After a day of tastings and collecting one-off bottles from various vineyards, we headed to Back Room Wines. I wanted to round out my shipment home with unique wines. Dan, the owner of the shop, was extremely helpful and walked us through the store to fill our ask. To get a sense of our style, Dan poured a small tasting and asked for our feedback. All of our bottles were packed up (the eve of the earthquake) and arrived safely in NYC the following week. We've been enjoying the wines ever since and will look to Dan's email newsletters to restock. Highly recommended! - thanks again Dan read more

Very helpful. Sold us some great wine. They had great insight and suggestions. Would go back for sure. Stay safe skiing.

Found them our first night in Napa and a great way to get introduced to a variety of regional wines not sold retail elsewhere. Knowledgeable, super friendly staff who love what they do. Besides tastings and the store, there is a small bar where one can purchase a glass of wine and visit. read more

I live in Calistoga and it's quite easy to say that Backroom Wines is the best wine shop in the Napa Valley. I've been shopping there for years (since their first locale) and I continue to shop there. If I have even the slightest request, Dan or Chris will come through always. I've overheard several conversations with customers in which a myriad of different styles of questions were asked and the staff helped them without fail. I read a couple of negative reviews that were service-related and I just don't get it. I detest snobbery in all forms and that simply doesn't happen at Backroom. My only assumption from what they wrote is that these folks were douches when they walked in. Backroom Wines can't cure them of that. There is a noticeable, AND WELCOME, lack of WA and WS scores posted. All tasting notes are written by Dan and all you need to do is read a bit about him to determine his palate credentials. I live here so, for the most part, I don't shop at Backroom for Northern California wines. If you want them, they have them! (All varietals) The store has a strong nod toward Southern Rhone, Loire, Italy, Germany and Austria. If I can somehow muster any slight complaint, it's that I have to usually shop elsewhere for severely dry Riesling. I don't think this style is the shop's favorite but I assure you that all German/Austrian wines in the store are of the utmost quality. In the Napa Valley, it's fairly warm in the summer. Napa wineries (one of which I work for) don't really have a penchant for making affordable summer whites. Chardonnay isn't the most likely warm-weather white and Sauvignon Blancs are now entering the $30+ range. Dan's selection of affordable (under $20) whites from all over the globe is astounding. I spend time in all wine shops in the valley and Backroom has set the standard. You can attend themed tastings on some Thursdays and all Fridays, you can buy a bottle at the shop, relax and enjoy it there with a friend, you can find Napa's elite "boutique" wines as well as a $25 Gigondas that will make you question why you wanted the boutique wine in the first place. Whether or not you like a wine shop is usually a matter of opinion, but if you don't like Backroom wines, you're simply incorrect. read more

I took my co-workers here as part of our holiday party, and it went great! I was worried our large group would be a burden, but the staff at Backroom Wines handled our group with no problem. The owner, Daniel, personally assisted our group. He picked great wines, gave us the back-story on each of them, and made it really stress-free for me as the party planner. Everyone enjoyed the atmosphere and wine. When we left, one of the members of my party had lost an earring on the couch. Spencer from Backroom Wines found the earring and walked it over to the restaurant we were at. She was so happy to have her earring back, and I thoughtthe personal touch they provided was AMAZING. They went above and beyond to take care of us and make our holiday party fun. Thank you Backroom Wines! We can't wait to come back next year! read more

We've been ordering wine from Back Room Wines since our first visit in 2008. Dan Dawson takes the time to determine what your wine palate prefers and guides you to wine selections that fall in line with your preferences. BRW specializes in small lots, which have limited production. There are some wines here that you can't even find anywhere else. Wine is like any other commodity in that you usually get what you pay for. Anyone expecting 5 great wines for a $10 or $15 tasting fee is ignoring this basic rule of economics, and ignore any reviews based on them. On multiple occasions, I have ordered wines on his personal recommendation alone, and they have all been great. The wines we have ordered range from $18 to $220 a bottle, so we tried a few dozen different wines. You really need to subscribe to his newsletter, available by signing up online. Critical tasting notes are provided, so you have a good idea of what to expect of each vintage. I have not found another wine retailer online or in person that provides the same level of quality recommendations combined with personal service. read more

