect is the owner is VERY knowledgeable about wines! We've asked him for recommendations twice and both times hit the jackpot! We totally trust his taste and will get whatever he recommends.
As for entertainment. One time there was a guy playing live acoustic guitar which was super cool. but the other times there was nothing. Wish they would at least play some background music.
Thank goodness there is wine in the world! -
Review from Samantha d.
Santa Monica, CA
Updated - 12/27/2011
I just again want to rave about how much I love this place! We came to the wine bar for a pre-Christmas celebration (as if there was not already too much drinking during actual Christmas) and had a fantastic experience. We got the Not So Mild Cheese Platter - uh-may-zing! and the smoked olives - seriously the best olives I have ever had. Ever. Yum. I just gnaw on these. 8-D I got a white flight - something about Argentina (and I'm half Argentinean, so yay!) and my mom and boyfriend got red flights. All were amazing, as usual.
p.s. I love how they pair the food trucks in front with the wines in the bar - check out the food truck schedule - two good things in one excellent wine bar! :-)
p.p.s. happy hour is the shizznit!
LOVE YOU WINE EXPO. ok that's all.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/15/2011
I have loved this place as a liquor store. Seriously, I will not go anywhere else to buy alcohol.… Read more »
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Review from Tianne T.
Fountain Valley, CA
11/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is a surprising spot. It doesnt look like much from the outside but on the inside it's a cute quaint wine tasting bar and store with a good selection of wines and some yummy cheese plates and such. Seating is comfortable and spacious. Service is pretty good.
There were 5 flights to choose from and we tried 4 of them. They were all legit and fairly priced. The wines recommended to us were excellent.
Minus a star for no music on Saturday night. Otherwise, this would have been a 5 star review.
This would be a good place to go on a date or with a group of friends. Not recommended if you are alone looking to pick up on wino chicks.
I'll be back one day! -
Review from Patrick L.
Los Angeles, CA
2/16/2012
come here for happy hour. 50% off all glasses and flights. can't get a better deal than this!
great ambience. not packed. able to hear my drinking partners.
and a food truck outside! perfect for tipsy munchies. -
Review from Jenn L.
Pacific Palisades, CA
8/11/2011
Store: Great store and super knowledgeable service. Wine tasting room: Started off awesome then went downhill.
You have to scoot in the store to find the tasting room. Our group was a little nervous that we would be standing among wine displays, but the two tasting rooms are relaxing and comfortable. We were given a sample of a featured wine while we perused the night's menu: this is off to a good start.
Most of the table chose a red flight, and we were curious about the smoked olives and ordered that as well. Sadly, I did not jot down the vinos I sampled but the host kept the tastings coming UNTIL (::dramatic music::) our table was in agreement that the smoked olives were smoked into their next lifetime. There was no olive-ness left, someone in our party asked if other patrons had felt the same. Big mistake. The staff herded around the bar clutching their bottles while gasping "Why no! We've gotten rave reviews for our smoked olives!" That prompt friendly service evaporated real quick and we were left flagging the server down for our last tasting and the check. A bit of a bummer way to wrap up what was a wine-tastic evening thus far.
Silver lining: the kind man manning the store was incredibly knowledge about all things alcoholic. We had a lengthy discussion about tequilas. The man knows his stuff. All of us left with purchases and some recommendations for later. The store staff are approachable and friendly, I would feel comfortable sending those new to wine here. -
Review from Linda H.
Los Angeles, CA
8/8/2011
Used my Groupon for two wine flights and crostini.
Maybe the waiter/bartender really wanted to go home or we were getting the so called "groupon" treatment OR he thought we were too young to understand wine. Whatever it was, Mr. Grumps was kind of cold and not very helpful. Kind of muttered a few words when I asked him a questions and stalked away.
