There are plenty of places where you can grab a glass of wine in San Francisco. But where we go to discover new wines or broaden our palates, without breaking the bank (or getting completely trashed)?
Here are our top 5 options:
Nectar Wine Lounge offers highly curated, rotating wine flights that manage to remain fun. The flights are a great way to try out interesting varietals and labels, without committing to an entire glass. For example, there’s the “Anything But Chard” flight ($18), which currently contains a Picpoul de Pinet, Soave, and Saumur Blanc. Red wine lovers can pick a “Bad Ass Red” flight, containing a Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Monsanto, and Vaucluse ($20).
Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant is a hybrid wine shop-bar, where you can create your own flight from any wine on the bar via 2 oz pours. The shop, owned by Master Sommelier Peter Granoff, has a highly curated wine list and club membership. The shop also gives patrons the opportunity to meet winemakers from around the world, from local winemakers such as Peay Estates or The Scholium Project to major names like Roederer.
Tender SF is your happy hour tasting option. Every day from 5:30-7 PM, and Sundays from 3-5 PM, any three 2 oz pours are just $11. With a curated selection of local and global wines, this one is truly a steal.
The Hidden Vine gives wine geeks the opportunity to put their tastebuds to the test. In addition to standard tasting flights, they offer comparison flights that pit varietals against each other. For example, the Pinot Noir flight puts Oregon’s Willamette Valley against Burgundy, and Eastern European Whites flight compares Ferment to Posip ($15-19). What is Posip, anyway? We’ll have to go and find out.
The Barrel Room offers one of the largest flight lists in SF. Each month provides an exciting way to taste through new wines through different themes, from South America to California. Patrons can select from red, white, sparkling, dessert, and even natural wine flights ($15-20)
Know of a wine bar offering a great flight, that you think should be on this list? Send us a note!