I was able to go for Mountain View's Happy Hour and bring 13 of my friends and it was a treat! Happy Hour consists of a Flight for $10.00, however if you buy 2 bottles you get the flight for free! It was very simple to buy 2 bottles as the wines are great and the prices are amazing. It's a tight fit if you have a large group, but it's well worth your wait to counter! read more

Jeff is a drunk and used way too many "F" bombs...he embarrassed our friends by making comments on how she dressed. The wine was not great and with the groupon we got 4 bottles of "mediocre at best" wine. I did not want to take any of them except the cab (which was excluded once we were finished with our tasting)....l offered to take 1 bottle of the best wine they had instead of 4 that I did not want. He made a huge scene about it not being one of the choices. It would be a cheaper deal but he said NO it isn't on the take home list and I said well on your groupon there isn't any exclusions and he still said Not happening. PS: The local band smelled something awful.. of lack of bathing and could not hold a note.. The whole experience was insulting and some what amusing at the same time. Jeff made a fool of himself not only to us but those other customers sitting around us. read more

We had such a great time. Bought a groupon for a tasting and two bottles - wines are surprising & interesting and some really tasty ones. Pinot Grigio- not a normal one, more Italian and you could drink it like water - all I was missing was a pool,sun, and maybe a hot Italian serving it to me ;) I should also note, I normally don't like Pinot Grigio. The Pinot noir, cabs, and Merlot were great too - only problem we had was narrowing Downeaster took home. The price point and decent wine - hear me out, not the best wine ever, but interesting and seriously not bad at all -- We actually let go of dinner plans,ordered a pizza, had another glass of wine and listened to ballistic missiles (guitar and drum) band which was really reminiscent and relaxing. The wine club at $30 a qtr and 4 bottles each time, free tasting for you and a friend - are u kidding, no brainer. Proud member now :) So maybe I'm a sucker but any where I can have good wine, environment, music, great service (thanks Jared and Jeff) and it made an unexpected Friday night out of San Fran super fun....I'm a fan! Great gem and happy we found it:) read more

Sign up for the groupon to get amazing deals! We purchase a 2 person tasing that was a pretty good deal. Tastings and two bottles of wine! The service was okay but nothing too phenomenal. The wine was pretty tasty and the tastings were good pours. The space is fairly small so I wouldn't recommend coming with a huge group of people but it's great for a group of 4-6 at the most. Pretty good winery considering its one of few in the area. read more

Excellent cutomer service. He was very knowledgeable with wine. I highly recommend trying the place. the wine there were delish :)

Very classic place, you will love to be there to drink wine and to get some of the bread on the menu, on the side you have nice music and sometimes a little shows. You should try it out. read more

Today, we had a great time tasting wines at Mountain View Winery in San Rafael. They don't open till 1:30, so we decided to drive across the GG bridge and eat lunch at Sol Food before we started tasting. The tasting was so much fun! Our server was Jasmine, a woman with a great personality who is informative and gets the people in the tasting room involved with each other. We had the best couple of hours interacting with Jasmine and other tasters at the bar. The wine is good and perfect for me, as none are acidic. We opted to join the wine club, a great deal, plus gives us an excuse to return to the tasting room every few months or so. Also you can have the wines shipped to you if you prefer. The tasting room is comfortable, the ambiance fun, the wine tasty. Give it a try, you will be happy you did. read more

We went to Mountain View Vintners on a Saturday afternoon with a groupon. It included a tasting for two, and 2 bottles of wine. I think it was around 40 bucks? When we called to make our reservation, we were told "make sure you eat; it's a lot of wine." Yes. Location/Atmosphere-4/5. Some things: Parking is fine. I could see it being a problem if you don't know how to parallel park on a 5 degree incline in SUV-sized spaces that have no one in front of you or behind you. There are no kids allowed. It's a wine tasting room. You are here to drink. Wine. I am somewhat sympathetic, but I agree with the management on this decision. The decor inside is sort of that cheap-yuppie aesthetic that is open, clean, and impersonal. But you're not here for the atmosphere, you're here for the wine. Right? Service: 5/5. Our wine-tender was a really nice guy named Jared. He refilled our wine, water, crackers, and chocolates generously! He engaged us in conversation as well, and didn't rush us out (this is important because it is a LOT of wine). Also, this place doesn't serve food but they have compiled menus from many of the local eateries; you can call to order food and these places will deliver to the tasting room. The staff encourages you to do this! How nice! Wine: 3.5/5. It's a lot of wine. There were 10 wines on the list, and Jared let us taste 2 additional wines. The taste size is generous. The grapes are sourced from all over CA. The wine itself is pretty good. None of these will turn into my "absolute favorite" go-to bottles, but they were good. We also joined their wine-club. For $30 every 3 months, you get 4 bottles of wine (2 red, 2 white), and you drink for free in their tasting room. That's $7.5 a bottle. A bottle of Yellowtail will cost you that much at Safeway. We thought it was a good deal. Overall: This was a fun day. I'd do it again! read more

