Savvy was an interesting choice for a cozy girls night in downtown!…read more What it "lacks" in the interior it definitely makes up for with the knowledge of its service staff. The interior is more dimly-lit, with large TVs and some comfy couches. This is an official spot to watch 49ers games so if you're a sports fan definitely note this one down. I liked that the service was helpful but not overbearing. Our waiter was able to recommend two different red wines for my friend and I really enjoyed the vinho verde I had. We ordered the charcuterie board to share between the two of us. This was a GREAT portion and came with a huge basket of sliced French bread. Perfect size to snack and graze on during the night. The bill came out to $53/pp incl. tax+tip for: 3 drinks total + 1 charcuterie board. It was definitely pricey in my opinion but I did really like my wine selection. Overall, great spot to hangout without a rushed vibe. Friendly service and easy eats.

Cozy wine bar in downtown Mountain View, right next to the Caltrain Station. It has a warm wine and…read moresports bar vibe with Niners decor inside. My friends and I came here for a GNO and got to choose our own seating, so we picked the little lounge area with the sofa in the corner Our server let us try a few wines for free and we ended up ordering a bottle. We also ordered the fig, arugula, and prosciutto flatbread and it was so good. The cheese plate came with a Spanish chili oil and it was bomb. Our total came up to $133 for 3 people, which wasn't too bad. Our server was friendly and chill. The only issue was that we were never offered water, but everything else was great. I would definitely come back here

You must come here for Nick's Picks. Best bartender around with all amazing wines!!!read more

A freind and I went to the Ridge Winter Soiree - a member event in February. This was on a Thursday…read moreand even though this event was supposed to be open to all members during the day but because the weather was so bad, members were given slots of time that they could attend. We went in the early evening. The place is in the Cupertino hills and up a steep hill, driving can be tricky and one you get there, there is not much parking, at least for the number for people who were there. And the parking is precarious - you pull right up to the edge of a steep drop. And backing out of the parking spot can be even trickier. Ridge had 5 stations set up with Station 1 starting with their rose, it was quiet good. When you walked into the tasting room, you were greeted, you name checked against the list and you were handed a tasting of the rose. In the outer room, there was only standing room but the adjoining smaller inner room had a couple of tables and chairs. Station 2 was small bites and they were small, which is surprising for a member soiree! There was a choice of a tiny bowl of hummus with a couple of carrot sticks and some pita chips and a small piece of toast with duck pate and a slice of chicken fat. They both tasted good but I have been to other member events at other wineries where there was a reasonable amount of food. Stations 3, 4 and 5 were red wines and quite good. Station 5 was in a separate building and was served with a tiny cup of saved cheese. As our time was up - 4-6pm, we left but barely 2 miles down the road, there was a fallen tree that completely closed off traffic both sides. Everyone who was leaving turned back around because we were told that it would take a couple of hours to move the tree. Even though tastings stopped at 6, Ridge opened up some more bottle and went beyond the 6pm hour to accommodate the people who did not want to be sitting in their cars for 2 hours. Funny enough, almost every one who was struck up in the mountain were the people who were attending the soiree. It dd not take 2 hours but one hour abd the folks at the winery were good natured about it. They kept us updated regularly on the situation. Ridge has great wines but their customer service, from precious experience, could be better.

Quality/Quantity - The better of the two vineyards we visited today. And our friends are members of…read morethe first winery..... Since this was our second vineyard today, we decided to only share a bottle; it was only bottle service. But then the team member started giving us a few tastings?!?! Not sure if it was due to closing time and they just wanted to finish the bottles...? Either way, GREAT service! Our friends let me select the wine and vintage. After trying a few cabs, I decided on the 2011 cab which I felt was the smoothest of the 3 splashes. If you were not so far away, I might consider becoming a member. Well, I am still considering it... Ambiance - Beautiful winery. And we were able to catch the early sunset during the winter hours. Huge indoor and outdoor space, my pictures do not do it justice. Two unisex restrooms on either side of the estate. Plenty of parking, well we did get here an hour before closing. Service - 5 stars, from the greeter to the person serving us at our tables. Price - $55 a bottle + generous tip. And of course we bought a few bottles to go. After fighting to try to pay, our friend won and would NOT let us pay/treat. So nice to have good friends! Owner Comment - Congrats on your winery success since 1996. And to your family's previous history that dates back 4 generations.

A beautiful view, and the vineyard seems to be an actual house. I'm glad there is inside seating…read morehere since it was pretty cold and windy the day I visited. Staff were friendly and explained each wine bottle thoroughly. I did the wine tasting option and it was a pretty good price for 6 tastings, and they were all tasty! The first wine and last tastings were the most unique for me, but the 2017 Monte Bello Road Cabernet Sauvignon was my favorite.

