Knowledgeable team. Well curated selection. Fun rotation of classes and events. Great wine bar space in the evenings. LOVE THIS SHOP!

They have a great selection and a knowledgeable, engaged staff. They're my go-to in the east bay.

I've been buying from Solano Cellars online since 2018 and since we were in the area, decided to stop in to see if they had a wine they listed in Wine Searcher in the store. As others have discovered, the physical store doesn't carry anywhere near what they list online, which makes sense once you see the store, which is quite small (so honestly should not have been that surprising). I'm happy that I didn't make a special trip out! Contrary to what others have mentioned, we found the staff extremely helpful in making a selection and explaining how the wine bar works. They were extremely busy, but doing an incredible job running between the wine bar and the retail to help people out. I'm not sure if they were understaffed that night but two people to run an almost full wine bar + fill wine club/online orders + help retail customers - it honestly seems a bit much for two people. The wine bar offers flights and BTG, but you can also select a bottle off the floor to open and enjoy for a modest corkage fee (I think it was $10 or $15). We opted to do the latter. Although the shop doesn't have everything that's listed online, there is still quite a good selection of wines - interesting varietals and regions, but also all the more well-known varietals and regions. Based on the selection of wines in the shop, their style definitely tends toward fresher styles over wines wines with super high alcohol and tons of oak. I didn't see any Rombauer Chardonnay or Caymus :) Next time we're in the area and looking for a special bottle or just to enjoy a glass, we'll definitely be stopping in again! read more

So much expectation but really poor poor delivery wow Francesco he didn't a clue about the cheese, service, everything was I don't know enjoy !!! What kind of business are you running !!! You need to do a meeting before your shift start taste the wines are they oh maybe cork wow horrible service ! Horrible wine read more

Solano Cellars Wine Shop & Wine Bar - Nah - Wine Bars Near Me - Albany, California

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The two stars are for their great selection but they do a lot of business online and unfortunately they treat their local customers like they are just another e-commerce transaction, rather than looking to have a relationship and provide great service like other local retailers do. That formula doesn't work for me- I can get great selection anywhere on the web- too many other great local options that have great selection and great service. read more

Amazing wine selection and super knowledgable employees. They were very friendly and patient with all my questions. They have a cozy little bar that you can get a glass and some snacks from. Sometimes they event host events with some amazing wine professionals! Will certainly be my go to shop for my wine needs. read more

We just moved to this neighborhood recently and had friends coming over for dinner tonight, so I walked over to Solano Cellars to buy a few bottles of wine. Got there at 5:28 pm (they close at 6 pm on Sundays) and there was nobody in the front of the store except one worker. She really did not want to acknowledge my existence and was very rude when I asked her if they had certain wines. "Sorry, no," was all she would say. So I walked down to Best Friends at the corner of San Pablo and Solano Aves and bought 6 bottles for our dinner. For context, we had planned our move to Albany for over a year and had gradually depleted (consumed) our home inventory of wines, so that there would be less to move. So now, I am out and about, shopping for wines to replenish the cellar at our new home. Two weeks prior to this, my daughter and I came to this same Solano Cellars and there was one lone customer being helped by a different worker in the front of the store. That worker also would not acknowledge our presence despite my trying to get his attention, so after 10 minutes, we left without buying anything. I will not be stepping foot into this store again. read more

Solano Cellars is a gem of a place with tasty and interesting wines you'll never find at Total Wine or other major chains. Plus Mary Kate is an encyclopedia of wine knowledge! read more

Service was so atrocious that i didn't stay for the wines. In the past, hubby and I would sit at the bar and enjoy good food, drink, and hospitality. I was feeling nostalgic for the days when the bar sometimes hosted real dinners. The woman who was too busy tasting wines was at best curt and maybe even hostile. I have been in the wine business and never put tasting with reps ahead of the customer. Maybe they did not like how I look but I was born this way. This is the second or maybe third time i have received chilly service. I am done. On the way out I took the menu and brought it closer to the person behind the counter and said "thank you" but I was not even acknowledged. Oddly, I believe that Vintage on College is a sister shop and the people there treat me like a fellow human. read more