Wow! We had the best wine-tasting experience ever, here at Mountain View Vintners. We discovered this place through a Living Social deal ($19 for a wine tasting for 2 plus 2 bottles of wine), and nearly let it expire due to the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Boy am I glad we made the effort to come down here! First of all, this is no typical 4-5 wine tasting. You get to taste ELEVEN different wines, and they are generous pours! After we were done, we were given a full glass of our favorite wine. Then we got our two bottles to take home. Whoohoo - I love a bargain! Jeff (who I swear is actually Spencer from iCarly) was a hoot, and we enjoyed listening to him tell us which wines he thought would taste "gooder" with the Whoppers and chocolate kisses he shared with us. The wines are yummy, too! So good that I even bought a couple of bottles extra. We heard that they're working on another Groupon/Living Social deal, so keep your eye out! We can't wait to return, and bring a bunch of friends! read more

People need to know about the only wine tasting room in San Rafael! Also known as Mountain View Winery, we planned to stay there for two hours, but four hours later we were still not ready to leave. Our host, Jeff, made our experience. There is no snobbery, no condescending attitudes at Mountain View Vintners. Nothing but good times, good laughs, good conversations. read more

I went to Mountain View with a friend who had a Groupon. It was a fantastic deal, the wine is delicious and the staff are knowledgeable. Most surprising was how fun the atmosphere is! This is not the pretentious tasting room some people would imagine, rather for people who simply love wine without the fuss. They play upbeat music and the staff feel like friends. They even have fun snacks to pair with (Whoppers candy!). By the end of the night all the patrons had effortlessly gotten to know each other. This will now be my go to place when I want to enjoy a mellow glass of wine after work or to try a flight during to pleasantly pass the time before going out on weekend nights. read more

I learned about this place from friends and a livingsocial deal. We had a full tasting and got to take home whichever two bottles we wanted. The experience was beyond excellent and the guys and gal running the tasting were awesome. They have a deal at the Farmer's Market. You buy a glass for $4 and then you get $4 drink tickets. Every time I come in it's a good time and the atmosphere is always different. No matter what, you'll have a good time and these guys will take care that you enjoy your experience! read more

When they aren't busy thats the time to go, when they are... good luck getting their attention. They need a third person working and they would be perfect. That being said with a tasting (make a reservation) you get 12 [you heard me 12] tastings. And they aren't little tiny things, they are full on quarter to half glasses. The place can be a little hard to spot, so keep an eye out for it. Go and enjoy. read more

Pretty good. :) We ended up joining the wine club which is extremely affordable! And I just got our shipment today in the mail! Fun and easy. They also let us choose our own music which was cool. I didn't like the cheese plate because it was one of the 'pre-packaged' ones and was not super fresh, Other than that I liked it. :) read more

Jeff, you are awesome Sir! Great birthday gift for the husband, we got to taste 12 different wines, from Pinot to Chard to Moscato. Nearly all delicious by the way=) Jeff was hilarious and extremely insightful. He was heavy handed with the tastings and we got to leave with freebees! The husband got a very full glass of our favorite wine "dryhole"..will totally be back! Great Groupon deal!! read more

We loved this place . Great groupon deal got there as we'll be back for sure. Live music was perfect. The owner is a fun guy and like to see people happy and having a good time. Wine good and great prices. Highly recommend this place! read more

Like everyone else, I stumbled upon this place through Living Social. The 11 wine, wine tasting coupon lived up to the hype. There was live music and they have a heavy hand while pouring the wine. What is unique about Mountain View is that they are primarily a whole sale operation. This means that the only way to taste their wine is to either eat at one of their contracted restaurants/airlines, or visit this hub. The only thing better than the wine is the service. The co-owner and CFO served my girlfriend and I all night and was extremely enjoyable. An enthusiastic 5 star rating for this great winery. read more

Love this place! It's great to have a tasting room located in downtown San Rafael. You get to taste 11-12 wines (extremely generous pours!) and you can order a cheese plate from restaurant next door that they'll bring to your barrel table. Recently, I bought a Groupon for $36; which included tasting for 4 people, plus 4 bottles of wine! Can't beat that! read more

