This place is VERY average, guy was ok. Older Caucasian guy, never very friendly probably bored with his life, yeah ain't we all. Their champagne selection is subpar! read more

Borderline rude staff at times. Went in yesterday during the day, brief interaction, enough to make me walk out and ask myself why I bother to keep trying this place. Used to be such a great store with friendly staff. read more

The older Caucasian guy who works here on most weekdays is curt, unhelpful and bordering on rude. Like the other reviewer said, this used to be a great little store, but we won't be coming back. read more

Great selection of wines, with plenty of affordable options. Some of the best deals I've seen. Staff is friendly and knowledgable!

Great little shop. The guy who's been there when I've been in (Don't know his name but I know he moved here from Philadelphia) has been great. Many mid and low-priced selections. Pro tip: Buy wine here and take it next door to Homestead and pay the corkage. The math greatly works in your favor. I bought my first bottle here mid-meal when I couldn't find anything on the wine list I liked. read more

It used to be a good place. Last time we went there the gentleman who looked like skinnier Michael Moore was extremely unfriendly and not even knowledgeable about wine. We asked for recommendations and he just goes like "this this and this" without even describing each. Again we used to like this place. Now we may have to go to the one on College Avenue since this place keeps getting lesser of good wine and staffs. read more

Excellent service. Great price range and fabulous selection. Bottle prices ranging from 9 dollars to 100+ something for everyone. Not pretentious at all, just a place where u can ask questions and buy great wine. I'll definitely be back. read more

Walked in as the only customer. I was hardly acknowledged and no help offered while I looked around. First and last time in this shop.

This wine shop was a gem. After having a less than satisfying experience at Oakland Yard Wine, I went here. The gentleman in the store was kind and knowledgeable. He taught me about the natural wines I was interested in, and led me to three excellent wines. HIGHLY RECOMMEND if you are in the Oakland area. read more

Try at least a couple times to buy at this place since the wine variety seems good, however each time I asked for a particular wine that I was unable to find on my own I got the rudest response and complete lack of interest in helping me out. Never buying at this place again. Terrible service. read more

I've been a customer for 20 years but lately I'm not feeling it from a customer service angle. When I ask for help it's none too enthusiastic. Throughout the pandemic, even just walking in the door, the man (who is there most often) reluctantly, slowly puts on a mask. Today I brought back 4 Vino bags and said I was buying a couple of cases. He put the bags away and started loading a box until I pointed out that I purposely brought the bags in to help me get it home. read more

When our friend Dave was the manager of Vino in Berkeley, everything was fine. He moved to Canada then Carl told me never to come back to HIS store. I haven't. I patronize the store on Piedmont. Hope Carl got his ass fired. read more

For people who love wine and drink wine on a regular basis like we do (every night at the dinner table), Vino offers the best bangs for your bucks, period. They have some absolutely delicious Cote du Rhône between $..8.50 (!!) to $12.50 which are a blessing. Their staff is friendly and very knowledgeable. I just love these guys! read more

I had been avoiding this store for months--assuming that it was yet another super expensive wine store in the vein of Kermit Lynch. (Don't get me wrong--there's nothing wrong w/ expensive wine shops, but, well, I'm a little broke, so going somewhere with an average price of $40+ seems a little extravagant to me.) However, upon FINALLY going in last week, I was pleasantly surprised. The majority of the wines are incredibly reasonably priced--including a fair variety of French, Italian, and Spanish wines for under $10 a pop. And the guy who helped me, who unpretentiously assumed that I was looking in the under $10 range, was super nice and helpful--and has been when I've gone since (AND he remembered me!). They have more expensive wines, too, which is nice. Whether you're looking for a cheap Syrah or Sauv Blanc, something a little more pricey, or a varietal that you may have not heard of, Vino probably has something you're after. ...Unless, of course, you have to have super high-priced wines. I haven't seen a lot (if any) of those in this store. But if you want something that's tasty and affordable, it's definitely worth a look! read more

I came to Vino last night to get some wine for dinner since we are spending our last two weeks in the US at our friend Valerie's who lives in the neighborhood. She has shopped here frequently. The person who was working was pleasant, attentive, even got off the phone to see if I needed any help. He suggested two Malbecs and I was quite pleased with them. Thanks! read more