I ame in to buy some wine, and decided to taste while I was there. I am a knowledgeable wine consumer and buyer. No Novice here. Could hardly get them to serve me at the tasting bar. These guys have their noses firmly pointed in the air. If you want attitude with your wine, this is your place. It is like they have a private club, and they do not want you in it. Do not waste your time with this joint. read more

Over the past few months I have become a regular here. I go every Friday night for their tastings (although they do tastings other nights of the week too) and they are wonderful! Each Friday has a different theme - tour of Italy, tour of France, Pinot Noirs, Sparkling wines, Roses from around the world, Rhone valley wines, and many many more. The experience is always a great one! I learn a ton and expand my wine knowledge further with each visit. I highly recommend stopping here - the wine selection is great! read more

Zero stars! What a mistake my wife and I made going in the door. It practically ruined the rest of my day. The guy working there was rude and condescending to us. We asked simple, legitimate questions and he looked at us like we were stupid. Maybe if we had paid him even more money we could have gotten a little personality with our tasting. We had been standing for a while at the tasting counter when I decided to move two stools to the counter for us to sit on. When we were finished, he "told" me to put the chairs back! Pompous shit head!! Don't go in there! read more

Dan was a great host to us yesterday. He spent alot of time with us telling us about the wines, the winemakers and their vineyards. We of course couldn't stop ourselves from sauntering thru his well stocked wine shop for some other treasures. Dan was very helpful, friendly and knowledgeable. We'll go back for sure! read more

Unbelievably bad experience. I bought a 75.00 bottle of scotch for my anniversary. I added a 3.00 gift bag so I could write a note to my wife. I'd been in here before and new the owner was not a people person, but this takes the cake. He put the scotch in the gift bag, I thanked him and went to my car parked in front. The bag ripped. I went back in and asked if I could have another. He looked at me as if I was asking to take his first born child, but said" ok". He then came out to my car and asked me to role the window down. "did you rip the bag or did it rip on it's own". I offered to give it back and began to question my purchase. He looked at me and in his dismay walked away. In Napa, service is everything,especially if you are local. so long back room wines. Should have gone to bounty hunter. read more

My husband and I just moved to Napa, we loved the tasting and the huge variety they have. Dan and Richard are great and know exactly what to suggest based on what you like. read more

Well, I was buying wine (bottles) and commented that I wish they sold wine by the glass. I was told (by the owner I presume) that they do indeed and did I want one? I replied that we had made plans to meet friends at another place because based on their website, it seemed that they did not offer wines by the glass, just flights, half and full bottles so we made plans accordingly. As he perused his own website to find out why we were going elsewhere, I was reiterating as he scrolled what I saw and how I came to the conclusion that they did not offer wines by the glass, which at that time he coldly said to me, "Thanks, I HEARD YOU." I have owned a wine bar, have had many businesses in the wine business and I could not believe that he said that - I have always welcomed information and constructive criticism that helped me make my business better and stronger. I will not be returning to that shop and will encourage all that I know to patronize places that welcome them and understand that the business that they are in is : service and hospitality. Selection of wines is great, but I can get other shops that treat me like a human to order the same wines for me to purchase. What a disappointment in service and attitude. Down right rude, period. read more

Dan at Back Room Wines really helped me out in a pinch. A really nice overall experience. Thank you!

Back Room Wine is the ideal place for anyone wanting an excellent selection of fairly priced wines. You will be made to feel at home whether you are just starting to appreciate wine or are already a serious wine geek. This is a place that attracts both locals and out of town visitors, and if you live in the area, you will see lots of familiar faces on Friday evenings at the special tastings. This is one of the few places where I buy recommended wines without tasting them first. The Friday tastings have become a real Napa event. read more

Great wine selection, excellent service. My wife and I visited on a Saturday mid-day, and were treated to a truly enjoyable wine-tasting experience. Try one of their wine-tasting snacks...especially the Double-D...really delicious! Friendly, relaxed ambiance. We'll definitely go back next time we're in Napa, and hope to do so soon! read more

