It looked amazing form outside thru the windows...so many wines!! So we decided to stop by on the way back crossing the bridge. First, their wine tasting was closed....which was a huge bummer. Every little wine place had a tasting menu on the same street, but not this one with a huge wine collection. Second, the guy with glasses sitting by the entrance did not acknowledge us when we entered the store, not even a hello. Very welcoming. We walked out shortly after. This place looked amazing but lacks customer service. How are we supposed to decide what to buy if they are not willing to assist? read more

great selection of wines, fast service. I love they give you a short description of the wine + some extra details about the vines, weather, producers, etc. read more

Back Room Wines has an amazingly knowledgeable staff and a wide selection of interesting wines!

This is the best little wine retail shop in Napa. Anyone that is giving this place a bad review for poor customer is crazy. They always take time to help me select the best wines and they even remember the bottles I've purchased in the past, which is pretty impressive considering how much wine they sell. I love how the wine experts will help me find great bargain wines when I need to buy a lot of wine for parties. read more

Out of all the tasting rooms we stumbled into this place because it looked busy...until we got in & realize people were just purchasing wines then leaving. Their tastings here are a little different. But still try it. They pretty much left us to our tasting after we were given our wine. Nonetheless, try it out for yourself or come on in &'purchase a few bottles to go. read more

Enjoyed a couple wine tastings with my boyfriend before dinner. We usually don't like white wine, but the one on the tasting menu was so good (not too sweet or too sour - the perfect balance). Good wine tasting prices and good friendly and engaging service while we tasted 7 wines. We went home with a tasty pinot noir, and wish we got a bottle of that white too. I think they forgot to give us 10% off of the bottle since it was one of the wines we tasted, but I let it slide since it would only be a $3 difference. read more

See all

Stopped by this little shop as we didn't have time to do a full wine tasting. Described what we typically like and they gave us recommendations in our price range. We purchased those. We have tried some of them so far and loved them! The prices are also reasonable. read more

The store is. Awesome and descriptions written for each bottle are clear, accurate and consistent. Great selections.

Staff were awesome and well informed. Allowed me to taste a few wine helping me to make good selections

Small enough to be intimate, offering a range enough for egalitarian and snobby moments alike, the price points and flavor ranges of the wines make this place a good find for tourists looking for Napa stories as well as locals looking for international expressions. I've dabbled into expensive and inexpensive Italy and Champagne so far. France is next! read more

I love this wine shop . They support small brands and have a very knowledgeable staff. The tastings they do are a great resource for anyone looking to expand their wine world, regardless if your a professional or a novice. They do a great job, period. read more

This place is probably good for buying wine (reminds me of the wine section at World Market stores), but not so great for tasting. Many of the 1- and 2-star reviews nailed it... It was soooo awkward upon entering, I wish we had just left because it got worse before it got better. No greeting from the guy at the register-desk thingy, so at first we thought there was a private event going on (a small group of ladies lounged in the bar / seating area). The bartender (or wine pourer?) literally started by asking us if we knew what we wanted to taste... No "Hello," No "How are y'all?" No "Where ya from?" No "What brought you here?" No "Would you like to blah blah?" No "Here's how it works" ... just NOTHING. Paid for the tasting, and made our 1st selection (here, they don't pour them all at once). The bartender served us & gave us our space. Nice, right?... No! We finished #1 then looked around awkwardly to see of he was around to pour selection #2. He had his back to us, but eventually noticed we were done. So weird to just sit in their silent little store, old ladies chatting softly nearby, and we're just looking around for dude! Basically, after pouring every selection, he would leave to go unpack boxes & stock shelves! No water was offered to drink; no clean glass between wines; not even a rinse of the glass was an option! We made it through the tasting, even though some of our selections from the menu were out of stock / unavailable. One cool thing was that the wines they offered were from wineries that have no tasting facilities. I'd mentioned that it got better somehow?? At one point during a pour, he made an obvious blunder, and we weren't going to laugh unless he did -- AND he did, so we did, and then he just opened up like a flower to the Sun! His whole attitude & demeanor changed, he cracked a few jokes, tried making small talk, just wow! Not sure if he's required to act a little bit snotty in order to make their establishment appear high class, or maybe he was just shy or nervous? Anyways, 3-stars rather than 2 for having a personality and being real for a second. read more