We tried both a red and white flight. They were all pretty good, but none that stood out enough to pick up a bottle of. not a wine expert, just a
I came with really high expectations for the crostini because yelp and the website raved about them. But when they came to out table, it was a tiny little plate with 6 sad little pieces of bread with barely any toppings. I was expecting cured meats, cheeses, and veggies as described. But I think all we got was some candied ginger on one, hummus, and pesto. SAD DAY.
I think the server burnt his first attempt at making our crostini because we could see and smell the smoke billowing from the tabletop grills...
On the brighter side, we decided to pick up a bottle of moscato on our way out. The cashier guy in the front was super helpful and cheerful.
He recommended La Caliera for $22-$23/ bottle which we really enjoyed. so thank you!
So my only complaints are the letdowns of the crostini and the grumpyness of the waiter.
EXTRA TIP: If you check in on 4square, you get free crostini! Not that its good...but hey free food! -
Review from Jake L.
Santa Monica, CA
9/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Awesome selection of some really fantastic wines.
The new tasting room looks outstanding...in fact...I'm writing this at 5:17pm on a Thursday...I need to get over there now.
Enough said...5 stars! -
Review from Annie D.
3/29/2012 2 photos
We came here because we bought a living social deal for 4 people with 4 wine flights, 2 meat and cheese plates and 2 crustini samplers. Service was good, friendly but not hovering. They started off by pouring everyone a complimentary glass of prosecco (which we ended up buying a bottle to take home). The wine flights were generous pours with a good selection of wines. I was very happy with the wines here. The meat and cheese platter however lacked both in presentation and taste. I did not particularly like the cheeses they had chosen to accompany our wine flights. The crustini platter was also disappointing. Soft bread with maybe 3 different types of spread that tasted merely like flavored cream cheese. Lastly, the decor and furniture was underwhelming. The stools were wobbly and uncomfortable. Standing may have been a better option. The walls are stark white with very little decor. I can be a minimalist at times, but I think the wine Expo should feel a little more inviting a festive. Come here for the wine only.
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Review from Jenn L.
Los Angeles, CA
7/26/2011 2 Check-ins Here
My favorite thing about this shop are Robert's notes about the wine, especially his quote "Friends don't let friends drink Veuve"
Been here for their Thursday 20/20 - ($20 for 20 tastings of wine). It's fun if you go with a friend and you get 2 glasses and try to guess the wine based on the descriptions. Their crostinis are yummy too.
The place is rather hidden, and doesn't look like much from the outside, but inside it's quite nice. -
Review from Morgan R.
5/13/2011
The men who run this store (one of whom drives and awesome green Fiat convertible) definitely know their stuff when it comes to wine.
I love this place because the customer service and the price are unbeatable. Everytime I come here I am asked if I need help, so I tell them what I am looking to pair my wine with, and my budget. Not once have the shown me a bottle over my budget, awesome.
Every wine I have purchased from here has nothing short of delicious like whoa! Even the $7.99 bottle rocked my world.
I always leave here happy and have a much nicer night because of my visit. I absolutely LOVE this gem of a wine store and cannot wait to try their tequila's and the tasting room! -
Review from Jeanie L.
4/21/2011
The ambiance of the tasting room was really nice, modern and intimate. I was so thrown back by the front of the store looking like a convenience store.
My bf and friend arrived there around 7pm, just before happy hour ended. We were seated off the bat and we decided to order three different flights to try out. I ordered the white wine flight and my bf and friend went with the Italian and Spanish flights. We also ordered some of their platters which consisted of various cheeses, prosciutto and crackers. The wines went very well with our appetizers.
The service was a little slow, despite there were like only 10 people in the room all together. Our server was really approachable, knowledgeable and thoughtful. She mistakenly told us the food was half off for happy hour, and charged us half off the food (score!).
I suggest coming to happy hour if you can since it can get expensive if you're ordering $8-10 appetizers. We ordered 2 platters of appetizers for the three of us and ended up finishing all of it. Overall, the place was very clean, neat however service was slow in between flights so I was kind of disappointed. The food was brought out kind of late...which kind of got me irritated, but overall it was a good wine-tasting experience if you're looking for something around the neighborhood.