I try to get all my wine at Vino, because I love how I can just breeze in & say, "I'm cooking Genoese Pesto Minestrone tonight, what would be a nice wine to drink with it?" and they'll show me 2-3 options & describe why they think they'd go well, and I'll find something for whatever I want to spend at the time ($25 max when I'm feeling flush), and I'm ALWAYS HAPPY with what they've suggested. I'm currently stocking up on a $15 Graves they turned me on to that's the perfect summer picnic wine, and right now I'm drinking a beautiful rose they suggested from Minervois and LOVING IT. I especially like the woman who works with Perry, because she's always friendly as well as being professional & always sending me out with something I like. I'm embarassed that I don't know her name, actually - maybe you guys could put up a photo with your names on it, or wear name tags? read more

Perry is the most down-to-earth wine merchant I've encountered. Although I don't know much about wine, I do know what I like. Without any pretense, he'll suggest new labels and grapes that I haven't tried. They say it's a bargain shop, but it runs the gamut. Nonetheless, the two folks that work there (I'm not sure of the woman's name) respect your price range. Perry more so than the other employee, but for the lesson she gave me, it was worth it. Vino has more than one shop, but I've developed my loyalties to the only one I've visited. read more

wondered in here while waiting for my sushi order. they have wines from mostly europe and locally. based on the cashier's recommedation for pairing with sushi, i bought the following:: felsmer veltliner lossterrassen(white wine/austria 9.95) very dry. husch sauvignon blanc 06(11.95)semidry semifruitty. desiderio jeio, prosecco but(13.95 )-results tba. they publish a newsletter and have 4 outlets, rockridge, frisco, and bezerkeley being the others. the place is very narrow. i kept bumping into patrons, wines, and the counters. talk about a shanghai bull in a bottle shop! i will definitely return! read more

So nice to find a wine place where the seller has exactly the brands in such a small place. I can only say in regards to their selection, plan your dish early, bring the idea over and have them pair it for you. With all their experiences it is wonderful to select. They schedule tastings for wine flight selections. Considering this is something you would need to drive all the way to Calistoga to get, having it here in the bay area by a similar expert is worth the effort. Look for specials, bargains and peace in mind picking just about anything in their selection is very very good. read more

A great wine shop to find unique wines. I visited to find wines to take to a wine tasting. Being that I didn't know anyone at the the party, I decided on a French red wine blend and a Portuguese wine. Both were really good. Because of this, I am a fan of the place. I cannot wait til my next purchase. Yum. read more

I love Vino! I've found the people who work there so nice and helpful, and not snooty at all -- not even when I asked if they had any great wines in the $10 range. (They did.) I always ask for their recommendation, and I've never been disappointed. read more

Awesome little shop for wine. I love coming here whenever I am in the mood for some Italian wine. I don't know much bout Italian wine.. But this place helped me fall in love with them. Usually I drink the local wine.. But sometimes it's fun to explore things out of your comfort zone. Usually I would come here after work an pickup a bottle or two.. The prices are reasonable and the owner is extremely nice. The selection is big and if you are lost, you can always ask the staff for help. I am more of a red guy, but they have a good selection of white that anyone can fall in love with. I recommend this place to anyone that wants to try something new. Just hates the parking in the area. read more

We stumbled into Vino when we strolled along Piedmont Ave. After a casual walk through the entire store browsing the labels, I realized then that I discovered a budget import wine store. Most of the wines are priced around $10, from favorite places such as Italy, France, and down under. So how do I know which wine is better than the others? The staff have added index cards near the highlighted wines to describe their tasting notes. That's the best help available, much better than quoting some authoritative wine reviewers such as Robert Parker or Wine Spectator. It can make a big difference whether an ordinary store staff or a national celebrity taster tell you what they think of a wine. You know, not everybody has a special tongue like the latter to make sense of what a wine has to offer! Anyway, I chose 2 labels according to the staff's recommendation. The first one was a white from Domaines Astruc (dA) - 2006 Viognier from Lauguedoc region ($8.95). Besides having a typical fragrant and fruity bouquet for a Viognier, this wine is quite dry and has a full body. The taste is rich and fantastic. The second was a red from Villa Tonino (Sicily) - 2005 Nero D'Avola ($6.95). The wine is full body, dark red and has little to no tanin. The bouquet is undetectable, but it tastes smooth and semi-sweet. Both wines are drinkable now and are really value buys. Don't expect any multilevel and complex tastes like a highend wine. They are decent table wines for daily enjoyment. I always think inexpensive, selected wines from abroad can beat California equivalents in both price and quality. Thanks to special stores like Vino to take care of the frugal wine drinkers like me who do not want to sacrifice quality over price. Now that I have developed a comfort level with Vino, I surely will go back and pick up more wines. read more

