Knowledgeable and friendly staff who consistently make great recommendations! Best Italian wine selection in SF.

Blundered into this place on a rare sunny and warm Saturday afternoon a couple of weeks ago, I had totally forgotten about it. We were not well-dressed, we had left the house in a bit of a hurry to catch the last rays of sun. We started with a nibble in Little Saigon and had decided to continue walking up Polk since we hadn't been there in some time. There were some people hanging out at tables on the sidewalk obviously enjoying a glass. Inside the shopkeeper was seated at a table having a conversation with an elegantly-dressed woman over a glass of wine but -despite our ordinary appearance - didn't hesitate to help us. I was looking for something very specific which I had found there before: a Sardinian wine called Monica. No, really! They didn't have any but had a couple of recommendations from the region, including one with a grape varietal I'd never heard of. So we walked out of there with two different bottles. We're not big drinkers, but we had one on Father's Day and the other one a week later. Both really good. I'm glad this place isn't in my neighborhood, or I'd be wine-poor. But undoubtedly happy! read more

Great wine shop in the neighborhood! Went in looking for a recommendation and walked out with a great wine that was a winner. Great selection and very helpful. Try it out! read more

I had had Biondivino on my list for years, mostly because of Masak Masak, the Malaysian pop up that used to be held here. Now during COVID, I am an ardent fan and have ordered several cases of incredible wine. Our holidays were certainly made merry and brighter with the addition of bottles purchased from Biondivino--the Lambrusco we paired with Peking duck is a standout memory from Thanksgiving. As other reviewers have pointed out, the price to quality ratio is incredible. My husband and I call the $15 San Lorenzo Bianco il Casolare our house white; to us it tastes far more exciting and complex than many other wines we've tried at this price point. The owner, Ceri Smith, is an importer as well and I can't wait to try a Nebbiolo she brings in that we bought a few cases ago. read more

Biondivino Wine Boutique - Lambrusco and Peking Duck go together like - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

Emma was so friendly, helpful and knowledgeable! I came in having a general idea of the wines I was looking for and she helped guide us to get a great mix for our "Italian night" with our friends! It's a charming little shop with a great selection of wonderful wines in reasonable/expected price ranges. We will definitely be going back! read more

Biondivino Wine Boutique - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

Even though I spend most of my time in dumpsters and alleyway crevices sometimes I want to be a bougie rat. This means getting myself a nice bottle of wine especially after I scored 35 bucks from rummaging through a dumpster in the Tenderloin. I enjoy lil sour ass pet nats cause I love fermented shit which has that raw, unfinished taste similar to kimchee or pickle juice. It reminds me of fine sharp spoiled food. The curly haired human behind the counter asked my budget range, had great suggestions, and was really enthusiastic about wines. I ended picking up a bottle of Castel Noarna, an Italian pet nat that went well with my fermented dry aged trash sampler platter paired with dipping water. This pet nat had a nice savory finish - I could go on but I suggest coming in and discover some wines for yourself that caters to your specific palette. So scurry in, enjoy the scenery of gorgeous wines, nice flooring, check out the cool labels, and have some fun exploring natural wines. read more

This place was recommended by a very popular foodie in Rome. I traveled there in April and fell in love with the wine. After having wine shipped home she recommended this place to avoid custom fees and WOW she was right. Thank you Katie Parla I have my new wine shop. The staff was so knowledgeable and friendly we bought a case and can't wait to go back. Thank goodness I only live 1.5 hours away. HIGHLY recommend this place if you LOVE Italian wine. read more

Omg love the Chrissy's Waffles pop-ups.. why are their waffles always so delicious, and why does it always happen on a perfect Sunday with perfect weather?? They should do these more often!! * Anson mills cornmeal & bacon waffle - 4 stars http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/LzOjj7KopLc6qdqaIsbgiw?select=2HTgMRUAZr7M8TFH9j4aYw#090wIxU_U2Vt1nItvQnY4A (w/ butter & italian cherries, $8) Ohhh cornmeal. So innovative. Such a good idea. Gives it an extra grainy crisp. Though I won't lie, I do wish there was more bacon. But who doesn't ever wish for more bacon in their food? * Sweet potato waffle - 4 stars http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/LzOjj7KopLc6qdqaIsbgiw?select=2HTgMRUAZr7M8TFH9j4aYw#2HTgMRUAZr7M8TFH9j4aYw (w/ maple syrup & creme fraiche, $8) Love love love sweet potatoes. Love it in waffles even more. Only sight complaint is the creme fraiche (which we though was yogurt) - the tart flavor probably isn't best suited for the sweet potato waffles. read more