Great wine shop at the top of Solano. Really diverse selection to choose from and the staff are always really helpful when looking to find something in your a specific price range. They also have a nice bar in the back where you can get a glass of wine. They also have producers behind the bar sometimes talking about their specific wines which is fun. read more

Solano Cellars is a fantastic neighborhood wine shop. They have a large and very diverse selection, friendly and knowledgeable staff, and fun weekly events that highlight winemakers and regions that the staff are excited about. Along with their sister stores (the two Vintage Berkeley locations), Solano Cellars is one of my favorite destinations in the Bay Area for unique and interesting wines. Whether you're looking for something classic or more esoteric, a weeknight wine or something for a special occasion, MaryKate and the Solano staff can help you find it! read more

Incredible selection of lesser represented regions and grapes in addition to the major players. A fantastic place to learn and discover new things with great service to get you the perfect wine for any occasion. read more

We used to get a box of wines a few times a year from Solano Cellars but stopped, because customer service was bad - meaning rude and unfriendly. We recommend go and grave your wines from somewhere else. read more

We love wine and we love shopping local so we were very excited to try out Solano Cellars. Unfortunately the Manager, Mary Kate, was so rude that we had a poor experience, spent less money as a result, and won't return. We popped in on a Saturday with our little family while we were hanging out after my son's first haircut. Mary Kate seemed annoyed by the mere presence of my kid the second we walked in the door. Didn't greet us, was running around and after a while finally asked if she could get us anything. I asked for a dry white for quiche, she said that was too broad, asked me some questions and got me a wine. We started walking about the store and she just couldn't have been colder (we were the only people there). My husband asked about tasting, really just asking about the shop and making conversation and she snapped "the bar is closed". What a missed opportunity to make money- she could have at least told us how it worked, when it was open, etc. I then asked about the wine club and again just a monotone generic answer, didn't ask me if we wanted to join. Just so unwelcoming. Then my kid started playing with a box of wine on the floor (with me standing directly over him, touching him, while talking) and she ran over and moved the box right from under us "let me take this!". And then we finally checked out, spending about 1/5 of the money we planned and not joining the wine club which we had come in to do. So Manager Mary Kate is not only not kid friendly but also bad for business. Not being kid friendly on Solano seems silly, right? read more

What a gem! The informed and adventurous wine shop team, cute tucked away bar, and solid wine club have had me on board for the last three years. Solano Cellars is great! read more

*3.5 Stars* I love finding little hidden gems, especially when it concerns wine. I mean, let's face it; wine is life! This little wine shop is tucked away in Albany right off of Solano Ave and offers a variety of different wine and beer. But the best part; they have a small wine bar hidden in the back of their store where you can enjoy tastings and small bites! They also have special events here like their monthly wine tasting passports that allow you to taste some interesting varietals! Since the wine bar is small and hidden in the shop, it tends to be less crowded than most other wine bars in the area. It's perfect for enjoying a date night or to just have a more intimate experience. Don't be fooled by its' small size; this store has so many different wines packed inside! The wine bar offers a half off wine bottles promotion on Sundays and they also offer wine flights from $15 to $25 depending on the type of wine. They have a rotating wine list that changes weekly and they also have special wines on reserve. I was able to do a red wine flight of a Pinot Noir, red blend, Cabernet, and a Sangiovese, and I really enjoyed all four. However, my wine sommelier that evening let me try their Cabernet Franc and I was sold! I don't see toomany Cab Francs out in the East Bay, so I was really surprised that this little shop carried it! Although I really enjoyed tasting here, I found the employee working in the actual store to be less knowledgeable than the employees who work at Total Wine. He couldn't really answer some of the questions about the wines that they stock. I understand that it's impossible for someone to know every single brand of wine sold in the store. However, I just expected a bit more out of him. The wine steward was really knowledgeable and pleasant, however he offered me a wine that was very pricey compared to the others I tried and didn't let me know about it until I saw my bill. I found this to be a bit sneaky and it kind of turned me off by the end of the evening, hence the 3.5 star rating. Overall, it's a decent option for tasting and purchasing wine if you're in the area. I would just make sure to ask about pricing beforehand and do your research before you go into the shop since the employees may not always be up to speed with their information. read more

