Established in 1992 by Gavin Newsom and Gordon Getty, PlumpJack Wines still adheres to the priciples of community, affordability, and accessibility on which it was built.

Although the name PlumpJack hails from the Queen Elizabeth’s nickname for fictional Shakespearean character, this Fillmore wine shop is decidedly well grounded.

General Manager Debbie Brown welcomes customers with charm and compassion while Wine Buyer Paul Birman demonstrates his vast knowledge of wine with aplomb.

In addition to the PlumpJack Group’s PlumpJack and Cade labels, the shop features a variety of delicious and unique wines from all over the world. Paul likes to visit foreign wine regions and learn about the personalities of the winemakers. After hearing about Italian winemaker Elio Altare, we were only too excited to take home a bottle of 2007 Dolcetto.

The Scene: The whimsical Elizabethan decorations which adorn the walls add a casual elegance to the intimate store.

Inclusion worthy notes: Friendly service, competitive prices, and an extensive selection of high quality and high value wines make PlumpJack the real deal.

PlumpJack (Fillmore)
3201 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, CA 94123

Neighborhood: Fillmore

Phone: (415) 346-9870

Hours:
Open every day of the year
Monday-Friday 11:00am to 8:00pm
Saturday 11:00am to 8:00pm
Sunday 11:00am to 6:00pm

Website: http://www.plumpjackwines.com/plumpjackwines/fillmore.aspx?loc=fillmore

Michael Mina’s RN74 sets the ambiance just right with its amazing decor, low lighting, and fun people watching scene. It’s the perfect place to meet up with friends after work to enjoy some small bites and wine and cocktails. Check out the full menu for dinner too.

Inclusion worthy notes:  Go to Happy Hour and enjoy 20% off food from the Wine Bar menu Monday through Friday 4 pm until 6 pm.

RN74 Wine Bar & Restaurant
301 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105

Neighborhood: SOMA

Telephone: 415-543-7474

Website: www.rn74.com

Have you been to RN74? Leave your review and comments below for other CITYSIPPER readers.

Family owned and operated, The Jug Shop has been warmly welcoming customers since 1965. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely interested in helping patrons select the perfect wine.

Inclusion worthy notes: Delivery is available within the S.F. city limits for purchases of $100 or more.

The Jug Shop
1590 Pacific Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94109

Neighborhood: Nob Hill

Phone: (415) 885-2922

Website: http://www.thejugshop.com/stores/?storeID=68

The retail wine extension Absinthe Brasserie and Bar, Arlequin Wine Market offers 800 selections of carefully chosen labels. With prices beginning at the $8-to-$16 price point and ranging upwards to rare selections of high value, Arelquin offers something for everyone. The shop features a wide selection of domestic, French, Italian and Spanish varietals, including many small-production wines. A zinc-topped tasting bar at the entrance offers  shoppers the chance to sip and sample, and hosts weekly, themed tasting events every Thursday evening from 6-8pm for approximately $10-$20.  The Arlequin Monthly Wine Club ($59 per month) features two themed wine packages shipped monthly, exclusive buying rights upon the release of new wines, with added discounts on merchandise and
tasting events.

The Scene: Arlequin Wine Merchant features robin’s-egg-blue walls and warm woods reminiscent of a turn-of-the-century general store.

Inclusion worthy notes: The same wine buyers who put together the award wining wine list at Absinthe also stock Arlequin.

Arlequin Wine Merchant
384 Hayes Street
San Francisco, CA 94102

Neighborhood: Hayes Valley

Phone: 415-863-1104

Hours:
Monday 11:00 a.m. to 7:00p.m.
Tuesday – Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 8:00p.m.
Sunday 12:00p.m.-6p.m.

Website: www.arlequinwinemerchant.com

The modern bistro decor of Bar Tartine adds a touch of class to Valencia Street in the Mission. The sourdough bread is as delicious as expected considering the same team which owns Bar Tartine also owns the popular Tartine Bakery down the street. The menu by Chef Chris Kronner is short but solid. The Beef Filet was nicely cooked and perfectly complemented by the Onion Soubise. Our server offered us tastes of a few nice wines before we finally selected the superb Tartine Cuvee. Made especially for Bar Tartine by Scribe Winery, this well structured Bordeaux blend complemented our meat particularly well.

The Scene: An eclectic mix of Mission hipsters, trendy gays, and yuppie foodies fill the small tables and bar.

Inclusion worthy notes: The ambiance is chic, the staff are charming, and the wine selection is top-notch.

Reservations: highly recommended.

Bar Tartine
561 Valencia St.
San Francisco, CA 94110

Neighborhood: Mission

Phone: (415) 487-1600

Hours:
Tuesday – Thursday 6:00p.m.-10:00p.m.
Friday 6:00 p.m.-11:00p.m.
Saturday 11:30a.m.-2:30p.m. and 6:00p.m.-11:00 p.m.
Sunday 11:30a.m.-2:30p.m. and 6:00p.m.-11:00 p.m.