Biondivino Wine Boutique - Chrissy's waffle pop up: Sweet potato waffle - 4 stars - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I look forward to visiting Biondivino in person one day, but for now, I wanted to share how happy I am with the help I've received over the phone when deciding what wines to try--and send to friends! Emma is extraordinarily helpful; she makes Italian wines feel approachable, fun, and shares interesting details about each. She is highly knowledgeable and patient. I've never tried a wine from Biondivino I didn't like--they have such a fun and interesting selection! read more

Adorable little neighborhood wine shop! I stopped in for a Wednesday evening wine tasting with Ross Bingham, the store's importer. He brought 8 wines to try, most were from wineries in Spain, although I think the store sells mostly Italian wines. The $10 for this tasting was well worth it as Ross knew the winemakers personally and had great knowledge about the wines and how they were made. It was great to try wines handpicked by an importer. They were so delicious and unique. I actually liked 7 of the 8 wines I samples. The shop also served a couple cheeses and salami as part of tasting. Will definitely stop back in to purchase more wine next time Im in the neighborhood and hopefully try some of the Italian wines this shop specializes in. read more

Biondivino Wine Boutique - Wine tasting Ross Bingham, the shop's importer - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I had a great experience and was very happy to support a cool local business. First, there are so many bottles that there's a ladder that staff have to climb to get to some of them. Next, they're all very decently priced (all above $15 for good quality wine). I'm new to wine tasting, so I didn't really know what to get. Emma was very helpful in guiding me on the right kind of bottle I should get, and helped described what I should expect to taste. I had a very positive experience and will continue to get my wines here in the future. read more

Used to live in the area. Now I go out of my way to stop by when I can and sample their delicious Italian wines. The staff are very knowledgeable and each has a very good personality which helps them convey the knowledge instead of lording it over you. The place itself is a cool space and very neat. The wines are well priced and have a lot more character than other wine stores. You can also get cold wine if you are in a hurry. Wish they had more parking for clients but what can you do. Still 5 stars. read more

Staff is friendly and very helpful, I got 4 bottles of orange wine which is awesome, they have good selection for any price range. I highly recommend this shop. I regret so much I was going to Verve Wine when I had Biondivino just 2 blocks away from my home. read more

These folks specialize in hard-to-find Italian wines, so if you need something to go with that marinera, thin crust pizza or antipasti you've been wanting to dish up, this is your place. I was in for went for a wine tasting this week, and two Italians were debuting their wine in the states for the very first time. One would interpret for the other, and it was very romantic listening to them talk about the connection to their land in those accents. They have bottles for under $20, but they carry the pricey stuff as well. Your one stop shop for vino de Italia. read more

Fantastic addition to the neighborhood. I initially thought that the last thing Russian Hill needed was another wine shop but Biondivino stands out for a few reasons: the shop specializes in hard to find Italian wines, the shop itself looks like a work of art and the owner Ceri is super helpful and sweet. If you're looking for a wine to bring to a holiday party or perhaps to give as a gift, do yourself a favor and check out Biondivino. read more

This is a place where everyone knows your name. Owner Ceri Smith is amazing and the wine is unique, well priced and tastes like nothing you've ever had before. Be sure to ask for the blueberry wine (sorry, don't remember it's name but they'll know what you are talking about) and Turbian sparkling rose. Priced at between $15-$18 this is the best wine around! read more

I was invited to a homemade Fettuccine Alfredo dinner by a foodie celebrating her new cookbook. After being unimpressed by Bi-Rite's selection, I asked Delfina restaurant for an Italian wine specialist. This is how I took a 1 hour bus ride up to Russian Hill. Upon arrival my tension melted as I began a conversation with the owner about what type of region and mineral tones would best complement the meal. The name of the wine is printed on your receipt so you can remember for next time. I knew we made the right choice when the cooks at dinner were studying the wine label for more details. Grazie Biondivino!! read more

