Thanks Sunny for a bright & fun tasting of your interesting natural wines. This winery is in a cool urban space in Berkeley. D&G is committed to fresh, clean, natural wines and they continue experiment with varietals and winemaking techniques to improve quality and purity of their wines. Keep up the good work and good fight for healthy wine! read more

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This was such a cute winery in Berkeley to pop into! We had a lovely tasting with a friendly host who knew a lot about the wine. We ended up buying 2 bottles of white. read more

My now husband and I hosted our rehearsal dinner at Donkey & Goat winery a couple of weeks ago and I highly recommend them! First, the wines are outstanding and all our guests are still raving about them! We did paella and a DJ and they were able to accommodate everything. Erin is so great, super thorough, friendly and organized! The reservation process was really easy and she was there the day of the event to make sure everything went smoothly. The venue itself is so fun, there is a great outdoor patio with picnic tables, games and a fire pit. We were able to enjoy dinner outside and then dancing inside until the end of the party! I would host other events there anytime! read more

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Thank you to all the folks here that helped make my moms 70th bday a fabulous one! Despite COVID we had an incredible outdoor event, the entire winery to ourselves, delicious wine and of course awesome food (from Rick and Anne's another awesome place). Everyone was kind and helpful and I will always be grateful. The best wine- and a funky but super easy atmosphere. Thank you! read more

The D&G tasting room is fun for the whole family, plus a great cheap date option as well. This can't always be said of popular wine country destinations in California like Napa, Paso, Santa Barbara, or Healdsburg. Most bottles vary in price from around $25 to the low $40s, but you can also order by the glass for less, and a $15 tasting fee is waived with $40 purchase. The main reason why the tasting room is so versatile is that, when not the height of the harvest season, the entire back of the facility is open for guests to explore. Wooden tables and bench seating, plus complimentary use books, blankets, and board games (including a huge connect four set) ensure a few hours of escape from the urban environment that surrounds you. Musical performances take place most Sundays, with special First Friday evenings featuring local food vendors and artists. No, it's not an ultimate weekend getaway in Saint Helena, Anderson Valley, or Los Olivos, but it's exciting and rewarding nonetheless. D&G is a Bay Area natural wine specialist with a particular fondness for Rhône varietals and idiosyncratic blends, sourced primarily from organic vineyards in El Dorado County, Anderson Valley, and various other sites in Mendocino, Sonoma, and Napa. They ferment in wooden vats, concrete eggs, and terra cotta vessels, avoiding stainless steel and plastic in favor of older methods inspired by artisan producers in Europe. This means they don't use modern techniques like pumpovers, extended maceration with heat, cold temperature stabilization, and pH adjustments to balance their finished wines. Their house style is to make lower alcohol, brighter, leaner wines with little to no oak influence and that are suitable for early release, similar to a Beaujolais Nouveau or easy drinking (but well made) Friulian wine. Skin contact for whites and no filtration or fining can produce cloudy or orange hued wines, not unlike a hazy IPA or unpasteurized cider. The exceptions to the rule can be outstanding, however, like the delicious 2014 Fenaughty Vineyard Sierra Foothills Syrah and the elegant 2014 Vare Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, both of which are aged for several years in barrel and bottle for release. These ended up being my favorites, and both are worthy of cellaring at home to develop additional nuances, as is the case with the Chardonnays made from Napa Valley and Mendocino Ridge vineyards. I think the D&G style would work well with Loire varietals like Chenin Blanc and Cab Franc, with Gamay, and Austrian grapes like Gruener Veltliner, Zweigelt, and Blaufraenkisch, or lighter Italian reds like Dolcetto, Frappato, Schiava, Schioppettino, or Barbera. These grapes can hard to come by, as they are prized by other trend-setting California winemakers. And the European versions made in comparable styles can be had at Kermit Lynch or a local natural wine bar for less. My sense, based on what I learned from an initial visit, is that D&G isn't out to make a fortune or take the wine world by storm. They want to make soulful, healthy wines and have family fun doing it. More power to them for making the many sacrifices and efforts needed to pursue this mission so successfully! read more

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Kind of expensive, but pretty relaxed. Variety of wines, and charcuterie boards. Outside seating and dog friendly.