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Since my family has moved to El Cerrito from Oakland we've come to Solano cellars for the past few months. Every experience we've had here has been nothing more than trash. They are a bit more than rude and borderline dehumanizing. read more

Nice little spot. What it lacks in depth/breadth it compensates in curation. It's clearly thoughtful. As any wine shop should be, they're good at listening to what you like and turning you on to something new in your price point. Honestly my favorite discovery about this place was the adorable little wine bar in the back. It's quiet and intimate. I am really looking forward to coming back to meet a friend or two when serious catching up is in order. read more

A hidden gem on Solano! I had no idea this place existed until my friend and I decided to scope out nearby "wine bars" and "wine tastings" on Yelp. We opted for the $15 flights (I went whites, she chose reds) instead of the $25 flight. Decent pours and solid customer service - I just wish we had learned more about the wines themselves. Didn't really get any info on them, so I read the bottles instead. That said, a good experience nonetheless! read more

Solano Cellars Wine Shop & Wine Bar - Wine Bars Near Me - Albany, California

Their online inventory is a bad joke I found a few interesting things in their inventory list and made a trip there. Upon finding nothing I was looking for, a worker informed me that their online inventory reflects things they can order, not just things they have. An hour down the drain for nothing. I took a chance that they were sold out, but had no idea they didn't stock what they listed. Do yourself a favor and call first if you think it's worth it. read more

I like to be surprised. I like going camping and realizing that the coin operated showers are nicer than my own back home. Surprise! I like shopping in Oregon and forgetting there is no sales tax. Surprise! I like running into Rob Lowe on the street for the third time in 2 years, and being surprised that I'm not surprised anymore. Surp...you get the idea. Well, Solano Cellars surprised me in the best sort of way. After reading Lara W's inspiring review I asked the Solano Ave diva herself to escort me there for my first visit; show me the ropes and such. I knew it was some sort of hybrid wine shop/wine bar, and I wasn't sure where the wow-factor would come into play. I mean really, I've seen a lot of wine shops and bars in my day, so what's the big deal? First of all, Solano Ave is just a cool strip of local flavor. All the shops and restaurants here have that adorable neighborhoody feel, with that signature North Berkeley quirk. 'Twas the night before Thanksgiving and Solano Cellars was one of the few establishments showing signs of life, so we sauntered in to lounge at the bar...some classy pre-gaming before dinner at Fonda, down the street. The bottom floor of the shop is all bottles - hand-picked gems from near and far. A few steps up, you'll find the bustling mini wine bar, where said bottles make an appearance for your tasting pleasure. With about 12 seats, and 5 or 6 hi-top tables, it feels like you've stumbled upon something special...someplace only savvy locals know about. The "ambience" is nothing to write home about, but it's impressive how separate the bar feels from the shop; how you'll want to stay awhile. The Michael Jackson playlist definitely added to our comfort, as we swiveled in our stools to Thriller. Oh, surprises. The wine flights were incredible. For $15, you get 4 hearty pours of whatever is deemed delicious that week. I did the White Flight - 2 Spanish, 1 French, 1 Cali - and was so utterly stunned, that I took home a few bottles. Merry Christmas to me. They serve some cheese plates too, but it appears they don't serve bread (only crackers), which is a bit of a downer because good wine just begs for a crusty baguette and a stinky rind. Maybe that's something they're working on, but for now it seems acceptable to BYO-bread, if you must. If you're at all serious about good wine (no, I'm not talking to you in the Trader Joe's wine aisle), ya need to know about this place. I bet you a bottle of Banyan you'll be surprised. read more

Solano Cellars Wine Shop & Wine Bar - At the bar - Wine Bars Near Me - Albany, California

There need to be more places this good for wine lovers. But I suppose the scarcity of such a business only makes Solano Cellars all the more outstanding and fully deserving of 5 star praise. Intimate and comfortable wine bar, with a fail-proof wine list and great bar snacks (cheese, nut, bread and jam plates). I have bought so many unique and thrilling wines here, from fellow aficionados who know how to point you to the wines that fit your specifications. The staff are also down to earth people: I always feel glad after stopping in, whether I am at the bar or bringing a bottle home. read more