Back Room Wines - Wine tasting selection... $10 / person - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Napa, California

So this was a really....odd (dare I say "racist"??)...experience for me. My friends and I sat down for some wine tasting. I'm Korean and the other three are white. As the host/server popped open the first bottle, he started describing the different notes of flavors we should taste. But then, he looked right at me (and only me) and said "Oh, YOU'LL know this one! This one has some lychee flavors!". I was speechless. Like okay ya maybe once or twice I have gotten some lychee in my boba but I'm pretty sure my white friends also knew what a lychee was. At first I thought "Hmm..maybe he thinks I'm like from Asia, visiting Sonoma?" But then that was debunked because I definitely spoke full sentences with him by then and he would've clearly noticed that I have an American/Californian accent, not an accent from East Asia. Also, I have a septum ring and bleached pink/blonde hair. I can't recall anytime that I've seen an Asian tourist that looked like me. I seriously look like a typical 20 something year old woman from SF. So ya, I probably won't be coming back here anytime soon, but at least I have a funny/sad story to tell at parties now. Oh and the wine was alright. They have some pretty good moscatos that have a big range of sweetness. read more

Amazing and interesting selection of Napa Valley wines, great prices, really friendly staff. Will return frequently!

My girlfriends and I celebrated a Dirty Thirty in Napa and other than brunch we were just kind of winging it. This was the first place we stopped in and it was fantastic. We were the only ones in the store; Jason (I believe that was his name) took care of us, let us pick the music and then even treated us to a free taste of desert wine for the birthday girl. He even recommend that we go to the place next door and it was also amazing. Thank you!! read more

This is a great place for an authentic Napa wine experience. It doesn't stock mainstream wines; it just works with little wineries that don't have mainstream distribution. What an amazing little company! Go to one of the tastings, or just ask a staff member what you're looking for and the price range; places with so much class and that support small local businesses are difficult to find. read more

I came here looking for a gift for a birthday party. I really don't know a lot about wine and the were at least vaguely attentive. I did the 20 dollar tasting which was a good value. I tasted a yummy Zinfandel ( Green and Red ) that was delicious. I ended up purchasing a bottle for myself and really enjoyed it. I think it only cost $27. I was looking for a tasty Cab for between 50-75 for a gift. The gentleman conducting the tasting recommended a Cabernet with a price tag of 85. I bought it . After a long weekend in Napa and sharing the 85 dollar bottle, I have to say I was very disappointed in this wine. It wasn't nearly as good as a 28 dollar of Roth I bought at Safeway and didn't even compare with the bottle from Silver Oak that I paid the same price for. Trust is a huge issue with me in business. I no longer trust this business. I won't buy bottle here I can not taste ! read more

We visited this nice wine shop on a whim. I wanted to learn about some local under the radar wine makers. We initially wanted to do a tasting but their tasting room was not open. So we decided to take a tour of the store with one of the employees. These guys nailed it. We're fairly new to selecting boutique wines. I really appreciate learning the story behind the small wine makers. The gentleman who helped us was great. He'd spent years in the corporate wine industry and knew all the ins and outs of wine production and marketing. He recommended some great local small batch wines after asking us a series questions in a very non-judgemental way. We felt like he was acting in our best interests trying to guide us to the best wine for us. Every bottle he recommended had a full story about the wine maker's journey from wine worker to wine maker. Most bottles were in the $30 to $50 range. Each had it's own write up so you could read through what makes each wine unique. I would make this your first stop in Napa. Pick up some wines to enjoy outside the Oxbow Market or riverside park. read more

My experience was so-so. The tasting experts were nice enough, but there wasn't much of a personal touch. Definitely glad I had the half off tasting card. read more

Back Room Wines - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Napa, California

