It's been a number of years since I've been here as I live in northern SD, but when I initially came here I was looking for a specific wine that I had at The French Laundry. I searched their website and it showed in stock. At the time, I drove down and they found it for me right away. Today I was walking by and stopped in. I was greeted immediately. I wandered around the upper part of the store. They have a really nice selection and variety of various alcohols, not just wine. I imagine if I lived closer I would stop by regularly. I definitely stop in when I'm in the area. read more

The Wine Bank - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Diego, California

Saw this everytime I was walking downtown so decided to buy a few bottles. The guy working the counter seemed like he didn't want to be there. Passing him, there is so many options to choose from and every section is labeled. They also have a winery downstairs which is great. Good place to go if you want a bottle of anything. read more

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I've been only once, but the selection seemed pretty good for a smaller place and the guy at the register was great. I stopped in, looking for some bourbon. I grabbed a bottle and headed to the register. The cashier had a great vibe and offered to switch my bottle (a Jim Beam traveler) for a cold one, which I hadn't even seen. Price surprised me too. If I was close, it'd prob be my go-to. read more

I arrived in San Diego on a Sunday night and I was staying in the gaslamp district and wanted to get a couple of bottles of wine for the room. I couldn't find any place selling wine and this one came up as a wine bank. It didn't have great reviews, so I wasn't expecting much. But it was the only one available so I decided to give it a go. I didn't see much of a selection at - first local wines on the main floor, but when I got two bottles of local wine, the owner told me that they had a basement full of wine from around the world. I went down there and oh boy they have the largest selection of wine from around the world that I have seen in a long, long time. The place has a wide range of wines from $15.99 onto under $100 from what I saw, there is a little cave that had a more curated selection. I did not go in because I didn't want to spend more than $20. But I was actually very surprised by the nice selection of wines that they had from Napa, Sonoma, Chile, Argentina. Italy, France and Germany. I got some Argentinian and some Spanish wine varietals, and they were pretty good. The prices were decent for being in the middle of the gaslamp district and they were friendly. They were very friendly and helpful. There was another gentleman down in the basement and I told him that I was from the Napa Valley region, so I didn't want anything from the Napa Valley and I asked him about the San Diego County Wine. He said not to even bother with those so I stuck with what I Know and usually go for and I was pleasantly surprised and give it a five star. if you're in the area and you need some wine, they have some great wines. The prices are reasonable and happy employees willing to help you if you have any questions. The ambience is quiet nothing to write home about, but I loved how the basement feels like a wine cellar or wine library. I t is very very well put together. Definitely recommend. read more

For the many brands that are with the many bars and the restaurants you will find the many distributors for the Gaslamp. For the Wine Bank when I had arrived to see if they had good Irish Brands for the holidays are coming. Looking to see the many displays it was more of a liquor store feel. Going through the front door the cashier greeted me asking how can I help you I was looking for Bushmills in the smaller size. Looking at the front counter the many small things the wine bank has the many brands you can check. The cashier came back with bottle to the register telling me the price was thirty three dollars. Very disappointed in the size I was looking for the sales they have. I had noticed the wine bank has changed with the displays the store location doesn't have food the store of Bev Mo is one that Carry's food and snacks . The customer service was not very pleasing for the ambiance of the Wine Bank has changed the Wine Bank had more events that had champagne tastings with the distributors of whiskey. The Wine Bank has become more of the walk I. Stores of the gift shops. They do have a large line of alcohol drinks and the fine wine listings for the many brands you may need for the party or the dinners you maybe having with friends and family . Being a Yelp Elite Reviewer the many stores some that carry different Items for the retail stores have so many different items when it comes to wines and spirits there are many to choose. The great drinks are some of the fantastic flavors for the friends and company gatherings . read more