1/2 off happy hour on Monday, until the bottles are gone! That's not all, the hours are genius too -- HH goes 4-8pm! The wine bar area is in the back of this cute little wine shop, and they offer daily cheese selections and sample plates for pairings, as well as some meat and fruit plates. The bar probably seats 10 at the counter itself and there's a series of tables and stools for groups in the back area. They of course have a great selection of vino, and flights change daily and their wine gurus are always happy to answer any questions as they're very knowledgeable. It's a hidden gem just as Cyndi S. mentioned in her review, as overused as it is and however desensitized to the term we might be. Great find! read more

Solano Cellars Wine Shop & Wine Bar - Grazing goat cheese selection - Wine Bars Near Me - Albany, California

Sought out an interesting and affordable, local pinot, and they found a great one for me. Been coming back weekly ever since!

Such a fun little wine bar. They had their power knocked out for 3+ weeks by a downed utility pole. But they were still open, so glad! We couldn't try the food because if the power outage and there was only server for all of the customers. People had to be patient. Still- cute, fun wines and a few ciders too. read more

Not the largest selection of wines, but all are well picked from smaller producers. Quality is the by-word here. If you're a wine newbie, just ask for help. No snobbery here, they know the stuff and share the knowledge. Evening wine bar for tasting and drinkin'. Recommended! read more

So the Customer Service at Solano Cellars I experienced was AWFUL! I was looking for a special wine for my friends 70th Birthday and per the web site Solano had a 1948 Madeira available. I called the store 2x and was assured it was in stock and I placed the order. I waited a week with no reply so I called and talked with a woman who very cheerfully told me they did not have in stock and she was sure they tried to call me but of course I have NO RECORD of them calling. TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE! read more

We used Solano Cellars to supply wine for our wedding, and it was actually one of the worst choices we made, aside from one very nice interaction to start out. 1. We first came in January, told Julie what we were looking for, and she spent several hours with us letting us open and taste different bottles. The experience was great, and we decided to use Solano Cellars to provide our wedding wine. 2. This is when the problems started. Over the next 4 months, Solano repeatedly lost our order, couldn't get bottles they had sold us, and were overall an operational mess. We were spending more than 2K with them, and most times it was like they had never seen us! 3. Later, we learned that the wine we had been sold has been marked up tremendously, and even with the "case discount", we were overpaying. Maybe I should have expected it, given everything else. But that was really the final straw. tl;dr maybe nice for a glass at the bar or to buy a single bottle, but under no circumstances should you place a bulk order or do business with them. We are so upset by our experience, we won't be back, ever. read more

You know that bit in the first Lord of the Rings movie, where you go into Bilbo's hobbit-hole for the first time, and it just feels warmly of comfort and welcome? That's how I felt upon first entering the Solano Cellar. My boyfriend and I ducked into this corner wine bar/cellar to get out of a baking Sunday afternoon during the yearly Solano Stroll street festival, and immediately found the respite we were looking for. Inside it was dark and cool, cozy and clean. I'd been lured in, not only with the intention of getting out of the blazing heat, but also intrigued by the promise of "Over 100 Wines Under $25", listed on the window outside. And it feels like the majority of this small cellar are these very reasonably-priced wines! Organized to explore, we walked past lines of cardboard boxes, many with small attached write-up reviews. I felt incredibly welcomed in this environment. As I compared rosés, one man who worked there (the owner?) passed me as he went up the stairway to the wine-tasting bar area. He stopped to compliment me on my choices, mentioning the lightness of one and how the other was unfiltered, so not to be thrown off by seeing specks of anything floating within it. He was the only person working that day, so I had to go up to the bar to show I was ready to purchase after a few more minutes of perusal. He was explaining some qualities of a pinot noir to one of the other patrons before coming down to ring me up, and as he did so he asked me how my day was going, what the festival outside was like, how busy he was, etc. Very genuinely friendly. I got two bottles of rosé for under $30, and I've already had the cheaper one--it was lovely! And there were a few advertisements on the counter for a wine/cheese pairing class in the future ($45), which sounds very intriguing. I was incredibly impressed by how knowledgeable the man working was, and how unpretentious it was, both specifically with him and generally in the shop. I had a lot more fun in this environment than I would have at a BevMo, and feel like while there are more expensive wines available, the average price point is set to someone more like me as well (me being a casual wine drinker, who is not going to spend much more than $40 or $50 on a bottle of wine in the fanciest of circumstances). I'll be back to get my wine here in the future! read more