OK, usually like this place but getting a little taken advantage of lately. Just did the Champagne tasting the other day with my wife - $20 each, really? OK, so kind of cool these "Grower" lots aka - stuff that nobody else wants. But when ya guys don't get around enough and it's warm - well, it's just awful. Oh, and really... the wines were just not very good to start with. And yes... I know my wine. Step it up. I left half way through the tasting as I thought... nothing here and too hard to get attention and service and... well... they were all warm in wine glasses. Not exactly to the level you'd expect a sophisticated wine shop IN NAPA to be. Step back and step it up guys. I'll try again, but gotta get better. read more

Dropped in while in Napa and was pleasantly surprised. Very good selection of international wines and generous tasting pours. Dan was very knowledgeable and went out of his way to explain the wines. Will definitely return when back in Napa. read more

I do not go to Dan's new place as much as I used to go to the little place he used to have on a side street. It was a great place. His new place has much more wine and I have found that he is as friendly as ever and is as helpful. He has become more knowledgable as time passes as you would expect but he still has fun with his place. A must see for visitors to the valley. A great way to get a quick survey on various wines on a Friday afternoon. I am glad he is there. read more

We went to the Southern Rhone tasting on Friday night and LOVED it! I love the insights from the staff, the tasting notes, and so far everything that these guys have recommended. There was a nice crowd, but still room to sit and taste. The wines were good, and they were affordable. It's always nice to take a bottle home and have great tasting notes & food pairing ideas. read more

Back Room Wines is a treasure. My husband and I shop there regularly, especially if we're looking for something special, and we regularly attend their Thursday and Friday night tastings. The staff is super-knowledgeable - they can tell you about the flavors and back story of every bottle in the shop - and happy to help. Just today, I called up, wanting to send a bottle to a friend. Over the phone, in about 2 1/2 minutes, Dan (the owner) was able to recommend a great wine in my price range and ship it for delivery TOMORROW. Awesome. read more

Chris and Dan definitely know their stuff. Many wine shops in Napa have a limited international selection, but they have a great mix of old world and new world. All the wines are great you wont find a dog here. We are happy to have this nugget of a place available. read more

The Owner Dan is a Napa native and has intimate knowledge of Napa's best boutique producers, many whose wines are sold out before the public has a chance to dicover them. His events are educational and worth and his knowledge of Napa wines will guide you finding the perfect wine for your palette. read more

My husband and I were at Back Room Wines in August. What a great experience! We enjoyed the wine tasting, bought some great wine at a good price, enjoyed leisurely wine tasting, they have a wine tasting bar that over looks the store and a couch and table with books, you can relax and enjoy your wine, order a small plate of cheese and crackers, listen to the music, hang out and enjoy the other wine-tasters company. Thoroughly enjoyed our wine tasting experience here, it's located at the beginning of the Napa River Walk, definitely, check it out, when in Napa! read more

Mostly unknown wines... but owner has made some great selections. I appreciated that he took the time to share a bit of his wine knowledge and in exchange I bought a few bottles. They all tasted delicious. I will be back and have already begun recommending his shop. read more

Best wine shop in Napa. A great number of wines from Napa and all over the world, many inexpensive. Also the least pretentious owner and staff I've ever dealt with. read more

Dan Dawson had to be the worse wine seller I've ever come across. My bf and I actually started off our Napa Valley tour at his wine shop and ended up experiencing the worst customer service ever and I work in customer service. He didn't pay any attention to us when we first entered his shop, for reason that can't be explained, and then when we ordered a wine tasting, he was either just plain rude or sarcastic when he talked to us and continually walked away to his precious computer, completely ignoring us. Eventually, his nice coworker, Conner, had to take over because apparently, this pretentious assh*** didn't have the time or day to be polite to two new customers. You know, do his job, essentially. I guess that's really hard. Maybe if we walked in to the door with f**king Benjamin's spilling out of our pockets we may have gotten more acknowledgement, but when someone thinks so highly of themselves, there's no changing them. F**k him. I'd NEVER EVER shop there again even if my life depended on it. It's too bad the other nice guys have to work there with him, they should seek new employment. He doesn't deserve to serve Napa but he does deserve to be a servant of Napa. Hi Dan, I wish I could pluck you out of this amazing world and put you into a world with your own kind, assh***s, because god dammit, you suck. read more