I came by on my way to meet some friends for dinner and drinks. I was looking to pick up a nice bottle of champagne and a bottle of Slovenian wine. This store has been the only place in SF that I have found that stocks this rare wine. The owner was absolutely wonderful! She was so helpful, gave me some wonderful insight on a few different options, and was not pushy at all. I ended up purchasing three bottles and when she found out I wasn't headed home she offered to hold onto them for me until I was done with my dinner! Talk about top notch service. I stopped by on my way home at 9:30pm and she handed them over with a smile. read more

I really want to like this place (and trust me I have tried for years) but their customer service sucks. Either that or they have amnesia. Hear me out- I bought a bottle of La Stoppa Gutturnio from them in 2011. It was a faulty bottle. Meh, no big deal that happens all the time. So I went there and took it back. They said that they would re-order one and give me a call when it came in. 1 month later I called them about it and no record of what happend. They took a note of my info again. I called back 2 months later, no idea who I was and no info on my situation, so they took note of it again. This literally happend 3 more times until I just gave up. I made about 6 attempts to let them make things right! I should cut my losses right? The problem is that this is the only store in SF and even online that has access to this specific wine. So now I'm just wine-less and out of $25 bucks :( read more

I am absolutely obsessed with Biondivino. I just returned happily from my second visit there, with 6 bottles of wine in hand. We discovered this gem from the wait staff at our favorite SF restaurant, Frascati. They suggested we check out Biondivino for one of our favorite wines, an Il Frapatto. When we went, they didn't have the specific wine we were looking for, but were so kind and friendly, and able to recommend a couple that would likely be similar. They were right--the wines were fabulous! So today, my husband and I headed back to find some perfect thanksgiving wine, as we're having family in town and hosting our first holiday. The woman (I wish I grabbed her name) was so sweet and helpful. We asked her for some recommendations of thanksgiving wines between $20-25. She recommended about 5 different wines, ALL within our budget. She told us a bit about each one, and why it would work well with a thanksgiving meal. She recommended a Rose, one of her personal favorites with turkey, but didn't pressure us when we hesitated. We ended up getting a Rose anyway! The average bottle price was about $25, because at the end we asked for a slightly more pricey, more full-bodied wine. One of my favorite things about this place, aside from the excellent service, knowledgeable staff, adorable setup, great location, and the little DOGGIES they have in the store, is the quality and value of their wines. While they do have more expensive wines if that is what you are looking for, the majority of their wines are around $20-30, which is amazing. It is so nice to go into a wine boutique, look around, and select a bottle without cringing and putting it back after seeing the $70 price tag. We have yet to have a bad bottle of wine from this place... I highly recommend checking it out, as well as asking for the staff recommendations for whatever type of Italian wines you prefer. read more

I was on my way to a friends house in Russian Hill for dinner. My plan was to pick up some wine from Willam Cross, that is, until my GF mentioned a new wine shop opened up on Green. The place is tiny but every inch of space is well utilized. I don't know anything about Italian wines, and loved the fact that I was able to walk into the shop and within minutes have a couple bottles of recommendations in my hand. We drank both bottles..of course..and they were delicious. read more

How FUN!! We had a birthday party celebration of wine tasting here and took over the entire place, room, small space.... It was FANTASTIC. It was like being invited into a friends living room and opening any bottle in their wine cellar. Great spot for an intimate group wine tasting. read more

Love local spots. Love the lazy dog sleeping in the corner. Love the employees who reco great wines. Ys, they wrap your wine nicely. Expensive, but you get what you pay for: quality and service! Need to come back for free tastings.... AND it's open pretty late when the other wine shops are closed! read more

Charming place with a wide variety of Italian whites, reds, roses and sparkling, food items, non-alcoholic drinks, housewares. This is quality wine so their prices range from reasonable ($16-27) to however more you want to spend. They also have whites and sparking wine that already chilled and they package your wine so nicely in orange tissue paper and a nice white handle bag. Service was knowledgeable about their products so whatever your choices are, you will walk out with the right ones. A nice find. read more