Disappointing customer service experience. Wednesday - I called on for a special order wine that I wanted to serve at a party that weekend. I spoke with Benjamin, who looked up the product number and assured me it would be available for a Saturday party. When I asked to place the order over the phone, Benjamin assured me using the online order form was faster. I went online and placed the order. Thursday - I called and spoke with Benjamin again. He had no online record of the request going through. I re-placed the order over the phone, and again reiterated it was for a Saturday party. Friday - I called the store again to see if the wine was ready for pick up. I spoke to Briana who said the wine order had not been earmarked priority and was put in the regular orders and would not be available until Tuesday! At this point, there was nothing to be done. I added a second star only because Briana apologized and offered to help me find some else in store and price it competitively. I appreciated the offer but that wasn't going to help at this point. I won't be patronizing them in the future. read more

This review is for Solano Cellars Wine Shop (specifically their online store, solanocellars.com). I was very disappointed in my interaction with Solano Cellars. I placed an order for a case of French white wine after I found out that they were its only importers on the west coast. I got an email confirmation for my order, and my credit card was charged a couple of days later. I chose UPS Ground shipping (because I was in no hurry) and I waited. And waited. I did not receive a confirmation that the order had been shipped, nor a tracking number for the shipment. After waiting for almost two weeks I contacted Solano Cellars via email, including all my order details and asking for an update on the status of my order. I did not receive a reply. One week later I called them directly to request an update on my order. The person who answered the phone indicated that they need some time to call a couple of people to check on the status of my order, and offered to get back at me via email. I did not get a response. One day later I called them back again, and this time the same person was able to confirm that the order 'fell through the cracks' and had not been shipped. He offered to ship the case the following Tuesday (this happened on a Friday) but they wanted to confirm that I still wanted the wine. At this point my answer was no. I wasn't offered expedited shipping or any other apology than 'sorry for the trouble' for an order that was going to be shipped out 24 days after I placed it. I believe that their customer service is seriously lacking: my order and my attempts to get a status update from them all 'fell through the cracks'. I am never buying from this vendor again. read more

Great spot for wine purchasing and having some wine at the bar. Convenient location right in downtown Albany- easy to find. Good selection of wine and small bites. Service has been just okay, very so so each time we've been here. Wouldn't be my first choice for a place to grab a glass before or after dinner. read more

Usually I am a bit leary of local wine shops. Tend to have at least one of three issues: 1. Small selections 2. Arrogant and unfriendly staff 3. Poor prices I can happily say that Solano Cellars doesn't suffer from any of these issues. Very interesting and varied selection for the size of the store, decent prices, and a staff that is uber-friendly and was able to make some great recommendations for a drinking wine/wine I was looking to match with a heavily-flavored meat sauce. Planned on just ducking in and wound up staying and chatting with the guys at the store for 30 minutes. Plus, to top it off they gave me a complimentary waiter corkscrew after I purchased just 2 bottles. Granted it was from distributor but still. Normally, the creedo of supporting local businesses is usually a bit overblown. Not in this case. More than willing to pay a few extra bucks a bottle for this type of place that is within walking distance of my apartment. read more