After wine-tasting, you get 10% off your purchase of wine in the store. They have a great selection of wines and beers and some of their wine's are on sale which is great without breaking your wallet. After coming to Wine Expo and being exposed to the different wines, I was warming up to the idea of more wine tasting in the future. Thanks Wine Expo for a great experience! -
Review from Jenny J.
Santa Monica, CA
1/14/2012
This is a great place to get intelligent wine - Not your average wine store, for sure! There is no pretense and a great selection of wines you will not find other places. One of these days I will check out the wine tastings in the back room...
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Review from Michelle E.
Burbank, CA
12/30/2011
This was SUCH a surprise. You go inside, and it seems like just a wine store with florescent lights...and then my friend took me to the back, to this little like speakeasy wine bar. It was so cozy and fun! Thursdays are great because it's 20 glasses of wine for $20! We shard one, ordered some appetizers and enjoyed our flight. I highly recommend this place for wine geeks, and anyone in the neighborhood who likes to go off the beaten path....
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Review from whitney k.
Santa Monica, CA
7/14/2011
I've driven by this place a billion times and always assumed it was just another wine shop. It almost looks like a convenient store from the street, with the harsh lighting and misleading name, but it's so much more!
Not only do they have a large selection of unique imports from spain + italy (that I haven't been able to find anywhere else), they also have a full blown tasting room in the back with insane deals. We're talking 20 tastes for $20 on Thursdays. The wine is tasty, the pours are generous, and there's plenty to eat. You'll find the basic cheese plate + charcuterie on the menu, but they also bring in all kinds of food trucks on a rotating schedule, which they allow you to eat inside at no additional cost.
By the end of the night, you're guaranteed to have a good buzz and a full stomach on the cheap. Officially becoming a regular. -
Review from Mollie V.
Los Angeles, CA
1/2/2012
Love this place. Great selection of wines, delicious tasting room menu and attentive and knowledgeable staff. It doesn't get any better than this. Bevmo, Shmevmo!
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Review from Kim K.
Santa Monica, CA
4/29/2011 6 Check-ins Here
Great place - totally underrated. It offers great wine at exceptional prices. The staff is very friendly, and they always give you a little Prosecco when you first sit down. Happy Hour (5-7pm) is half off which means you can buy some glasses for as little as $1.50. Wine Expo also offers some bottles of wine that you can't find anywhere else in the US. It's pretty amazing.
Sometimes it's slow at the bar and I wish they would make a few simple changes. Firstly, the lighting at the main shop is entirely too bright and ruins the atmosphere as soon as you step in the door. It needs to be dimmed through the use of the beautiful chandeliers they already have! Secondly, they need to change their name to something like "TASTE" or "TUSCAN" or "THE VINE" and change the font style. Wine Expo just sounds like a convention center and it looks like one from the outside. It can totally be the new trendy place, but their store front isn't compelling.
It's just a shame to see such an amazing place lose customers because of appearance, but we are in LA, so it's not surprising. -
Review from Sallie and Alex L. A.
Los Angeles, CA
1/2/2012
Flights of wine, beers of fancy, and nightly food trucks? How could you NOT love this place? For more reasons and the best way to do the Wine Expo - check us out: http://offthecouchla.b...
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Review from Katherine M.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 2/8/2011
The Wine Expo's tasting room is open and this review is for that -
popped by on Sat. evening w/ my groupon and had a nice experience.
Plusses: Several flights and glasses at very reasonable prices (some flights as little as 8.00 and glasses as low as 5.00). nibbles also reasonable - salumi plates, cheese plates, crostini plates - all around 10. We each had a flight and a plate of snacks. They were out of the not so mild cheeses so I had the mild cheeses (3 of them) which were still good. they came also with smoked olives (never had before but very good), nuts, and lots of little crackers. BF had salumi which was delish.