I love this place, especially Perry. He's very knowledgeable, helpful, and very down to earth. He won't steer you to a pricier wine unless you ask for it. The only complain I have about this place is the older lady who works there, but overall, this is an exceptional place. read more

Vino on Piedmont is a treasure and the latest staff member is A+. He suggested some wonderful, mid range wines that he felt would beautifully complement our dinner party. He was spot on. I think his name is David. The store is small but packed with a terrific selection. It's very neighborhood and no frills. Plus, it has air conditioning! Thank you Vino on Piedmont - I'll be back read more

I used to love Vino. Today I walked into Vino to further explore their Spanish wine selection. I mentioned to the guy in the store that I was interested in an Albarino that I have enjoyed at Barbero & Solstice. He proceeded to talk it down like it was Riunite or something. "Look for it at Bev Mo where it would be overpriced at 20 bucks a bottle it used to be 10 dollars a bottle." The guy would not shut up. I am trying to salvage this visit & Shop the Spanish wine section that I came to visit in the first place & he kept on running down the label I'd asked about.. I finally said a "wait a minute, I am here in your store & you are sending me to BEVMO?". I then say that I love Spanish & Portugese wines & served them at my wedding recently. He trots over the cheapest wine in the store (which really bugs, I was'nt in the market for a 7 dollar wine) This was a deliberate visit to Vino to buy Spanish wines. He finally clued in that i was offended that he suggested leaving Vino to run over to Bev Mo Then he calls me hyper sensitive. What is it about me that is screaming PRICE SHOPPER. Sure I shop on value, but not on price solely, frankly I pay more for service than anything else. I Ieft there empty handed. Went across the street to the Piedmont Grocery where they had exactly what I was looking for without the elitist altitude. Bought 2 bottles at 15.99 each. Must say that the help on at Vino on Tuesday nights is much better than the Saturday Morning help. Next time I see this staffer I am out the door. He likes the sound of his own voice too much to read his customers. read more

I love this place! A great wine store without the pretentious wine snobbery. I can't speak a word of french but one of the ladies that work there always sends me home with a solid bottle of red for under $10. read more

We occasionally browse the shelves here when we want to bring a bottle to a soiree. The staff is always nice and helpful when you just can't decide. read more

Went in with an idea of what I was looking for and was pleasantly surprised with the knowledge David shared on what I might like. He's super down to earth and suggested a wine, which of course was soooo delicious and still easy on the wallet read more

I visited this shop for the first time while visiting friends and family in Piedmont. The wine selection is good and prices were average for the area. I was asked if I needed assistance within 5 minutes of entering the store. After perusing the selection, I selected 2 bottles of moderately expensive wine and paid for my purchase. There was a small table at the front window of the shop so I sat down to write some Christmas letters. After an hour, I was curtly informed by the staff that "this is not a restaurant" and was firmly asked to leave as other people might want to sit down. Mind you, during the entire time I was in the shop there were never more than 4 customers in the shop and no one seemed to mind my presence in that corner of the shop. At the time of this discussion there was one other customer waiting at the counter to check out. As we discussed the matter, the store worker got increasingly upset so I left. This same worker had several unkind words to say about a street musician that comes to play in the alleyway next to the shop before our discussion occurred. As a writer, I appreciate establishments that will tolerate me relaxing and letting my thoughts flow onto the page uninterrupted. Obviously this was not my experience with this establishment. Overall, the experience left a bad taste in my mouth, but if you don't mind going in getting your wine, paying and leaving your experience should be good. If your looking to soak up the ambiance from a bistro table leave immediately after purchase an go to one of several other coffee shops an restaurants on Piedmont avenue! read more