I bought a groupon-- wine tasting for two, and fully enjoyed my experience. This is a very mellow but fun place, with live music and entertaining staff. Unlimited pretzels & chocolate, walked away having tried over 12 wines, and with two free bottles. I'll definitely be back! read more

Wonderful tasting which including 10 different, generously poured wines for a great price! I really loved the 2010 Central Coast blended Pinot Noir, incredibly flavorful! I also appreciated how crisp the moscatos were (there were 2 on the tasting), especially as the majority I've tried are syrupy, but these were light and delicious! The hosts (I'm unsure if they are also the owners?) were beyond delightful, not the least bit pretentious, and very friendly. They always immediately spotted an empty glass and came over quickly for the next taste (and never forgot what we were on) - very impressed by the attentive service. Great location in downtown San Rafael with plenty of dining nearby. The tasting room itself was very spacious (very long bar area as well as many little tables that allowed you to have your personal space but still feel as a part of a group), but it was also very crowded; reservations recommended! We caught live music while we were there (no additional cover) which added to the great ambiance of the place. Will be back again soon! read more

Service was nice. The waitress was attentive. The food was like glorified Taco Bell, except I paid $15 for it. Maybe I've been spoiled by Napa, but the wine was corked. Not many selections for the wine. But the lady was nice. All told, definitely won't come back. I also don't quite understand how it has four and a half stars.... it must be because of the service because what you pay for here is definitely not worth what you get. read more

Backstage Marin - Wineries Near Me - Larkspur, California

My wife and I recently moved to the Bay Area from Texas, so we decided to get a Groupon for a wine tasting to see what all this wine culture was about. We moseyed over to Mountain View Vintners one Saturday evening and had an absolute blast. The place is a cute venue, large enough to fit about 30 people and a live band comfortably. Our bartenders (Bob and Dana, I believe) were fantastic. We told them that we were new to this thing and whenever we had a question, they were there to supply us with some good advice from how to drink/smell the stuff, to what determines the taste. Our tasting included 12 different wines. Each one is maybe half a glass worth, so if you're coming from out of town make sure you plan out an hour or two to hang out in San Rafael before hitting the road! Our favorites were the white moscato and pinot grigio, but we like the sweet stuff. Anyways, definitely recommend checking this place out. It's a good deal, it's a cute venue for small groups, and it's an all around good time. read more

The wine is delicious and the service is FUNtastic at the San Rafael tasting room. Jasmine was very attentive and knowledgeable and a lot of fun to talk to. She gave us great explanations and was very patient when we had questions :) a must visit spot if you're in town. read more

Backstage Marin - Jasmine is amazing! Friendly, professional and very knowledgeable :) - Wineries Near Me - Larkspur, California

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Walking around the area on Saturday night and stopped by this small wine bar. It was a packed house, but as we entered the host was quick to find us a spot as a few folks were about to leave. We sat at the bar area and skimmed through the list of wines, but instead got a Prosecco and a Champagne. In any regards, I could definitely see myself coming back here to do a wine tasting and enjoy some small bites. It was a very warm and inviting spot. read more

We had a great time - tasted lots of different wines, listened to music and even had an impromptu jam session. Jeff is a great host and the wine was very good. Don't be fooled by the location in the middle of San Rafael, it's worth a visit! read more

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The wine is great and the service is FANTASTIC! Both times I've gone, Phil has been an amazing host. Great explanations of the tasting menu and very attentive. He was a ton of fun to talk to and made everyone at the bar laugh the entire time. Amazing deal for the wine club as well! Highly recommended. read more