Odd experience here I walked in with my partner no greeting didn't even look at us...then a white couple walks in after and the person behind the counter who wasn't helping anyone says hi to them. That told both of us all we needed to know and we promptly walked out. read more

We held my mom's 70th birthday here and had a WONDERFUL and highly memorable experience! The event space is perfect for just about any event -- outdoors there's a fire pit, bocce ball court, and other yard games -- indoors there is family style seating for lots of people. I'm sure it could also be set up to have a band / dance floor too. The staff at Donkey & Goat made organizing the party simple, kept our glasses filled all evening, and offered plenty of information to our group about their wines. They even worked with the restaurant we liked for catering! I can't speak highly enough about the experience we had -- one that my mom absolutely loved, and that we will all remember for a long time to come. read more

Enjoyed a glass of Italian white wine and pizza from a pop up here. Purchased a bottle to enjoy later. Not an inexpensive winery, but fun - lots of customers on a sunny Saturday in the outdoor sitting areas. read more

A must visit if you live in or are visiting the Bay Area. Natural wines available by glass, flight or bottle. All grapes are grown in the nearby counties. The Tasting room is in the fermentation area of the warehouse, and has an outside courtyard to sit in when the interior space is full, or the weather is right. Family friendly space with some light bites available to accompany the wines. Nothing in the way of a meal or anything to that effect, but the variety of cheeses, charcuterie meats and other snacks (breads, crackers and olives), all make excellent pairings for their diverse selection of wonderfully crafted, naturally grown wines. Plenty of seating for a tasting room, so come solo, as a couple, family, or larger party. Personal favorites are the orange wines, but one can not go wrong with the whites or reds. Nothing here is really traditional in the classic sense, so if you're looking for old worlds head elsewhere. If you like to experiment and taste some different and 100% unique, this is a must. My wife and I became members off of a tasting. Easily 5 stars. read more

Who knew that Berkeley had so many hidden places to discover? As soon as we hit the neighborhood there were signs for wine tasting and we stopped in. We were there for a Yelp event, but I was happy to know that you can find some local wines closer to home than Napa. The tiny little winery was cute, but the wine sampling was great. They offer great deals on wine and cases, so you can stock up to enjoy with friends. Sharing is caring! read more

Having had some of their wines years ago, I was excited to drive by the winery by chance on the way to The Rare Barrel. The tasting room is small and nicely laid back with a couple servers behind the tasting bar. While it was cool to taste through a portion of the portfolio (5 wines for $10), the wines were acidic to the point out just being way out of balance whether it was upfront or lasting on the finish. And this is from someone who's had his share of and loves Old World, natural wines. If I had to choose, I'd certainly opt for the whites and oranges over the reds. The staff were cool though they needed some prodding to get details on the story behind Donkey and Goat. A tasting fee can be waived for a bottle as well...though I have to admit that even at the $25-40 price point, they just weren't quite good enough to justify buying. read more

I hosted a work event for my clients here. Vivian and Craig were great to work with and provided great customer service. I would use them again! read more

I've been a dedicated customer for years but after my last few visits, I've decided to frequent other local wineries. I wanted to give d&g the benefit of the doubt because the wine is great but I'm done waiting for the customer service to change. The staff is generally pretentious (although there are a few kind folks, of course), it's always a gamble. I would hope to feel more at home when I frequent a community spot, esp for my guests who felt like a burden last time we went there! I'm surprised particularly due to the price, you'd think you'd get better service. Lots of other options nearby that are less expensive and more welcoming. read more

Love the name. Great service! Really not a fan of the wine though. The setup is warm and friendly, with lots of long tables set-up inside. There are board games available to play and a 3x3 (ish) connect 4 set-up. Warning: as the children drop the game pieces at the end of each round, prepare to be scared sh*tless. Good times. The wine was really not my cup of ... wine. One of my friends described the orange wine as drinking gym socks and that's the most precise description of the one I tried. I think the winery is cool in being innovative but I'm not a fan of the product. read more

Skip it! Sister was in town and wanted to do a tasting of local California wines without going up north. We tried 5 varietals for $15.00 and came away entirely disappointed. In fact, the last wine was so bad we poured it into the spittoon. Choices when in this neighborhood? A different wine tasting establishment or Whole Foods wine department. Sad! 1 point for knowledgeable and kind staff. read more

