The 8 Best Wine Bars in San Francisco, California (CA)

Reviewed By The_Loup_Garou - Phoenix, United States

Remodeled Location in the St Francis Lobby We were back in San Francisco in January for a wine event, and took advantage of my wife not having all day meetings, to walk over to the St Francis Hotel on Powell St, at Union Square, to do a wine tasting at the Château Montelena Tasting Room, in the lobby. The tasting room is back in its original location, just beyond where Michael Mina’s Steakhouse restaurant was located - not far from the reservations desk. It had moved to a temporary location, near the Oak Room restaurant, just past the lobby elevators, while their original space was being renovated - they are now back to that original location, and the renovations are lovely. Before, it was obvious that they had sort of taken the space, and then filled it up with stuff. While nice, there was a bit of a disheveled look to it - not any longer. Everything is sleek, and the displays all seem to have been built in, rather than added as an afterthought. Though smaller in floor space, than their temporary location, it is a perfect size. The bar seating is intimate, bright, and allows the tasting room staff to pour easily. We did the full tasting, and had a great time - so good, that we signed up for their wine club, especially as I had just cancelled two other wine clubs, the month before, so now had a bit of room in my cellar. The gentleman doing the pouring was from the original tasting room, in this space, but I had not seen him in the temporary location - very friendly, and ready to “talk shop” in great detail, about the wonderful wines of Château Montelena, including the history of the winery, and its place in the “Judgement of Paris,” when USA wines won many of the tasting categories against the best French wines, and about which a movie was made, “Bottle Shock,” starring the late Alan Rickman Dennis Farina and Chris Pine. Once, the DVD of that movie was always playing on a small TV set, but now, in the new tasting room, it is only cued up upon request. The tasting room, though smaller, is very, very attractive, and the service is excellent, and low-key. At no time was any pressure put on us to join the wine club, and as a matter of fact, we had to inquire about doing so. I recommend this tasting room, in the heart of San Francisco, very highly, and would encourage one to budget at least an hour - especially if they enjoy tasting world-class wines, and getting into deep discussions on all aspects of the production of those wines.