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The Wine Bank -- So Much Wine, I Thought I Was in Napa, But With Better People! Okay folks -- let's talk about The Wine Bank. I walked in expecting a place where you maybe make a deposit and walk out with a chardonnay. But let me tell you... this place? Classy. Massive. Like Fort Knox but with pinot noir. Tremendous operation! The selection? YUGE. We're talking rows and rows of beautiful bottles. Reds, whites, bubbly, orange (yes, they have orange wine -- no relation). You walk in and immediately feel like a very classy sommelier who also happens to be a billionaire. Like me. The beer section? Fantastic. Local brews, imports, IPAs with names that sound like indie bands -- everything! I saw a Belgian beer so fancy I nearly appointed it Secretary of Hops. Incredible craftsmanship. Now -- and this is important -- the staff? So friendly, so knowledgeable. One guy practically gave me a TED Talk on Tempranillo. I asked where the rosé was and they walked me over like I was royalty. Honestly, top-tier service. Some of the nicest people ever -- even nicer than Ivanka's assistants. Why not 5 stars? Well, let's be honest: a little pricey. Not outrageous, but let's just say I've seen wine priced like this at Mar-a-Lago -- and that comes with gold leaf and a handshake. But listen, when the quality is this good and the service is this excellent, you don't mind paying a little more. It's like luxury taxes for your palate. Bottom line? The Wine Bank is a wine and beer lover's dream. A place where the shelves are tall, the pours are metaphorical, and the only thing getting hungover is your credit card. You walk in curious and walk out with six bottles and no regrets. -- Donald J. "Baron of Beverages" Trump read more

The most incredible selection of tequila I have ever seen. Also their wine selection is amazing. Staff are helpful too.

I love wine tasting here. So convenient! I haven't been in years, but we really enjoyed tasting with Roland. You were very lucky to have him and his talent of speaking so many languages. Very genuine! read more

Beautiful little store in the gaslamp that has most of the liquor you have been looking for! The guy who we spoke to had exceptional knowledge of his tequilas. I'd definitely come back when in the area. I found a nice bottle of Arrete that I have not found in LA. read more

I'm in town for a few days and wanted to pick up a little something for the room. FANTASTIC selection in such a small space. The guy behind the counter knew his stuff about rums. AND they had Paranubes, a Oaxacan rum. I can't even find this in Mexico. read more

The Wine Bank - Paranubes Oaxacan rum - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Diego, California

Great selection of wine, old world, new word, amazing selection of tequilas, mezcal, you name it they have it, the high end ones only! It's a fine wine shop and liquor, if you are a wine connoisseur, you will enjoy your visit here. Bring your Amex and expect to drop $$$. It's a perfect spot to get gift for your last minute people. It the heart of the Gaslamp District, expect nothing less! read more

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Smallish place in a busy area. The people who work there are knowledgeable, not over bearing, helpful, and also gave you space. I went in, looked around, asked pointed questions, got good answers and recommendations. I chose and left. Easy peasy. It's easy to get lost looking up, but at least you won't get lost looking around (since it's small). read more

So impressed with the wine selection downstairs! Rooms of wine.. sign me up! I almost didn't go downstairs but the cashier let us know there was a lot more selection so we helped ourselves. read more

I seriously love this place so much. From their wide selections of wine, to liquor, and beer, this place will definitely have something that you want. When you walk in, you'll see a staircase that brings you to the basement. Don't be afraid of it; and go down. Once you're in, you'll find yourself in a wine heaven. The staff here are extremely nice and knowledgeable. They're always happy to explain to you about different kinds of wine that will suit your taste. I do think their beer or liquor selection is a lot smaller in comparison to their wine selection, but come on, this place is called the wine bank. What do you expect! Anyways, TLDR, definitely stop by especially if you're a wine lover!! read more

This is one of the nicest liquor stores in gaslamp. Beer, fine wines, and exquisite liquors floor to ceiling. Very nice staff. A really wide variety of liquid temptation to cover everyone's pallet from light to professional drinkers. Worth the visit. Especially if you want to pickup something to share with friends and/or a night cap. Stay thirsty my friends and drink responsibly. read more

The Wine Bank - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Diego, California

