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Best Wine Tasting Bars In San Francisco

(credit: Jeff Schear/Getty Images)

Neighborhood wine tasting bars have opened across San Francisco seemingly overnight, alongside more established bars in popular districts and small hotels. While experiencing a variety of wines from around the world, including from some of California's newer, more focused wineries may be the main draw, San Francisco wine bars offer a lot more. Beyond purely wine tasting, most wine bars highlight their kitchen offerings as well, pairing small plates with wine suggestions plus monthly wine centered events that boost the wine bar experience. Read on for five well-liked San Francisco wine bars, adding to a growing list of the City's best.

Hotel Biron Wine Bar
45 Rose St.
San Francisco. CA 94102
(415) 703-0403
www.hotelbiron.com

This little hidden jewel is not really a hotel but a romantic find, tucked away in a cozy alley (a charming spot, actually), where wine calls you back from those pricey, sweetened cocktails you may have been trying recently. This is California, where wine is considered one of the main food groups, after all. Hotel Biron offers an extensive wine menu organized by regions, an eclectic short beer menu, and a list of artesian cheeses and small sides to create a wine friendly tasting plate.

The Barrel Room
415 Sansome St.
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 956-6900
www.barrelroomsf.com

Not just another trendy face, The Barrel Room is a right choice setting to enjoy a glass or wine flight, as the wine menu has something for everyone. The Barrel Room offers a quarterly changing, regionally focused wine menu with a full spectrum of choices. The changing focus brings distinctive craft cocktails and spirits flights each quarter, making return visits an essential bonus. Stop by for happy hour (3pm – 5pm) after work for an excellent array of well-priced house wines, draught beer, and house cocktails bottoms up alongside a sweet deals list of happy hour food bites ($2 - $9.) For late night unwinding, visit the Speakeasy Lounge for top notch prohibition-era cocktails. Sound like fun!

Sip Wine Bar
4704 Mission St.
San Francisco, CA 94112
(415) 337-1678
www.facebook.com

Considered a "hidden gem" by its fans, Sip Wine Bar is fast becoming less hidden than it was only a short time ago. This relatively new and inviting wine bar, located above well-known Outer Mission neighborhood favorite "Bottoms Up," Sip is something different and surprises with its modern, cozy interior, complete with fireplace. Sip is the perfect spot to enjoy the variety of wines, beers, whiskeys, Soju and more, plus a well planned food menu of sharable plates. Notable too is Sip's happy hour, until 8 pm. Open Wednesday – Sunday, for now.

Etcetera Wine Bar
795 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 926-5477
www.etceterawinebar.com

With a global wine selection, deliciously different food offerings like French pizza and tapas, along with a hip but unpretentious ambiance, Etcetera Wine Bar definitely satisfies. Located smack in the middle of Valencia Street, in the magnet Mission district, known for its array of fine and casual dining, long time and up-to-the-minute bars, and the best in boutiques and quirky finds. Etcetera Wine Bar supports local artists and features different artists on a rotating basis, with art receptions to introduce them.

Amélie Wine Bar
1754 Polk St.
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 292-6916
www.ameliewinebar.com

A favorite wine bar for girls-night happy hour or date night when you know him pretty well, Amélie is oh-so-French and that's a big draw at this delightful modern wine bar with more than a touch of French flair. The wine list is an exquisite range that centers seriously on French offerings, yet shares the spotlight with Napa Valley, South African, Italian, Spanish and Australian wines, plus flights can be customized from the list. Food here is top notch with French specialties throughout, including cheese plates, charcuterie, salads, escargots, tartines, flatbreads, pizza, and much more. Happy hour (5pm – 7pm) includes a delish mushroom flatbread at $5, and a wine flight at $10. Amélie is a trés popular neighborhood spot, with limited seating, so a word-to-the-wise: arrive early, snag a few seats, and stay through happy hour.

Melanie Graysmith is a writer, artist and educator based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She writes on adult education, art and culture, business, and lifestyle topics, and enjoys writing short stories and poetry. She is also a part of the Bay Area independent film community. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

 

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