Wines were delicious! The girls were so friendly and fun and very informative with their wines and how they're prepared. We went to other wine tastings but this place was the most entertaining. Thank you! read more

Donkey and Goat Winery - Wineries Near Me - Berkeley, California

Donkey and Goat Winery was an amazing experience! Such great wines that were natural and so unique! The experience was made so much better by Roxanne and Kellsye! They were super hospitable and friendly. Roxanne was so knowledgeable about all the wines, the grapes, where they are grown and the conditions of the vineyards. It was an amazing experience all around and we loved every minute of it. We will definitely be returning and joining their wine club!! Thanks for a great time girls! read more

I love the wines that Donkey and Goat produce- I have never had a bad one. Even the names for each vintage are adorable. I recently went to their wine tasting party and it was amazing! The staff were so friendly and knowledgeable, the food and wine were delicious and their outdoor area was super comfy and cute. Also, all wines are reasonably priced. I definitely recommend. read more

Love this local winery! I've been here a few times now because I especially love their sparkling white wine. The people are extremely friendly and knowledgeable about all of the wines. Overall, I always have a good experience when I come here and that's why I always bring friends and recommend this place to people. read more

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My boyfriend and I decided to take the dogs here this past Saturday. Best. Decision. Ever! Who knew Berkeley had such great wines (we surely didn't!!) Roxanne guided us through our tasting and she was SO amazing. You can tell that she is truly passionate about the wines at Donkey & Goat, she's super-knowledgeable, and she's funny! We liked the tasting so much we decided to become wine club members on the spot. I am already so excited for all of he new wines we'll be trying and the fun events. The one wine that stayed with me is the Stonecrusher orange wine. SOOO GOOD. L It's great that we won't have to drive up to Sonoma or Napa to get that amazing tasting room experience, we can walk to D & G from our apartment! read more

I was really hesitant to write this review, but it's been weighing on me since my visit. I live right around the block from Donkey and Goat. I wanted to share this place with all of my girlfriends because I loved it so much. So when I invited my girlfriend over for a laid back Sunday I was so proud to share my neighbor with her. So we walked around the block and into Donkey and Goat... I want to of course acknowledge that one bad apple should not spoil the bunch. However, that is exactly what one of their representatives did. We were greeted by two tasting reps when we entered. One was very friendly and bubbled over to help us. The other kind of gave us an over examined look and hovered throughout our tasting. Everything was going excellent with our tasting. We were sharing conversation about being in labor, just idle conversation. I mentioned that when I gave birth to my kids that my mom had called one of the nurses a drug pusher. It was all light hearted laughs until the lady who wasn't helping us commented "you should have told your mom, I'll show you a drug pusher and it isn't a nurse, it's someone named Tyrone under and overpass". This comment really took me by surprise I felt she was definitely making a racial generalization. Both my girlfriend and I kind of laughed it off out of discomfort but it's really began to bother me. I loved this place and because of her ignorant comment I feel like returning would be against what I stand for. I searched and searched for a direct email for management so that I would not have to handle this via a open forum but there isn't any information posted anywhere. I would appreciate if management looked into this and had a discussion with their staff. Particularly this one individual whom I do not remember their name. I visited Sunday July 28th at 2pm. She had short black hair with a silver streak. read more

Came here with 5 friends and we were super excited to try the wine and all of us planned on spending at least $40 to buy bottles/do the tasting. Then we find out it's an extra $10 per bottle to drink THEIR wine from THEIR cellar on THEIR property. So let me get this straight: After spending at least $240 you're going to charge us another $50 just so we can enjoy the wine we already bought!? This extra money grab really turned us off so we had to pass which is unfortunate. Just seems greedy... read more

Pretty disappointing visit to their tasting room. We went to do a tasting and observed the servers catering to everyone around us. We are not sure why they ignored our table but suspect it had to do with us having our 7 year old with us. Too bad, we were looking forward to buying a bottle. read more

Wow! Such an odd experience. Cute winery. Nice person pouring. But the tasting prices are ridiculous! So very high! My friend and I did a tasting of wines for $38. We then figured that we could buy three full glasses of the same wine for less! Ugh!! But we just wanted to taste. Didn't care much for the wine so really glad we didn't save money to get more of wines we really didn't like. Won't be back for sure! read more