Love this spot! So fun to just walk the aisles and see the selection! They've got affordable wine and liquor from all over the world, some bottles I've never seen before. It's honestly like a little scavenger hunt for your fave (or new fave) bottle! Highly recommend if you're looking for a great selection and affordable prices. read more

Staff here is super knowledgeable! I originally went in looking for a whiskey to gift and one of the workers was able to show me which ones would be best based on what the person liked. Unfortunately the whiskeys he recommended were out of my price point :( Again, he was able to make a wonderful recommendation for red wine that he felt the giftee would like and within my budget! Would definitely stop by again if I'm in the area and need to buy a bottle as a gift. Super convenient location too! read more

Loved this place...It has both high-end and cheap & cheerful wines, along with cold beer and all kinds of liquor. We made two visits here on our visit. My only ding is that I wished they sold snacks too. Make sure you hold the railing as you walk downstairs. All the cool bottles are distracting. read more

This has to be one of the most incredible wine stores I've ever visited, not for its selection of wines but because of its selection of bourbons and whiskeys. It has one of the largest selections I've ever seen with a price range of $20 to $700. The shop owner has an amazing knowledge so if you're looking for something unique this is the place to stop. read more

If you're looking for wine, definitely go downstairs. The selection is expansive. The French and California sections were particularly impressive but there was also a nice selection of other regions. Pricing seemed fair. read more

The Wine Bank - Not even half of the downstairs selection - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Diego, California

If you're desperate for your alcohol fix and willing to pay almost double retail, then follow the suckers into this tourist trap.If you want to charge these highly inflated prices, then at least hire well-informed,knowledgeable folks.Also beware of some of their vintage wines, that have been improperly stored,some upright,for too long,ruining the wines.Talking from experience, i had to dump 2 bottles. Seriously, they need to adjust their pricing and cater to locals too! Heard of Repeat Business? read more

Very convenient if you're looking for a bottle of wine last minute. It is located in downtown, so don't expect the best pricing. Danny is great and can help with providing recommendations. They have low end, mid-range, and high end bottles. read more

Definitely liked this place but more like a 3.5 but why not round up. They had a pretty good selection of wine here snd the service was awesome. I was looking for a decently price Bordeaux and they helped me find a couple different ones to choose from . I wish I got the name of the guy that helped me, super friendly and even gave his opinions on what steak and bbq places I should visit. While they have a good amount of wine to choose from, I think their prices are a bit higher than most places, but heck it's in gas lamp and it was super convenient. It was literally down the street from the steakhouse I was going to eat at, this, the reasons why I need a good bottle of vino to go with my rib eye. They have wines from all over the world, from entry level wines to you high end/ cult wines. Would recommend if you need a convenient place in gaslamp if you don't mind paying a bit more. read more

Be careful if you are purchasing white wines. I didn't notice the Chardonnay I picked up was a 2013. The cork dissolved as I tried to open the bottle. Taste was way off and of course the wine included plenty of cork chunks and dust. There's no better way to ruin a nice bottle. read more

now Don't decide based on the one floor. There's a small, almost invisible gate right by the check register that opens a lower level, aka a world of pure imagination - wines from every corner of the earth including lots of wines that have clubs only the cool kids can join (I'm not a cool kid). Competitive prices and helpful staff. What more could you want? read more

The poor reviews below seem so unjustified, the wine bank really knows their wine. Temperature controlled, I cannot express how much I appreciate their Ruinart blanc de blancs being kept in a BOX under lights due to clear bottles. The staff was friendly and informed me about tasting events, we joined their email list and I couldn't be more satisfied. if you like champagne, enjoy a visit to their downstairs area and check them out! Very reasonable, I will return! read more

The Wine Bank - Photo by http://lucylovesbrunch.blogspot.com/ - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Diego, California