I'll start by saying the 2 stars isn't based on their wines. It is an overall score based on my overall experience. I did enjoy about 4 of their wines. We all have different palates so that's pretty normal. A friend and I arrived for our 5:45 appointment on Saturday 9/15. There 6 people in the tasting room ahead of us and a group of 4 came in a minute or two behind us. It was clear early that every person in the tasting room, including us, was there using a coupon we'd ordered from livingsocial.com. (this will be important in a minute) Once we sat down and were handed our tasting menus we were told we'd be tasting the entire list and all except the Napa Cab were part of the livingsocial deal. We were poured our first taste. Rather generous pours of a pretty decent chardonnay. As we were sipping we realized the person helping us hadn't even bothered to introduce herself. We also noticed everyone else in the room, even those that had come in behind us, had been given water and tasting muchies. We finished our first and waited for our second pouring. This took a while. The young woman that was originally helping us walked by several times without even acknowledging us. Finally after several minutes we received the second pour. Again a nice wine. This was a very light Sauvignon Blanc. This pour was done without our server making eye contact or telling us anything at all about the wine. Finally she walked over and put down a little bowl with chocolates and another with pretzels and said "Some snacks for you" then walked off. My friend and I looked at each other and said "did we offend her in some way"? This sort of behavior went on the entire time we were there. We were never told anything about the wines we were tasting. We were never engaged in any conversation, we were never even asked what we thought about the wines. We were using our pour bucket and at one point we looked up and she had moved it to someone else. No offer to give us something else to pour out the wine, no "excuse me" or "I'm sorry". As people were wrapping up the tastings (almost 2 hours) the young woman would ask "Have you picked out your two bottles"? She'd get them then say Thanks and let people walk out the door. Not one attempt to sell anything. Not one "What did you think"? The owners are losing a fortune in sales with this behavior. She seemed to be annoyed that we were all in there using livingsocial deals. If they are bothered by people using them....stop offering them. You got me in the door now treat me well and I might buy something. (I did buy 1 additional bottle but had to ask to buy it) To prove a point that you shouldn't assume anything about people, I left a tip. It was amazing how both people behind the counter then were very nice. It might be time for a job change. We asked for a restaurant recommendation and did get a little very misguided feedback. No offers of "Oh if you take our wine they'll waive the corkage" or "This wine goes very well with ........". At one point while we were in the tasting room there were 17 other people. How much money was lost in potential sales? Easily a couple cases on the low end. Another note - the young lady seemed very careful to fill her own wine glass as everyone was tasting but wasn't all that concerned about putting wine in the actual consumers glasses. (she did refill hers several times while we were there) The atmosphere is charming. The wines are ok. Some are pretty good. The pricing is very good.The staff is rude and could use a bit of training. The behavior by the staff just left us both confused. Very odd tasting room experience. read more

Went in with a Groupon deal for free tasting and 2 free bottles. Jeff kind of poured for us, but then he would disappear for 15 minutes while we sat with empty glasses, so the female pourer helped us when Jeff was gone. Her pours were much better than Jeff's. Overall, the wines were not that good and we had difficulty deciding which wines to pick because we didn't really like any of them that much. However, I can see this place being a fun place to hang out in San Rafael and listen to live music on the weekend. read more

We had purchased a groupon deal to visit this place while we were on vacation. My wife, infant and I had spent the previous day in Napa at several wine tastings with no problems. When we entered the Mountain View Winery we were rudely and loudly told in front of all the patrons by the bar keep that he would not allow children on the premises. The bar keep turned out to be the owner. I realize it's the owners right to not allow children in an area that serves alcohol. But there are more professional ways of addressing customer then yelling across the bar. My child was asleep in a stroller, he could have easily walked over and addressed us with respect. read more

Hoo boy. A twelve-wine tasting? Yes, it's like The World's End, if The World's End were real and based on wine, not beer. The wines are too yummy, and what really helps push you over the edge into recklessness is the barkeep, Jeff. read more

Visited the wine tasting room with my Groupon and we had a BLAST! Angelo, Jeff & Jamie were all awesome host and the wine was pretty great too. We drove from San Mateo to San Rafael and were even thinking about another drive. It's not your usual wine tasting room, IT'S SO MUCH FUN. My mom and 86 year old grandfather even had a great time. Thank you all for such a great evening! read more

The tasting room was packed -- all probably also using a Groupon or living social deal. But the hosts, wine, snacks, and fellow tasters were amazing. They made it a really casual, fun experience. My boyfriend and I didn't anticipate how well we'd get along with the other strangers, but everyone, after a few drinks in them, were so engaging. We drank a flight of 13!! wines, and they are very generous with their tasting portions. We chatted with others and the hosts for over two hours, so personable and easy going, I'd definitely recommend giving this place a go. Make reservations! Get there early for good seats. read more

This place is awesome. Bought a wine tasting with my family while on vacation, and it was the best wine tasting I've ever had. The host and owner is hilarious and knowledgeable, and he gives more wine than I've ever had at a wine tasting! It's well worth the value. Do yourself a favor and check it out -- you won't be disappointed. read more