I've been a regular at Haberdasher in downtown SJ because I appreciate a classy ambiance with a…read morehistoric 1920s speakeasy twist, so when I say that The Wine Room is a sophisticated elevation of that, take note. I would say it feels like a tavern for wealthy noblemen in 1800s England. Allow me to say where it fell short for me, and then I'll sing my praises. The wine... tasted like wine. I don't have a particularly refined palate when it comes to that. The charcuterie board was a collection of expensive items that I am personally not into: miniature pickles (too sour), meat pâté (bland), and what I think were pickled red peppers. There was no cheese, which was highly disappointing; however, if that style of charcuterie suits you, go for it. The music did not match the ambiance at all. They really should play piano or smooth jazz, because the 2010s pop was honestly annoying. DESPITE ALL OF THIS, the crowd was the real pull. Everyone was either on a first date or was an interesting adult. This makes for fun people-watching and stimulating conversations. People were very willing to walk up and talk to strangers. I saw many people doing so, I felt welcome to do so, and people approached me to converse. So even though the food wasn't great, and the music was horrible, I will return funnily enough because the decor and the people were worth it.

The Wine Room was a nice stop in the evening for a nightcap, with some bites from their menu and a…read morenice wine list. We stopped by before turning in, ordering the Fromage du Jour (a selection of domestic and imported cheeses), a Charcuterie plate (with thinly-sliced cured meats, pate de chevreuil, stoneground mustard, cornichon, and purple cabbage kraut), and the Marinated Olives. There is eating both in- and outside, but I recommend in dining al fresco to people watch. The place is small, but it gets busier, as it does open later in the day (4 PM to midnight)! Staff and the bar staff were friendly. +wine and cheeses +friendly staff +dine al fresco

This is an intimate wine shop with an interesting global selection and a knowledgeable team…read more There are a few seats inside, a decent size counter/bar, and a few outdoor tables as well. They have a wide selection of items on their tasting menu, and you can't go wrong with any of their coordinated flights. I appreciate that the team is not only knowledgeable, but there are also very friendly and down to earth. I stopped in a couple weeks ago and asked for a recommendation as I was preparing a ragu that evening. The bottle paired perfectly Most recently, I popped in to pick up a bottle to pair with a carbonara I was making that night. Once again, their recommendation was perfect. For those carbonara fans, that something extra that you see in my picture is actually sun-dried tomato ‍

This is a nice place. I'm zooming in the front but really nice inside knowledgeable staff good…read morewhite wines. I'd be careful with the reds unless you go with the elite class.. I tried the white sampler of champagne and other French white wines and they were superb. Don't be fooled by the tasting. They're actually about a third of a glass of wine quite a bit.

This is one of the few great wine stores that actually has an extensive collections of wines, and…read moreolder vintages that you will never get from Total Wine, BevMo, Draeger or even K&L! They also conduct Master Classes, inviting wine makers from all over the Old and New worlds. These classes are fun and they also pair food with the wines you will be tasting! If you have not been to Artisan, you should take a trip there to check it out!

James recommended and delivered a perfect mix of wine and champagne for my 60 person gathering in…read moreSan Jose, only 5 days prior to the party date. Highly professional and a joy to work with him.

If you are into amateur wine making I believe you will find this to be an interesting website…read more Enjoy

It has been almost a decade since I updated my review here and despite all the changes in the world…read moreSundance remains our favorite go to place. This trip was EXACTLY like every visit we have had since our first time, decent pricing, excellent food, and excellent service. The Food: We do not get here for lunch often but there is a easy choice to make for me at least: The French Dip The French dip is simply glorious. It is quite simple its bread and thinly sliced prime rib. There is no way to hide poor ingredients and this is as simple as it gets. The thin sliced prime rib served rare is tender and well seasoned, the sourdough roll is crusty and robust enough to handle the jus but soft enough not to need a soaking to enjoy. The jus is perfect, savory and salty. The creamed horseradish add a nice spicy rich element to this decadent sandwich. Ahi Sashimi: lightly seared sushi grade ahi, sliced thin and served with thin sliced cucumber, pickled ginger, wasabi, and a soy based dipping sauce. It is a nice light way to start the meal Prawn Cocktail. Big succulent prawns served with a a nicely spicy sauce that just the right amount of horseradish. Ceasar Salad: Crisp romaine with a proper dressing, not much more than you can ask for. We had a birthday so we got their excellent complimentary Mud Pie. Delicious and honestly one serving would cover 4 epople We are well into our 3rd decade coming here and its nice to always have this place to go to.