Website: www.bartartine.com

The only wine store/bar in North Beach, Piazza Market relishes its new kid on the block status. Patrons who like their   North Beach institutions rustic and long in the tooth may look past this new upstart, but the friendly staff is sure to win over any detractors. Dominique, who works the retail floor and the bar, is charming and approachable. Both Dominique and L.J., the Wine Manager, offer more knowledge of wine than their years would suggest. In sum, the lack of staff pretension allows wine neophytes and experts the opportunity to relax, enjoy their wine, and maybe even learn something.

The Scene: The serene bar setting is perfect for afternoon tasting. Nighttime brings in North Beach locals seeking a nice value bottle on the way to a party.

Inclusion worthy notes: The staff is friendly and knowledgeable and the California and Italian wine selection is equally as nice.

Piazza Market
627 Vallejo St
San Francisco, CA 94133

Neighborhood: North Beach

Phone: (415) 981-9881

Hours:
Monday – Saturday 11:00a.m. -10:00p.m.
Sunday 11:00a.m.-9:00p.m.

Website: www.piazzamarket.com

Welcome to Swirl, one of our favorite wine shops in San Francisco, owned by resident oenophile Jerry Cooper. Located in the heart of the vibrant Castro neighborhood, the intimate store offers a wide selection of wine from around the world, as well as gifts and wine accessories. Although the wines  are selected for primarily for their high quality, many also posess  funky  labels derived from obscure stories. A case in point is Owen Roe’s Sinister Hand.  The label illutrates the macabre story of a land grab in which the winner literally severed his hand to touch land first.

The store layout and wine bar are very inviting and a great place to hang out, sip some wine and meet some locals from the Castro neighborhood.

The Scene: The modern decor conceived by owner Jerry Cooper is simple and elegant. Locals seek bottle recommendations from the friendly staff along the wall display while passerbys enjoy a glass of wine after work at the small rear bar.

Inclusion worthy notes: The friendly staff is full of recommendations and can help you select a bottle of wine for the party that is sure to be a coversation piece.

Swirl
572 Castro Street
San Francisco, CA 94114

Neighborhood: Castro

Phone: 415-864-2262
Fax: 415-864-1648

Hours
Monday: 1pm – 8pm
Tuesday – Thursday: Noon – 8pm
Friday + Saturday: Noon – 9pm
Sunda: y12pm – 7pm

Email: info@swirloncastro.com

Founded in Millbrae in 1976, K&L Wine Merchants now has three California locations but still remains a family owned enterprise. With an unparalleled selection of California and International wines offered at terrific prices, K&L is one of the best wine shops in San Francisco. For the tech savvy enthusiasts, K&L offers real time inventory snapshots for all of its locations. As an added bonus, if a selection is only available at another location, they’ll transfer it between stores so you don’t have to pay shipping. An extensive selection, weekly tasting events, and surprisingly accessible (i.e., free) parking all make K&L the go-to wine shop for downtown San Francisco.

The Scene: Though inside it resembles a warehouse, K&L’s racks are systematically laid out and labeled with plenty of  “shelf talkers” for your browsing pleasure.

Inclusion worthy notes: Whether you are seeking a specific maker and vintage or seeking an expert recommendation, you won’t find a better selection or price.

K&L Wine Merchants
638 4th Street
San Francisco, CA, 94107

Neighborhood: Soma

Phone: (415) 896-1734

Though the great selection of wines skews to the upper end of the price spectrum,
this shop keeps enough boutique labels to satisfy shoppers looking for a new taste sensation.

The scene: A very tidy shop with wine tasting from 5-8pm on Wednesday and 2-6pm on Saturday.

Inclusion worthy notes: We’ll pay a little more for knowledge and service of this caliber any day.

Blackwell’s Wine & Spirits
5620 Geary Boulevard
San Francisco, CA 94121

Phone: (415) 386-9463

Hours:
Monday - Saturday 10:30am – 9:00pm
Sunday 12:00-6:00pm

Website: www.blackwellswines.com

Popular with concert goers before and after performances at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, Absinthe offers traditional bistro fare by acclaimed Chef Jamie Lauren. Also of note is the extensive wine list. Winner of Wine Spectator’s 2009 Best of Award of Excellence, Absinthe’s wine list is an oenophile’s playground. Naturally, the French wines feature prominently, though there are plenty of options from California, Oregon, Italy, and Spain.

The Scene: The traditional brasserie decor of the restaurant is casual yet elegant and extends into the often crowded bar.

Inclusion worthy notes: The award winning wine list features an extensive selection of California and International wines and many half bottle options.

Reservations: highly recommended

Absinthe Brasserie & Bar
398 Hayes St.
San Francisco, CA 94102

Neighborhood: Hayes Valley

Phone: (415) 551-1590

Hours:
Tuesday and Wednesday 11:30a.m.-midnight
Thursday and Friday 11:30a.m.-midnight
Saturday 3:00p.m.-midnight
Sunday 3:00p.m.-10:00p.m.

Brunch Saturday – Sunday 11:00a.m.-3:00 pm

Bar Thursday – Saturday until 2:00a.m.

Closed Monday

Website: http://www.absinthe.com/