Everyone from all walks of Napa life were at Friday's tasting: wine makers, friends, tourists, cyclists, loafers, curious street walkers, revisionist theorists, the gal that works at that one place, her boyfriend that is too good for you, window shoppers, divorcees, Peter Fonda, chauffeurs, the VP of livestock waste management, baristas, barristers, and Kevin from Dayton - Everyone was treated with equal importance. Nary a matter of what you are or what you do - Here you can be who you are - You can be yourself. Imagine going to a bar and putting four or five drinks on the tab and the bartender saying, 'if you buy a few bottles of liquor from our stock, the tab's on us'. If you're like me, hitting the liquor store on the way home was already in the plans anyway. At Backroom Wines, they set down in front of you a flight of eight glasses of wine. Then, if you buy three bottles from their show room, the tasting is free. So, you get to try some nice hand-selected wines and also get to go home with what you liked.. or something perhaps that caught your eye that you've never tried. It's a fun learning adventure at a cheerful and relaxing wine shop. The staff are gracious.. very helpful.. eager to greet and get you started on a tasting.. or maybe you are in a bit of a rush. They are happy to suggest some nice bottles to take with you. I'm going back to grab some more bottles from the 'Under $12' list, especially the Zin blend from Four Vines known as The Maverick - Like the Back Room Wines experience, it's delicious, affordable, and fun. read more

See all

Dan is very knowledgeable and fun. The wine selection is great and the pricing is very good. It is great as he has wine from Spain, France, Oregon and local Napa plus more. There is specific gin , absinthe, and other liquors. Great place to make a case of wine as a gift. Will definitely go there again. read more

I love wine tasting- especially when its only $15 dollars/tasting and to top it off- all wines are 10% off for the evening! This Wine store not only excels in California wine selections but also carry international labels as well. We stumbled to this place meandering through the streets of Napa- and with the festive atmosphere inside- one could not hesitate to see what the offerings was inside. Brace yourself- its Italian wine night in Napa! Having been tasting California wine the whole afternoon- it was a pleasant surprise to change into the Mediterranean coast of Italy where its flavors in the white and reds bring new palate pleasing wines to a new level! The Selections were: MASTROBERARDINO Fiano di Avellino 2007 PIEROPAN Soave Classico 2007 JERMANN RIbolla Gialla "Vinnae" 2007 GIACOMO MORI Chianti 2005 BADIALI Lacrima di Morro d"Alba 2006 PARUSSO Barbera d'Alba 2006 LIBRANDI Vino Passito "Le Passule" 2005 The wine tasting can include the smorgasbord of cheese and sausages (chicken) and soppressata I believe it was a $10 additional fee. I have to add that the wine glasses were filled most generously :-) PS- Mr. Dawson and his staff are knowledgeable and informative to without the stuffiness. Highly recommend and will surely be back again :-) read more

What can I say? Napa NEEDS more wine shops like this one. One of my go to places to find imports... that is, if I'm not going online to get stuff the 707 doesn't carry. I've visited all of them at one point or another, going so far as Calistoga in search for a killer Sancerre or a cool Syrah. Nobody in Napa Valley has the combination of knowledge, pricing and global selection... and believe me, I've looked. For my two cents you'd have to hit SF to get shops with a more comprehensive experience. And only just barely. The shop's laid out with California on one side, and old world stuff on the other. Ahhh. and the spirits selection!! but I digress.... So anyway my tip to wine lovers... get to know Dan (the owner's name) like you would your local butcher. He keeps an eye out and remember tastes and what you bought last time. (mas de plaignol rocked the house last week with my wife's salmon salad!) Right before writing this, I glanced at some of the low-ball comments. People, what's your beef? This place has never been rude to me or any customer while I'm in there.. even when the shop is filled up, someone's there to help ring me up or answer questions. and i have LOTS! now that I think about it, they does have a dry sense of humor. Hard to get sometimes, but that's your issue, not theirs. This place is not a joyride simply to get drunk at and sneer around. It's the spot to find that perfect wine to have with dinner with your special someone. tastings on Fridays rule too! 15 bucks for a whole flight. how could I forget to mention that earlier.. Take it from someone who frequents wine stores like a handyman frequents Home Depot... this is a serious and legit gem of a shop in Napa. Wish i lived closer. read more

I was hoping to do a bit of wine tasting and perhaps buy a bottle or two. I went with my mom and brother and there was no greeting. Strange, but okay. There was no one in the store at all. I remember it said "wine bar" on the sign outside but that was definitely not the vibe. There were two guys sitting at the computer and they didn't look up once. We stood around awkwardly and finally just walked out. Again, they didn't even bother to raise their heads. Super super rude. read more