We were recommended to check out Sundance for their dinner menu, as they were pretty popular for…read moretheir steaks and seafood. Being famished, we were ready to order once seated! We started off with: +Oysters, baked 'Rockefeller Style' +Tempura Mushrooms - served with a dipping sauce +a cup of their Award-Winning Clam Chowder - a classic New England style +and, Panko Crusted Calamari - served with a chipotle aioli and cocktail sauce I went for the House Cut prime rib, which was 12 oz; this was well-prepared and juicy. My colleague had their Jumbo Prawn Linguine, which were tossed with campari tomatoes, garlic, chili flakes, basil, and baby spinach in a white wine cream sauce; the shrimp were large and fresh. For drinks, I had to try their Grey Goose Peartini and their Famous Lemon Drop - both were strong and tasty! The interior was a classic steakhouse look, with the dark woods and the frame pictures. Staff were kind and friendly! I do want to return to check out their HH! +signature cocktails +prime rib +friendly staff

Long review incoming…read more.. I've only been shopping here for about a month, but overall the experience has been excellent. One thing that was initially a little confusing is the name. The physical store operates under one name, but online they're known as Unwind Bottle Shop, where you can purchase bottles online and pick them up in-store. Once you understand the connection, it's easy -- just something to be aware of as a first-time customer. From what I understand, the store has been under new ownership for the past two or three years. After reading some older negative reviews, I'd encourage people to give it another shot. Based on my experience, it feels like things have changed and improved under the current ownership. Their VIP program is what really sets them apart. It's free to join and operates on a points system -- you purchase bottles, earn points, and unlock additional benefits as you move up tiers. The big draw is that VIP members get opportunities to purchase highly allocated bottles at MSRP. That's rare, and all shops handle their allocations their own way. Yes, it's chance-based -- you're not going to walk in and just find unicorn bottles sitting on the shelf at a decent price or slightly marked up. But that's also what makes it fair. They give customers an actual shot instead of marking everything up to secondary pricing and waiting for someone to overpay. It feels like a thoughtful compromise that supports the whiskey community rather than exploits it. The owner (family-owned operation) seems genuinely passionate about whiskey. From my conversations with him, he clearly cares about the products he brings in and about serving enthusiasts. They're able to source rare and unique bottles at MSRP or just slightly above -- which is very reasonable considering how hard these bottles are to find elsewhere. They also run their own barrel program with store picks and seem very in tune with the grain-to-glass movement and rising craft distilleries. You'll find interesting, up-and-coming producers here -- not just the standard Jack Daniel's, Buffalo Trace, or Wild Turkey lineup you can get anywhere. My only real negatives: - The shop name vs. online branding can be confusing at first. - Some of the employees behind the counter didn't seem particularly engaged. On one visit, I was next in line for a pickup and was asked to step aside while they helped several other walk-in customers. It wasn't a huge issue, but as a new customer, it didn't feel like great service. - The parking lot is very tight, and on certain nights (possibly food truck or event nights next door), it can get pretty crowded. That said, those are relatively minor compared to the overall experience. If you're serious about whiskey -- especially rare bottles, store picks, and craft distilleries -- this is a very interesting and worthwhile shop to support. I definitely recommend checking them out.

Being new to the bourbon world, I've been on the search for a good spot that carried a decent…read moreselection. Having explored different shops, I found this place on Instagram (Unwind Bottle Shop) and decided to check out the place. On first visit, it was a little tricky to find because they don't have a sign outside that says "Unwind Bottle Shop", just a generic food and liquor store sign. That was one negative... But despite that, I found the place, went inside and was surprised at the great selection they stocked. They carried some pretty sought after bottles which was impressive! This quickly became my go-to spot for reasonably priced whiskey as I work to expand my collection. One of the things I really like about this place is their frequent free tastings. It's a great way to explore different brands and find what I like without having to buy a whole bottle. This alone was how I learned more about what flavors I like and don't like in whiskey and burboun. In a recent tasting, they had Buffalo Trace products. I picked up a bottle of White Dog because it was a very unique flavor. I also picked up a bottle of Sagamore Rye Store pick based on a recommendation from the lady that worked there. I admit it was a blind buy, but wow I'm glad I grabbed a bottle because it was delicious! I liked it so much that I decided to sign up for their whiskey club so I can find other unique picks. Overall, I rate this place a 8.5 out of 10. The 1.5 loss is due to the challenge of finding the place on the first visit. Also, the parking situation is difficult due to the small parking lot.