I attended one of their first of month evening soirees. Well if you don't mind a true "industrialized" wine tasting experience? This is the place for you...It clearly draws locals, mostly 40ish with young children which is fine. They need a break after work/childcare to mix with their own and I would submit that suits this winery to a "T". It just isn't the wine tasting experience most savvy wine tasters would partake of. Downtown Berkeley has no ambiance whatsoever but that aside? Methinks there is something wrong with any winery that sells you a bottle of their wine (-and their's is overpriced) and then asks you to pay a $10-$15 corkage fee to open/drink it on the premises. Really? read more

It's been awhile since I'd been in this winery and there are so many great changes within the space! Great tables and lounging seating in back while the front has a standing bar to taste! We were treated very well however I wished the tasting options were different. Wasn't a fan of the choices provided in the flight. They told us they change the tasting menu often so I look forward to trying their other wines. Love they close at 6! read more

We held our office holiday party for Marvin Gardens Real Estate at Donkey and Goat and it was awesome. Gorgeous space, delicious wines, and the staff were amazing. The organization of the party was seamless. They were always available for questions, met with us, our caterer, and a party tent rental company, made recommendations that would make our party a success, and were lovely people all around. We had originally thought only 75 people were coming, then over 100 rsvp'd, and that was no problem. Highly recommended for birthday parties or other festive gatherings. read more

The location is really pretty & welcoming! They advertise the option to play board games, corn hole, and bocce in the cellar. We didn't walk back in the cellar. We stayed up front for the tasting. The tasting was $15.00 for 5 wines. The wines were good & the wine tasting consultant was very knowledgeable. read more

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Another fantastic East Bay winery. We missed them during the East Bay Wine Tour #1 since they don't have regular tasting hours, but while furniture shopping on Fourth St. I saw the signs pointing out the special holiday weekend open house. I'm glad I raced over to catch last call. The traditional training of the winemakers shows in the subtlety and quality of the wines, even though they are often using grapes from outside the predicatable Napa-Sonoma terroirs. A bunch of El Dorado-fueled Syrahs and blends anchored a great lineup. The 3-13, while slow to develop an aroma in the glass, had an amazing taste, evidence of careful selection and blending. Another Foothills Syrah had the expected nose, but more developed flavors than anything I'd purchased over off route 49. The bottles are pricey, but a step above the table wines you often get from these smaller operations. And the owners are a friendly bunch. Very few open tastings, but they do open for groups and events. Hint hint, EB Yelp... read more

I truly adore Donkey & Goat! They are a great example of a small urban winery that produces superb wines and worthy of no less than 5 stars! I've attended the last two open houses at their winery in Berkeley at the suggestion of a friend and former employee of D&G. Each time was amazing and i always left with a couple bottles. Great wines abound for sampling and nicely catered food to go along with the drinks. A knowledgable, passionate, and friendly staff works the events introducing me to one of the BEST chardonnays i have ever tasted, all nice and buttery. FAB! I beleive it was their '07. Their wine prices are moderate but not prohibitive. Don't be afraid to pick up a few bottles or even a case, for that matter. I've never ordered a case. Not for lack of desire but usually lack of discretionary funds. But if you can, buy a bottle or two. D&G wines are definately worth it. read more

Space: 5 stars Wine: 3 stars Great spot to enjoy a glass or tasting flight with friends! Great outdoor space with picnic tables, corn hole, and other games. read more