The basics: It's Napa and it is another wine room. The bonus here is it it a wine room that specializes in small or off the beaten path vineyards. This was my first tasting room I hit while on my visit to Napa and I have to say I left pretty happy. Although the staff was busy unloading from a recent delivery they took the time to ask if we needed help while wandering around checking out the stock, and didn't blink when we said we were going to do a tasting even though they were obviously very busy. The man who served us was very knowledgeable about the different wines he was pouring for us. He answered all of the questions we had and event told us little funny bits of information about the products. In fact just because I mentioned my wife liked sweet dessert wines he poured us an extra wine to taste that was that type. We actually walked out purchasing that wine. What works: The staff is super friendly and they know their stuff. The room has a wide variety of wines some of the types of wine I had actually never heard of. It is not stuffy and the atmosphere is very laid back. What to improve: I can't think of anything I would point out The short version: If you are looking for a wine room where you can try some different wines from smaller vineyards this should be on your must do list. The staff is friendly and you'll leave happy without question. I'll be back on my next visit for sure. read more

I don't walk into wine stores much, as most of my wine purchases are sourced via allocated mailing list from the winery, winebid.com (my work), or Novato Costco. However, when I need something quick, usually old world wines (especially Champagne), this is where I go in Napa. Dan is very helpful and knowledgeable with unfamiliar selections. They also have a weekly tasting every Friday evening, good chance to sample some interesting stuff for a nominal cost. in fact, heading there after work for a taste of Spain. read more

Wonderful tasting, friendly staff. Interesting wine selection. Delicious cheeses (small tasting only $3). Actually found a good Gamay (which I thought was impossible)! Definitely give them a try!!! read more

I've been going to this shop regularly for well over a year now. There isn't a better place in the valley to buy wine. At first I was bummed by the lack of customer service, but it has gotten immensely better. Good work! The guys are helpful and friendly, if not bubbly. The selection is still unreal. They have such great representation of both old Napa and New as well as European wines. The real focus is California, which makes sense. If you go in on the right day, you might just find a super rare bottle hidden in the stacks. They definitely reward repeated visits. Glad these guys are here. read more

Highly recommend. One of a kind in Napa. And while I can easily imagine why many others were unsatisfied (I have to applaud Dan for keeping a straight face and being patient as he was berated by a woman asking for Champagne from Napa), I loved my experience here. Mind that if you're looking to be 'wowed' by a winery throwing the kitchen sink at you in an attempt to please you or advertise their product, you are likely to be disappointed. Try to keep an open mind when you come here. Do do do try their tasting. Expect simplicity and a focus on the wines themselves. The tasting is for a variety of wines and the list (which changes often) really helps create order to guide you through the wines and their tastes. The inventory is really diverse and Dan is a tremendous help finding something suitable for you. The workers are awkward though, I know, I admit. But I loved that this store was different and I found it to be an unexpected opportunity. They're also open after 5pm! They have a wine club as well! read more

This was a somewhat awkward wine tasting. The guy who helped us initially was very awkward and did not come off as very friendly. I believe it was $15 to try 6 wines. The wines were not very nice... We ordered the cheese and cracker pairing, which helped the taste of the reds. It's pretty cheap, but I'm not sure if I'd recommend it. read more

Back Room Wines - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Napa, California

Stopped into this place on our way to dinner and was not disappointed. They have an incredible variety of California wines that you can't find anywhere else. We did the "Off the Grid" tasting and were introduced to a few new reds at very affordable prices. I really wish this place was down the road from where I lived because I'd find myself coming here to shop very often!! If you are in the area, you must check this place out!! read more

Back Room Wines - Very yum! - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Napa, California

See all

Went in after reading all of the mixed reviews a little skeptical. However, a positive attitude goes a long way. The back room is worth visiting. When I first went in I said hello and did not get much of a response. I was approached a few minutes later and asked if I needed help. They directed me to some great selections and then just let me do my thing. I asked for help 2 other times and they were very helpful. What I like about the place is their selection of wines. You can buy wines from all over the world! Some are even cheaper than the ones from Napa. I ended up spending over $100 but it was so worth it. Most of the Napa Valley wines they carry are special because they don't have tasting rooms. When I was there I noticed that they don't push you to do a tasting. You definitely have to ask about it. I also witnessed many locals come in and buy the usual. It's definitely a local favorite. It's worth the stop. Final tip, there are few options under $20 so if you're looking for cheap this isn't it. read more