This is a great store, I do most of my wine shopping here, for many reasons - first the staff are all great, friendly, fun to talk with, but above all - their profound admiration and passion for wine is wonderful. No nonsense wine words heard, just great passion for what they do and what they are interested in, and always the recommendations are perfect. I have never left feeling anything but great about spending my money with them, and I have always been overwhelmed with the wines I have brought home. Also, great prices, much cheaper than other stores, and a good range from the $6-7 area to what you would pay for a great wine like Hendry. read more

Love this shop! For a long time I was too intimidated to step inside, I thought the prices would be too high for my modest budget. On the contrary, I discovered that they have many good wines at very reasonable prices. You can be adventurous and get their "wine for the week", a great deal you get 7 wines at a nice discount, blindly pick something off a shelf or ask their very knowledgeable staff to recommend something. I have tried all three options and haven't yet had a bottle I didn't enjoy. Unlike some of the larger chains who buy their wines from large corporate producers, Vino sources their wine from smaller producers, many who have been in the family wine business for decades or longer. I am happy that I can enjoy good wine on a small budget and support a small local business at the same time. read more

I love this place -- they have a great range of wines from reasonably priced to expensive, domestic to foreign, etc. If you go in ask for Perry. He's the least snooty wine merchant I've ever encountered. He doesn't put on airs or make you feel cheap when buying a $8 table red. He also flat out knows his stuff when it comes to wine. read more

In Perry we trust! We try to make it a point to support local businesses, but occasionally it can be a painful proposition for the pocketbook. Not so with Vino! Perry and his colleagues have never led us astray. And I never get that sense they are trying to up-sell. They recommend only amazing bottles, rarely above $13-15 (mostly below that, yay value!), with a scary accurate sense for appropriate pairing with both food and mood. Give them some love! read more

i know it's looking like i'm going to review every shop on piedmont but i'll try to refrain. i walked into vino on a sunday not really knowing what i was looking for. i usually trust the recommendations of my peruvian boyfriend because she is a wine snob but they didn't carry what she had texted me. the lady that was working there gave me some alternatives so i went with one of them. i also picked up a couple of other bottles i liked the sound of because my wine stock was completely depleted recently. the store was empty and i was afraid the lady was going to look over my shoulder and talk my ear off but she didn't. she answered my questions and then left me alone. the prices were reasonable too. read more

The guy working here was really helpful. I needed to bring a bottle of champagne to my friends' holiday party, but the clerk convinced me to buy a bottle of Prosecco instead--he had just gotten a rare case in from Italy and it was really affordable. I brought it to the party and everyone flipped out--they were all crazy for Prosecco, and the host had just returned from a year in Italy, so it brought back fond memories. The wine was great and made it look like I knew what I was doing! read more

Greatly enjoy shopping with confidence at Vino on Piedmont because of their staff's excellent knowledge, service and full selection. Specifically Tim is my go to guy when my wife and I are looking for wines for "school night", hosting barbecues and dinner parties and the occasional top notch special occasion wine. Feel like I have an average to above average knowledge of wines and appreciate their casual approach and guidance to selecting appropriate wines and have witnessed them assist other buyers of all experience levels with equal affinity. They also put together a fun, easy on the budget, "wine for the week" 7 bottle package. Great store and staff! read more

Hands down my favorite wine shop I have ever been to. Sure there are wine shops that have 10 times the floor space resulting in a larger selection, but for me, Vino has all that I'm personally looking for in wine and service. Staff is very helpful and intelligent about Vino's selection and how that matches to your particulars in wine. For me, I like Old World Style Wine from Southern France that is inexpensive and pairs good with food. Above and beyond that, Vino has a great selection of California and Argentina Reds that follow (as close as possible) to the Old World Style, which have been proactively recommended and have never been disappointing. read more

This is my go-to wine shop. The female proprietress has always met every challenge. Latest test - a wine to pair with a Sierra Leone beef/peanut butter stew - no problem. Thanks for introducing me to new varietals and regions. read more

Very nice wine shop on Piedmont Avenue. Very good selection of local and imported wines, and a very knowledgeable staff to help. Prices a bit higher than a few other specialty wine shops in the area. read more