We had a red and white flight as well (8.00). the wines were pleasing. They are also available by the bottle just inside the store and all were reasonably priced.
Cons: It was really crowded with a lot of typical LA-douches. You know the types - skinny hipsters with their skinny jeans and the girls who are dressed to go clubbing - all of them being too loud and annoying talking all about themselves. It was really one big group of them who totally overwhelmed the place for some birthday event. They hadn't called in advance so they just surprised the establishment whowhich was not prepared for such a large group and therefor service was VERY VERY slow and they were out of some things. We had to get up several times to remind them that we were on our next pour.
The upshot is is that I like the tasting room but wouldn't go back on a weekend unless it was early. Would rather keep it neighborhoody and low key so I will be stopping by weekday evenings, I think. They are open til midnight every day which is a plus!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/21/2010
Had a groupon I needed to use, so I popped in here to find some summer wines to try. Friendly… Read more »
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Review from Carol H.
Burbank, CA
3/20/2011
Interesting wine shop with a focus on Italian, Spanish and Portugese wine, as well as a good selection of champagne.
Most of the wine is value prices with a few bottles in the $100 range.
The hours on the wine tasting room are generous - so when others are closed you can come here between 5pm and midnight.
I went Saturday at 8pm and there were plenty of tables open. There are only a couple of wine flight options - 2 white, 2 red.
Not a destination - but go if you are in the neighborhood.Comment from Roberto R. of Wine Expo 3/26/2011
Carol, thanks for stopping by and for your feedback. I… More » -
Review from Sonia T.
11/28/2010
My fiance and I just returned home after stopping by the wine expo for some flights and snacks and I just dont feel right about the place right now.
Its started off alright with a complimentary glass of prosecco and some crostini but soon we realized the service was painfully slow and a bit disheveled. We understand that they just opened and all but this was the weekend after their http://livingsocial.com coupon went out and over 500 were sold, you'd think they'd be better prepared.
It took over an hour for them to serve us two flights and one cheese plate, they also didn't tell us what kind of cheese we were eating and didn't give us knifes which made eating it a little tricky. The server was very nice and friendly, just not on top of it.
We spoke to the owner a little and he didnt seem terribly interested in investing any time in us, even though there weren't very many ppl there, which rubbed me the wrong way.
After our drinks we stepped out to the shop to buy a couple bottles and experienced something we see a lot: ageism.
Seriously, I hope I don't sound like a total snob but here it goes. We look very young and shop ppl tend to think we're into binging on two buck chuck which is not the case. We know our wine and purchase quite a bit of it, way more than the average Joe. But whenever we get treated like that we take our business else where.
Now I must say, I did enjoy most of my experience here and am willing to give them a second chance because of the location and the tasting menu BUT I felt I needed to say something about what happened tonight so perhaps, they can work on their ppl skills.
I will be sure to rewrite my review if they deserve it. -
Review from marlon e.
Chino, CA
11/22/2010
Day drinking is the way!
Bought a bottle of wine just to start the day...
good recommendation from the guy running the store... -
Review from Yi Z.
1/24/2011
Armed with a LivingSocial certificate, we decided to give the tasting room a try on a Sunday night. I guess we were the only ones interested in getting drunk on Sunday because the whole place was empty. The new tasting room is dark and elegant. We ordered 1 regular white flight and 1 regular red flight plus a 12 crostini sampler and a salami plate.
The wine flights were $8 and $10, respectively and featured an interesting selection of Spanish, Portuguese and Italian wines. I can't say that I loved any of the wines I tasted but it was a fun experience. The 12 crostini sampler plate was awesome. Every single crostini was delicious and super-warm. It was so worth $9. Unfortunately, the Ticino Pepper Salami plate wasn't nearly as good but I probably should have anticipated the flavors.
Anyway, we had a wonderful time at Wine Expo and service was excellent throughout our tasting. This would be a fun place to come for a date or with a bunch of girlfriends. It's quieter than wine bars but it still has a lovely ambiance. -
Review from Jerry P.