Donkey and Goat is a winery producing small batch wines in the French tradition. The industrial location has ample and easy street parking. The large tasting room in the industrial section of Berkeley is not much to look at from the outside, but the inside is very chic. There are two areas - one for groups and one for singletons. White lights and wine bottles decorate the space, and the finished concrete floors and exposed brick walls are both attractive and practical. We split a tasting of their five wines ($15 per person fee waived with $40 purchase per person). The wines here are presented in the reverse of your expectation - heavy red to light white. Terrell Burnet started by pouring The Bear (2015), which is a red Rhone blend. The wine is made from clones brought from the Chateauneuf du Pape region in 2003 to Tablas in Paso Robles. While the wine has some minerality on the nose, it does have big jammy fruit too and it is the fruit that comes through on the palette with chocolate. This deeply flavored wine would stand up to any food. Next, we were on to the 2015 Old Vine Carignane. Planted in 1912 in Mendocino, this delicious wine was all berry - both on the nose and on the palette. We had to buy a bottle of this, which I look forward to serving with a boeuf bourguignon or even blue cheese burgers. We wrapped up the reds with the 2013 Fenaughty Syrah. This earthy wine is produced at 2800 feet. Mom loved it, but this was my least favorite of the reds. Next up, we had the 2014 Chardonnay, which is aged in neutral barrels for 9 months before being bottled. The Chardonnay had a distinctly floral nose, reminiscent of violets, which is apparently this grape's signature but is often drowned out by the oak. The crisp white had distinct notes of honeysuckle and a crisp apple. It was another favorite, and we picked up a bottle. This would be great with a Dijon salmon. We also tasted the 2015 Eliza White Rhone Blend, which was a surprising wine. It had an herbaceous nose but was all honey in my mouth. The juxtaposition was interesting. We wrapped up our tasting with a little bonus - the 2016 Isabel's Cuvee Grenache Rose. This light pink wine spends only 4 hours with its skin for its signature tint, and it was all strawberry (both on the nose and palette). We finished with a star that we had to pick up. read more

I set up my girlfriend's birthday here and let me tell you the service was amazing. Erin was an amazing help and selected great wines for us to try when we arrived. We came a little early and were greeted with a glass of wine and some lovely conversation. When everyone arrived (18 in all with 4 non drinkers) we were led to a nice back area covered in art from a recent show with all the wines listed out. The non drinkers were given a reduced rate which suited us fine. Erin made sure we were comfortable and there was enough meat and cheese to go around while she explained the wines. Afterwards, the back area was open and gorgeous and had bocce and cornhole to keep us all entertained. Of course, the main part of the winery is the wines and these did not disappoint! My girlfriend liked them all so much, from the Pinot to the blends, that she joined their wine club! There are even multiple toys and games for kids to play if parents want to bring the little ones. A+ service, amazing wines, and a good price. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a relaxing wine tasting in the east bay. read more

This place rocks! The industrial feel is awesome, and the wines were great. The owners, Jared and Tracey Brandt, were very kind and informative. I enjoyed my time here, and so did my brother. I really recommend this winery. I've been to many others in the area, but this one is definitely my favorite. Whenever I come in, I feel so welcome and like they really want me there. I come sometimes on the first Friday of the month, and they have live music, bocce ball, great food, and of course, delicious wine! Check this place out! read more

What happens when to techies quit their jobs, move to France, learn wine, move back the Bay Area, and start making wine? Great syrahs and other Rhone-style wines, of course! I met Tracey and the ADAG wines at Women of Taste. Everyone was raving about this amazing red called Three Thirteen. It's made with 3 of the varietals that are in Chateauneuf-de-Pape and it's so deliciously fruity you'll want to drink lots of it. Tracey was nice enough to let Mama Marie, Grandfather the Chef and I stop by for a private tasting. They are in the middle of harvest season, so she set us up right outside their operation in Southwest Berkeley. We could see them pressing grapes and doing other tasks to prepare for more harvest the next day. It was pretty awesome to see those details in action. We had a great time with Tracey and met the rest of her crew. Definitely check out their wines at local wine bars or order it directly from them - it's soooo good read more

Let me start off by saying that I really appreciate what they are trying to do here. A sparkling with no added sugar? Cool idea! And grapes picked from untended vineyards? Can't complain about that! The price is also good. $10 for like 6 pours I believe. But the pours are preeeeeeetty small. The wine was just not that good. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't BAD, but it wasn't standout in any way. read more

Had a wonderful time ! Friendly atmosphere and unique selection of wine! Definitely make sure to come here if your in the neighborhood! Thanks again! read more

Interesting local winery that gets most of it's grapes from Mendocino and North Coast. Very much enjoyed the small taste of Grenache Blanc today. Granache Noir was a bit sharp...maybe needed to open up a bit. Thanks for hosting a fun YEE event! read more

Thank goodness for this corridor of natural wine producers. So many of us are sick of the over manipulated high ABV wines that flood the market. Donkey and Goat understand the beauty in variance -- 2017 vintages actually taste different than 2018 vintages. They produce minimal intervention living juice that rewards nuanced palates or the farmhouse beer fan (this guy) as well as the Midwest dad who likes to drink boxed wine with ice cubes. Donkey and Goat is the best on the block but really you should check them all out. read more