Saison Hospitality Will Open a Luxurious New Wine Bar and Private Cellar in San Francisco | Eater SF

"Opening in June in SoMa, I expect Saison Cellar & Wine Bar to be a two-part wine destination led by Saison co‑founder and winemaker Mark Bright: a wine bar settling into 234 Townsend (the former Petit Marlowe space where Bright once opened Les Clos) and a private, members-only cellar at 228 Townsend. The wine bar will feature between 30 and 40 selections by the glass—priced roughly from $12 to $100+—with pours that include Grand Cru Burgundy for under $50 and Krug Champagne by the glass for $75, plus pop-ups from producers like Raveneau, Ramonet, and 1st Growth Bordeaux; the program will also offer 1,000 wines by the bottle and use a preservation system to allow higher-end pours. While the focus is wine, the food program is substantial enough to fill a night: Maison Nico is providing pates and terrines, there will be caviar service, a cheese cart, and charcuterie sliced to order with help from Paul Carayas. The cellar membership (228 Townsend) is being offered to founding members for $5,000 and includes a climate-controlled private locker for up to 78 bottles, a starter case of wine, a $5,000 credit for purchases during the year, access to wine events and dinners across Saison Hospitality Group (including a planned summer event with Olivier Krug), wine education and a concierge for reservations, plus a consultation with Bright on private collections. Bright frames the concept as “affordable luxury,” drawing on lessons from the Scotts Valley location, and stresses that you don’t have to be a member to enjoy the wine bar." - Dianne de Guzman