I've known Dan Dawson for two decades now, and he is always the most courteous of owners. I don't who Gloria met, but no way it was Dan. And this shop is great! read more

I don't know very much about wine but the gentleman that helped me here was really nice. I told him I knew I liked Pinot noir and wanted something really nice for a celebration. He recommended me the fog crest and it was outstanding. I really appreciate the helpfulness especially since I'm very new to wine. Thank you! read more

I agree with Martin and the other 5 star reviewers here, Napa needs more wine shops like this; unpretentious, easy to navigate (see those descriptive tags *EVERYWHERE*), and a price that fits every budget. I'd like to note that Yelp requires you choose a dollar sign for the shop, not a range. This business has a range - 70% or more maybe, moderately priced great wines. That's not to say I haven't seen a bottle of Screaming Eagle floating around, other rare bottles, mags, double mags., etc. BRW puts out a weekly newsletter with deals and suggestions for wine to buy now (aka: "Money Wine", eat your heart out Robert Parker). The tasting area allows many options; Patrons can sit or stand, gab with the proprietor or nibble on cheese plates that are designed to compliment the wine. You can buy a bottle and sip it there, enjoy a whole glass, or enjoy a flight of wine that changes daily. BRW is divided in half, so that one half of the shop is California wines, and the other is international wines. For locals who are both exposed to and in the wine industry, the French, Italian, German, and South American wines are a great balance. Does anyone else in Napa carry 25+ labels from Chateauneuf de Pape? That's what I call access and selection! The California wine choices encompass a stellar assortment of blends and varietals. Dan has also found room on the wall for fortified wines, liquor, and magnums. Did you walk into BRW and not see something you were looking for? There's a chance they can get it. Do you want a mixed case made and mailed to you? Yes, they do that too. As for the one and two star reviewers; I wonder if you wanted, or expected, more attention than you were getting? There's a lot of bad attitude in your reviews... I recommend you try the shop again, this time, talking to or with the person behind the counter as though they were your friend. I highly recommend Backroom Wines. Today I live in Napa but before I did, I was s tourist here, and would still stand by that recommendation. read more

Daniel is very knowledgable about wine. Plus, he offers samples of gems that were great values every time I've visited. But, the most important thing; He likes his job. Damn wouldn't you... getting to taste the best wineries have to offer, decide what to select, and steer people towards? P.S. Dr Mark says CL wine's pinot rocks! read more

My husband and I stopped in on 09/09 before we headed over to Hog Island for a bit of tasting and some snacks. The owner was very friendly and helpful and we had a wonderful time. Very personal service and loved to talk about wines. We picked up three bottles of unique wines on our way out. Highly recommend! read more

Eight of us showed up this past Saturday to kick off a downtown wine tasting jaunt for my husband's birthday and we had such a great time. Dan showed us to some comfy couches in the corner and offered the Off the Grid Tasting for $10/person. Each wine was fantastic, especially the Jules Rose. What I loved about this experience: * Dan explained each wine enough to tell us where it came from, the makeup of the blend and a little story he found interesting, then left us to taste. We much preferred this m.o., as we're locals and totally sick of wine tasting room staffers trying to become besties with us and push us into the wine club. * The tasting list was varied, with something for everyone. A very fair price, with discounts available if we were to purchase something. We'll definitely be back! read more

Worst tasting ever!!! My girlfriends and I stumbled onto this place after the spa. We tried the sparkling rose tasting for $20 each. We asked to split the tasting because my friend is not a big wine drinker. We were poured 6 different glasses of wines without explanation of which wines we were tasting. Although we were not pleased with the service, we decided to buy one bottle. We were charged $75 for two tastings plus tax (that we didn't receive) and the bottle plus tax. We will never return here. Very disappointing end to a great day in Napa. read more

Dan & Chris are the best in Napa..... Hands down!!! Helpful... Great wines and at great prices too... read more