Santa Monica, CA
6/6/2011
I usually buy my wine here.
Robert is a walking encyclopedia of wine. He can tell you the first name of the producers from the various boutique champagnes he carries, and many other vinters as well. He has been to many wineries in France, Italy and the USA and chooses value AND quality . Tell him what you or the host are preparing food wise, and he will offer wines from $10-$80 to go with it. Robert also has a fine selection of proseccos. They also carry most other spirits, the most interesting ones of course.
And the tasting room is great. Good first or second date place. -
Review from Ilya K.
Santa Monica, CA
3/2/2011
I tried to go to the tasting room yesterday, around 7pm. the tasting room had a 40 minute wait, and the cashier let me put my name down for a reserved table and told me i could come back in 30-35 minutes. when i came back 33 minutes later (seriously, i checked my phone for the times for all these things), he told me other people came in and they gave away our table and seated them, and it would be another 15-30 minute wait. obviously waiting another 30 minutes was not ok, and being lied to was very much not ok.
i can not comment on the quality of the wine or the food, but obviously the service was pretty unpleasant.Comment from Roberto R. of Wine Expo 3/2/2011
We are very sorry that that happened. We were in the middle… More » -
Review from A K.
Venice, CA
12/21/2010
Open on X Mas DAY??? So, take a moment to find a bottle of truly affordable cheer on the way to your next party. These passionate Bacchus brokers created a great neighborhood vibe, with all the classic wine expertise minus the snobbery. Just the opposite. Their new wine tasting bar features inexpensive flights, so you can shop wisely...or just relax as you learn from their friendly staff. There is also a small retail section with lovingly-chosen gourmet (non-alcoholic) goodies to enhance any party or kitchen cabinet.
The art at the wine bar ties it all together in a
room so richly designed and comfortable you'll want to stay till closing...which is MIDNIGHT, yo!
Do not miss this local gem. -
Review from Dan P.
Los Angeles, CA
3/24/2011
This place is fantastic. My best friend used to live nearby here, and though he has since moved I still love it as a great place to stop by and pick up some quality beer or wine. The staff is very, very knowledgeable about beer, wine, and spirits, and for a bit of a wine novice like me, it's the ideal place to stop by before heading to a housewarming or birthday party. But even more than that, it's just a great spot to make your regular alcohol pickups. They keep much better hours than Beverage Warehouse and are much more conveniently located, plus they keep the beer cold! It's a great spot for beer hounds like me.
I finally had a chance to stop by the Tasting Room and wow, what a place. The layout and design is fantastic, with artwork adorning the walls and even a back table in a separate windowed room for larger parties. It was a bit dead when I was in there, but it has a great and quiet ambiance that is rare to find anymore. There's no TV or weird distractions, just some light music. I can see myself stopping in here to do a bit or reading, or possibly bringing a date for some vino. I had one of the wine flights and a couple of craft beers, and the bartenders had some excellent comments and recommendations and were super friendly. I hear they're starting a happy hour here too, so I'll definitely be working it into my regular bar rotation more. Simply awesome.Comment from Roberto R. of Wine Expo 3/26/2011
Dan, we DID add that Happy Hour and it's a double fisted… More » -
Review from Aunny D.
Los Angeles, CA
6/15/2008
Holy Mary Mutha-O-Gawd, I have reached the Holy Land!!!!
Eric, you are a god among men. Eric happens to be the "beer guy" who is more than well-versed in wines and this weekend he helped me re-stock my bar with an incredible selection of Italian, French and South American wines. Don't let the location or the name fool you because the Wine Expo has everything (wine, champagne, prosecco, cave, tequila, whiskey, a little bit of everything)! This place is in a small, unsuspecting strip mall but it packs a punch. The selection is incredible, the staff friendly and knowledgeable, and the prices are reasonable. This is my new go-to wine shop for sure. I will most definitely make the drive from East to West LA to shop here from now on!