Solano Cellars is a lovely local wine shop that has the provider of some fantastic bottles of wine for under $20. My wine friend and I came here one evening in part of his research project. And since I love wine, I couldn't possibly say no to exploring a local wine bar. You can order wines by the glass or taste through a few wine flights. You'll end up being exposed to very nice small production wines of limited distribution. The staff is very knowledgeable about the wines that they carry and are available to help answer any questions you might have. A lot of the wines have small descriptors as well which I find very helpful and which I then use to ask further information of the staff. It's my undestanding that if there are open bottles in the tasting bar of any wine you may be interested in purchasing you can taste before you buy. (Thankfully) you're not going to see rating points here, so if you're one of those types that can only buy wine when it's rated 90+ points, you should look elsewhere. This retailer doesn't seem to play into the whole rating system which I despise for the way it creates a circus of the wine market. My friend and I come down occasionally to pick up wine previously purchased here as well as pick up new bottles for a variety of reasons/occasions. Since the wine they carry is from limited production wineries, stock sells out and changes over quickly. You might find that favorite bottle of wine sold out within a few weeks of trying it, so I recommend taking home two or three when you find one you really like. I have been introduced to some fantastic south american and italian red wines that are off the beaten path of more popular varietals (all the better mind you because of this). I have really come to enjoy Solano Cellars for the Italian wines I have picked up over the last few months I have yet to be disappointed, unlike at BevMo where most of the italian reds under $20 are mass distributed plonk. I definately recommend Solano Cellars when looking for great wine with a good quality to price ratio. read more

Solano Cellars has a fabulous monthly wine club which they deliver. 12 wines per month of varying selection. I'm not the biggest fan of white wine, so they added more reds upon request. I recently came back to the shop with my boyfriend's parents who wanted a California wine tasting experience but didn't want to drive all the way to Napa. The staff was fun and delightfully tolerant of their Midwestern ignorance of wine. (His mother said she normally drinks Arbor Mist which got chuckles of amusement, a little teasing, but not a hint of contempt which I thought admirable). They usually have small plates of food to accompany the weekly selection of red or white flights. At under $16 for 4 glasses of wine, this is not a bad deal. The food is quite tasty as well. I highly recommend going and taking a class here as well, as the staff is lovely to talk to, very knowledgeable and not at all stiff. read more

Great place for fantastic wines and stellar cheeses (either in-store @ the bar, or as part of the monthly cheese club)! Staff is friendly and knowledgeable, happy to help you navigate their wine selection or possibly try to special order an elusive favorite. Wide price range (numerous options at each price point between $10 to over $100). We enjoy their Case Sampler Club, which is a monthly selection of a dozen bottles - usu skewed towards red, though can include white, sparkling, or rose wines, as well. For about $150 (~$12.50 per bottle), you get a hand-picked variety of small production wines -- some you may know/recognize, others you've never heard of the winery/grape/didn't know that country even exported wine -- seriously. And, you know what, they're mostly awesome! I LOVE at least 2-3, another 8 are really good, and the last 1-2 my husband has no problem finishing on his own... Not bad considering the likely outcome of trying to pick wines from Safeway under $13... [ugh!] There are also 2-bottle/month Zin, Pinot, or "Special Selection" (best wines from that month's availability) clubs. AND, if you're in to enjoying excellent cheese with your excellent wine, why not go whole-hog and join the monthly cheese club, as well... read more

Super nice wine shop with great customer service. They have a wide variety of wines and price points -- you will not regret spending your time and money at Solano Cellars Wine Shop & Wine Bar! read more

Totally forgot to review this place. Had some free time one Friday afternoon, and was exploring Solano avenue for the first time. Looked interesting, saw they were offering free tastings (it's pretty easy to get me in!), and went in. The wine they were sampling was excellent, and I was even persuaded to order a cheese plate (also excellent), and did a wine flight that went with it, all for not very much. Ended up walking out with a fantastic $15 bottle of Pinot Noir. read more

I'm currently scoring about an 80 out of 100 on the yuppie meter. The ladyfriend and I recently went here as part of our "Night Out On Solano Avenue" themed date. We've been to this establishment a couple of times before - just for scoping out the wine selection - but our most recent visit was our first time visiting the wine bar. We did a flight of red wines and we wound up bringing home a tasty, reasonably priced bottle of Pinot Noir. This would be a great place to bring someone on a second date if you know that they are into wine. read more

This is a great neighborhood wine shop with a very knowledable staff. They got me hooked on a particular bottle of Vinho Verde that we've been drinking all summer. There are a lot of unusual varietals that you're not going to find elsewhere and it's easy to walk in, tell the staff a brief description of what you're looking for and they will make several suggestions. To top it off, they are open late and have a wine tasting area with small bites. read more