I love this wine shop, and it's my neighborhood go-to wine shop. It's small and quaint with a great staff always ready to offer a perfect suggestion. Everytime I've gone here, I've tried something new, based on the suggestion of the staff, and loved it every time. Plus, they specialize in bottles under $20 so they have a lot of great wines at a good price. They have the pricier stuff too - if you're so inclined. I also just love the cozy feel of this place with its adorable orange awning and location just off Polk. read more

This review is highly overdue. I hosted a bridal shower at Biondivino last spring, and thanks to Ceri it was a big hit. She was extremely easy to work with, recommended a variety of great wines for our group, and allowed us to "take over" her little boutique with our decorations, food platters, and playlists. It turned out to be the perfect event on a lovely spring afternoon (if I do say so myself). I also love the fact that she stays open late! read more

What a cute little wine shop. Was strolling by yesterday on my way to do some shopping and eating, and I happened to come across this little space. The woman in there is so helpful, (maybe it was the owner Ceri everyone seems so fond of). She seemed really knowledgeable and super friendly. She even sent us home with a few complimentary chocolates after she saw me eyeing them. Nice! Only downside I can possibly see to this, is that although nicely arranged, some of the wines are hard to grab hold off since they are sky high. So I didn't even try to pick anything way up top. Also, you can't tell what is what, but it all seems to be from Italy. Fortunately though, the place is small and she seems to love answering any of your questions. On another note, there was something from everyone's price range. I saw bottles with prices ranging from $9 - $100. Pretty good I'd say. read more

Do they have the best Italian selection I've seen so far in San Francisco? Yes. Are the rare bottles also well priced? Yes. Jeez, it even looks great...so design-oriented. They have a 10 minutes parking spot too..... I don't think you can ask for more.... read more

So happy Ceri was brave enough to bring an Italian wine shop to SF!! Nearly every Italian region is covered, and I have never seen such great depth of prosecco! Ceri is great about recommending special wines, and helped me pick out some great finds. Try a rosso conero from Marche! or a sagrantino di Montefalco! I will definitely be back when I'm in the city! read more

Ahhh, what genius is behind this wonderful little place? Wine lovers will have to search the globe to find more bottled thrills per square foot. Unique gems, well-informed and friendly staff, late hours and fair prices - all add up to a fun wine shopping experience that will lead your palate to some wonderful new discoveries. If you're cutting back on your dining out, pick up a few bottles here and eat at home - it saves money without feeling as if you've sacrificed! Cheers! Dave read more

I stopped in here the other night to buy a Christmas present for my Dad, and I was so pleased with the whole experience that I can't wait to go back. The store itself is very stylish (you'll notice the bright orange awning from far away). And, as usual, I'm psyched that it's in my neighborhood. The best part of my trip to Biondivino was the service. The owner approached me immediately (not in a harassing, Welcome-to-the-Gap kind of way). I gave her a vague, ignorant description of what I thought I might be looking for, and she was able to give me 4 suggestions in a range of prices. She's obviously very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about wine - she had little pieces of information about each one that I thought made the gift more special (instead of me just handing it to my Dad and praying that he opens it while I'm still around to drink some). She also wrapped it so nicely that I didn't need to buy one of those silly wine bottle bags. FYI - she mostly sells Italian wine. I had been looking for something "Californian", to represent my new state, but when I told the owner what kind of wine we typically like she was able to suggest an Italian equivalent. read more

My favorite wine shop in the neighborhood, by far! Great place to stop by and pick up a bottle of Prosecco or get to know the wines of Italy... the owner is also extremely helpful with matching up my wine preferences with what they carry. Personally, I like to stop by when i'm on my way to a friends house for dinner because they wrap up the bottle nicely and it's fun for everyone to try something new. They also have plenty of delicious wines in the $15-20 range. Very cute store, great service and lots of fun little trinkets and chocolates available. LOVE it. Last thing - they have some fun/interesting tasting events... usually about $10 and well worth it. Go in and get on the email list! read more