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Good selection of beer at breathtaking prices. Yes, beer though I know it's a wine store. I was limited on time because I was in town on business and needed beer to watch a ball game at my hotel. This was on the way with no time to spare. They have a small but good and quirky selection of IPAs, much bigger selection of Belgians which don't interest me. Of course, the beer selection is dwarfed by the wines. Of the beers I bought, the only one I'm familiar with is Avery Hog Heaven. It's regularly $6.99-7.99 but was $10.99 here. That's a big surcharge to pay for location and convenience. If you are limited on time, this is a good choice. Otherwise, walk a few more blocks to the place on 7th north of Broadway or get in the car and go to Trader Joe. read more

The selection at this place is monstrous. The wine downstairs goes on and on... and is well categorized. The beer selection is also top notch. If you're staying in town for a convention and you want to bring a bottle or six pack to your room, this is the place. Just make sure your room has a refrigerator if you're going to buy beer. Ours did not so we had to rely on a regularly refilled ice bucket. read more

Visiting from NYC, I was looking for some wonderful CA wine that I might not be able to easily find back home. The guys in the shop spent time with me chatting about what I like, and they recommended some delicious wines that I really enjoyed. I can't wait to go back sometime and try some great wines!! Update 6.20.07 Went back to this place and it's better than I remembered it! Great selection, interesting stuff, helpful/knowledgeable staff. I wish this place were on my block back home!, I would be broke almost instantly!! read more

When I lived downtown, I used to go here out of convenience. But over the years too many other good options have popped up. They're selection is just OK. But it's not worth putting up with their shitty service & rude attitudes. As I say many better options to choose from. read more

I have loved reading the service complaints and I can't rate them on that as I honestly just didn't pay attention. So this review is purely based on the selection. To be fair, I knew the types of wines I was looking for and they had a very nice selection of my favorites. the prices were on par with what I'm used to. Was happy to see some awesome bottles in case I ever need to pick some up in a pinch. read more

As everyone has said the service is rude. The guy sitting in the desk downstairs did not know the wine selection and didn't help me find my wine. He also followed us around the store without helping which honestly was not only hostile but racist. read more

Ordered a gift and they shipped to my billing address instead of my shipping address. I no longer live at my old billing address and have no way to contact those that live there or go to where it is, so when I explained what happened they said I shouldn't have used different shipping/billing addresses and that they would not compensate me for the order. The man I spoke to was kind I have nothing against him, but when all was said and done they would not credit me in any way for this. Poor customer service from the company, will not return read more

Around the holidays, we had a wine tasting here. I had a Groupon and it was a fun outing. You have to go into the basement and be sure to bring your own snacks. read more

This place has amazing selection. Any and every kind of wine you may be seeking. Prices are reasonable. And the staff is extremely friendly and helpful, they'll give their suggestions and opinions, and even make recommendations for pairing with food. I've had a great experience every time I've shopped here. read more

What was I thinking! Let me start off by saying this place has the best selection of beer, wine and alcohol I have ever seen. They also have the highest prices I have ever seen too. So why the ONE STAR rating? About two years ago, my friend purchased 4 bottles of wine for a wine tasting and paid over $250 per bottle. All of the wines were amazing, except for one CORKED bottle (a bottle that has gone bad). We took the bottle back to the owner the next day and asked for a replacement bottle. To our shock, he said he absolutely never takes back any bottle (even though it was still full and corked). -Taking back a bad bottle of wine is a common practice that every other merchant follows, since the supplier will happily replace the bottle to them for free. We left vowing to NEVER shop here again. A day later I called the winery that represented the CORKED bottle, and they were equally shocked about not being able to return the wine to the vendor. The winery actually mailed us a bottle to replace the bad one! Something The Wine Bank would not do! Once again, I told myself to NEVER shop here again...Unfortunately, last week (two years later) a friend of mine needed to purchase a bottle of wine as a special gift before a dinner downtown - the only option was to go to The Wine Bank. After purchasing a $70 bottle of wine, we went to dinner. Once again, the bottle was CORKED. We even had 4 of the staff members at the steakhouse try the wine and they all immediately believed the bottle was CORKED. We took the bottle back to the store immediately after dinner. And once again, they told us they could not take the bottle back. In fact, they tasted the wine and told us they believed it was perfect! We were then told to contact their wine buyer the next day to talk to him about the "situation." We called the buyer the next day and as expected, he said there was nothing he could do for us! I WILL NEVER SHOP HERE AGAIN. In fact, here is my vow to all my Yelp friends... I, DANIEL A, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR TO NEVER SHOP AT THE WINE BANK AGAIN. I SWEAR TO ENSURE THAT NONE OF MY FAMILY, FRIENDS OR ANY ONE I KNOW SHOPS AT THIS ESTABLISHMENT EVER AGAIN FOR FEAR THAT THEY MAY PAY FOR A CORKED BOTTLE AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET A REPLACEMENT BOTTLE OR THEIR MONEY BACK LIKE THEY WOULD AT ANY OTHER ESTABLISHMENT. read more

CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP. CHANGE IN EVERYTHING. Any previous positive reviews should be reconsidered. The Wine Bank's service has been declining as rapidly as it's prices have been climbing, ever since it changed ownership. I used to shop here almost exclusively. The service was fantastic and the prices were the lowest in town (cheaper than Costco, Trader Joe's, World Market, etc.). The new owners have improved the cosmetics, but turned it into the equivalent of a 7-11 for wine. The staff is blissfully ignorant and the prices have been raised across the board (I would guesstimate 25-30%). I see lower prices at World Market and Trader Joe's all the time now. It's sad to see happen. This place really used to be special. It's too bad that it wasn't bought by someone who appreciated it's unique nature. Spend your money elsewhere. read more

If you're into wines then this is a great spot to buy some quality stuff. They have a great selection and the staff is very helpful. I'm more into reds than anything else so I tend to gravitate towards the pinot noirs, cabs, burgundies and even the merlots. To Miles ( Paul Giammati ) from the movie Sideways, you really did a number on the wine industry. You gave pinot noir a huge boost and you almost single handedly made merlot sales tank like they have never before. read more

Went for a Wine Tasting (I don't have any opinion to share on the store). Here's why I give it a 1 star and won't be going back...ever. Price: $20 a person - for 5 wines - each of which was about a 1 ounce pour....fine I suppose. We didn't go to get drunk. Refreshments: None. Nada. Zip. You CAN however bring you're own snacks, which I thought was kind of cool....but, they don't have water, or napkins...seriously...do SOMETHING to make your guests feel welcome! Customer service: ZERO....There was NO information or explanation of the wines we were drinking nor about the winery given by the person who poured, there wasn't any introduction of the winery to the group (which I've seen at many a wine tasting), and no one walked around to talk to any of us. In fact, they barely acknowledged we were there. Ambiance: YUCK! The wine tasting is in the basement - this could have been ok - I mean, I've seen basements decorated nicely...this.isn't.one. We sat in folding metal chairs under florescent lighting. There are some "nicer" bar chairs at nicer tables...but you'd have to have been one of the first 12 people there. We really couldn't wait to leave...we tried the wine, had a good laugh over it and left. We ended up going down the street to Toscana afterward (our first visit) and had a wonderful experience there, (complete with knowledgeable friendly bar tenders/servers & great wine list) so the night wasn't a total loss! BTW...if you're looking for a nice place to taste wine - "Wine Steals" or "We Olive" are fine choices, "Cucina Urbana" often has special events that are AMAZING. read more

I used to buy my wine here, exclusively, for the price, staff knowledge and attitude and the wine tastings. Unfortunately, the late Mike Farres sold the place to a guy with a BAD attitude and a unfriendly style of communication. The changes in decor and layout are a personal preference, so I can't fault him, but it now lacks the charm and old world feel that it had. It has clearly gone from a passion to a cash register, with all of the personal feel it had before, gone. Note to owner: customers like to be treated with respect. As others have mentioned, he jacked up the prices, in some cases, 20-50%. It is his business, he is free to do what he wants, but he will never see me cross the threshold there again. read more