I heard about this winery when I purchased a groupon for a 2 person tasting. We came on a Saturday night and had a reservation. Here are my highlights: Pros: - Located near many restaurants if you decide to get a bit to eat before or after the tasting (I recommend before since you'll be drinking a bit) - Super friendly staff and intimate setting - Great live music (there was a guitarist the night we went) - One wine steward was EXTREMELY knowledge about the wine profile and region, etc.(prior to their drunken stupor) - Wine stewards worked jointly to wait on staff so there was no long waits for the next pour - great wine club options / prices - great wine selections - amazing tasting - near street parking and a parking lot Cons: - I tried making a reservation online but this section of the site isnt working, I called and left a vm and never heard back. Thankfully someone picked up the second time I called a few days later. - Wine stewards lack a bit of professionalism - one went from wonderful to drunk relatively quickly and was very hard to hold conversations with by the end of our night. The other one didn't really know much about the wine or establishment and was continually complaining about getting "stiffed" by customers I guess because they didnt tip. When his friends who were there wanted to tip him since he was complaining so much he said they didnt have to since they were friends. - The cab wine was part of local listing, but we were told we couldnt get it as free bottle included in the promo we purchased since they didnt have many left. This was such a let down since we really loved it and they didnt honor what was promoted in the offer we purchased. I would definitely try this place again, hopefully our experience next time with the staff is a bit better. I know other patrons caught wind of the happenings with the 2 of them. read more

I went with two friends last Saturday evening for a tasting. Jamie was the host and he welcomed us from the start. It was one of the top three wine tasting experiences of my life. When a few other small groups arrived Jamie took his role of host and facilitated introductions among all the strangers. We soon felt like one big group of friends, not just random folks tasting together. To top things off Jamie played his guitar and sang a few songs. Very fun evening. Highly recommended. We will be back. read more

Staff is nice, wines are ok. I have to only give it one star because parking is horrible and kids are not allowed.

Wow. I did not expect to like MVV as much as I do. I knew it would be an OK experience, but it ended up being a great time! The combination of deep knowledge and complete lack of pretense is refreshing. The wines were GOOD. A few were outstanding...just like the prices. Heavy pours. Junk food pairing(you'll see), I actually heard our host say " If I pour too heavy just let me know" What? What? What? Yes it's a good place to be. Jeff is a gem, and he was our wine navigator for the afternoon. Between 12 heavy pour samples and nosh, he facilitated an atmosphere of comfort ,learning and fun with the end result of blissful tipsiness! I don't know if that guy has a sales, hospitality, psychology, or academic background, but what ever the cross section of experiences, he brings it!! The tasting room was packed. Folks are free to join in group discussions or observe and chill. I took my honey there yesterday for his 55th birthday and we left with two bags of wine! Their top of the line red a Napa Valley Cab is.like.buttah.period. And we were stoked to learn that the house wines are being served on Virgin Airlines, and in NYC, so now we've got a wine to watch for when traveling! And they'll ship to you!! I have never been a fan Mosacto or understood its allure but theirs is actually pretty darn good!! Thanx for the great time Jeff and Mountain View Vintners!! I hope you guys consider extending your hours because evenings would be superb!! read more

A friend of mine found a Groupon for this place so she decided to buy 4 tickets so we can take our husbands with us as part of her birthday celebration. I'm so glad we came here because we had an awesome time. The wines were great, some we didn't like so much but that's normal. The service & the ambiance was very fun. We tried 11 different wines and the great thing about the Groupon was that each person gets to take home a bottle. We were there for almost 3 hours and didn't even realize it. I guess drinking that much wine makes you forget about time and they pour a generous amount. Half a glass per wine is very generous in wine tastings. It's located in a luxury apartments plaza. Plenty of restaurants & cafes around the neighborhood. You can even order appetizers from the Lighthouse bar & grill around the corner & have it delivered up to the wine tasting room to pair with the wines. They had a 2-person live band which was a nice touch and the music wasn't bad at all. Highly recommend this place to bring a date or bring some friends along because you're bound to have a great time! It's a plus if you bring people who appreciate wine. Tip: Don't park at the garage across the street because that's the bank parking garage. There are plenty of meter parking spaces in the area & free after 6pm of course. The place opens at 5:30 so you only pay for 30 minutes. read more

Outstanding service! It's only been a couple of weeks since I've went and I'm dying to go back!

As a novice wine drinkers, The host, Sean, was very helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable of the products they serve. We enjoyed the atmosphere of this place. Additionally, the customers were very relaxed, friendly, and just enjoyed each other's company. I highly recommend this place for anyone who would like to experience wine sampling. Their wine prices are very reasonable as well. Thanks for the great experience, Mountain View Winery Vintners! read more