A friend of mine at work recommended I go in and speak with the proprietor. Now, this work friend of mine is a very stylish, sophisticated woman with a palate from heaven and a nose for wine like a pig on a hunt for truffles (no offense to my work friend!). When it comes to food and drink, I listen to this woman. So when I asked her where I should go in my neighborhood for good wine - after warning her I have no idea what I'm doing with wine - she told me to go here and put myself in the capable hands of the owner. "Tell her I sent you," she said to me. So after weeks of wine procrastination, on a sunny Saturday, I stepped into this cute little wine shop and boldly stated, "I have been sent here for good wine as I know not what I'm doing!" The proprietor was there and came to my rescue and was utterly charming. She gave me the scoop, and not just about the wall to wall Italian wine selection (sorry work friend but I now know a bit more about you). Half an hour later I departed with two bottles of delicious wine, a new friendly wine shop owner friend and a new favorite wine shop! Who says all winos are snobs? read more

Best Italian Wine Store in the City! Great knowledgeable team, with great selection at all price points! Just picked up the Fallegro which is a minerally white wine with a hint of effervescence which is perfect for Hot days and seafood! read more

A great local wine shop. The decor and wine selection are both very elegant. I love the way Carrie, the owner has arranged the shop. Beautiful walls of wine line the walls. Each bottle is presented exquisitely, on it's side with a tag dangling from it to indicate price. The wine selection comprises entirely Italian wines, and it is sparse and carefully selected. Do not come here if you are trying to load up on a case of wine for every day drinking. Most of the wine is on the more expensive side, although are a few cheaper bottles. This is a fabulous store to come for a bottle of wine to bring to a dinner, because each bottle comes wrapped in colorful tissue paper in a white bag, beautifully presented. They also host tastings here, to sample some of the wines. A wonderful store to have around, everything is carefully chosen and done with intention. read more

Biondivino is Divino! What a Concept! Affordable and Wonderful Italian Wine! This place is a gem and so is Ceri. She is just so friendly, helpful and well versed with regard to all the wines she carries. It's truly a joy to purchase wine from someone who has such a passion for it. If you don't know much about Italian wine, or think that the good ones are out of your price range, visit Biondivino and expand your horizons. SF is truly lucky to have this wine shop. read more

Let me preface this with, I'm a total wine geek, so.... Ahhh...this place is awesome. A shop that only focuses their wine from a specific region, in this case, Italy, is brave. And I sincerely appreciate the thought and effort that has gone in to representing all the styles, and small hard to find producers from the country. Wine is a passionate thing; if you care about it then many times you don't want to buy from a store that just carries whatever the distributor pawns off on them. Please note booze drinkers that taste profiles, light to heavy, fruity to earthy, and (most importantly) cheap(!) to expensive are represented. They have an orange ribbon for all the wines under $20. As I'm writing this review, I'm drinking an Aglianico from far far southern Italy. It was $18 and exactly what I was looking for, earthy, funky and classy Right now I'm on an Aglicanico kick, which is kind of a hard grape to find. Most wine stores might have 1 or 2. They have 20. The woman who I spoke to was knowledgeable and helpful. The first thing I asked when I had my cheap wine wrapped in tissue paper was, 'do you have a frequent buyers card?' They'll see me again. You should go, too. read more

Adding to what other's have already wrote. A welcome addition to the neighborhood; this isn't just another wine shop; it brings a sampling of wine from Italy, Austria, and even Swiss. Ceri is very helpful in the time she spends with each customer telling them the story behind each wine. Oh and the wines.....the selection is just amazing; from the way its displayed to the wide variety of wines available. A range of wines from $15.00 to those that are considered highly allocated in their home land. Plus she has plenty of quality biscuits to keep the dogs happy. read more

I just moved out of Russian Hill and while I don't miss the terrible parking, I do miss the daylights out of this amazing wine shop! Ceri, the adorable brunette owner, is fantastic. Every time I went in for a bottle (or two!) I ended up staying for 10 minutes just to chat and pet Marcheso, the adorable aging pup who sleeps on the window sill. The entire staff is wonderful, and truly care about your wine-drinking experience. They also have wine tasting events which are great for mingling and meeting neighbors and fellow wine-lovers. Cheers to you, Biondivino! read more

Coolest design for a wine boutique! The walls are covered with mostly Italian wine - red on one side, whites, roses and sparkling on the other. I usually get roped into spending wayyy too much for a bottle in wine boutiques, but they offer wine for every budget -- starting at $10!!! They also have tastings every so often, so stop in to see when the next one is happening. read more