ACME Fine Wines

New location, offering a well curated selection of Napa gems. Liz was gracious and welcoming, guiding us to a fine choice for our impromptu afternoon picnic. Highly recommend.

Tasty, difficult to find wines. Beautiful shop and great service. A great pit stop for a few gifts and Napa souvenirs!

I've never had a more incredible experience drinking wine. Whether you are a seasoned pro or new to the valley, this place needs to be on your list for a tasting. It isn't all CA wines but I don't think you want it to be, whomever you taste with will take you on a fantastic journey of wine from around the world but will always bring it back to Napa and Sonoma. You may think you want to bounce from winery to winery to winery but I am telling you, if you want to be taken care of, feel important, and dive into every little sip this is the place for you.

One of the finest wine "stores" anywhere. I cannot even call it a store as it is more of an experience. Exceptionally knowledgable, professional and friendly staff who really know their wines...and not just the wines but the people behind them. They also have some of the best wine clubs in the United States. They are always a must stop for me when I am in Napa and they ship too.

Smart people, ludicrously tasty wines, and fun times. My trips to Napa country start and end here for a reason!

The outstanding selection of interesting, rare, and hard-to-find wines is surpassed only by the knowledge, friendliness and charm of the staff.

Great, knowledgeable staff and a wonderful assortment of boutique wines.

Awesome people. Great wine. What more can I say.

Another Napa gem. Not big or flashy but chock full of Napa gems including some hard to get wines. Service is exceptionally good and they offer some wines from wineries that are not accessible for tasting to the general public (i.e., only members). Not really a tasting room so be sure to book an appointment!

Impressive selection of rare wines. My group of wine enthusiasts enjoyed Hundred acre, Tor, Immortal and more! Liz is super friendly and knowledgeable. If you want a unique wine experience this is it the club you want to be in. Thank you Andre/Executive car service napa Valley

I was looking for a very special and apparently rare bottle of wine. The winery let me know they did not have it available for sale, but recommended me to Acme. I was assisted over the phone by Ben and he made it such an easy experience to collect payment and I set up a time to pick up the wine. I am so glad I was able to find this bottle of wine. Thank you acme and Ben!

This boutique shop is an amazing place to taste, buy and learn about up and coming wines, iconic labels and their wine makers. They don't just offer one label but cultivate and collate hundreds of wines then tailor their recommendations to the specific tastes of their guests. My husband and I wanted to discover the new and upcoming wine makers and their labels. We were blown away with Ben McClure's knowledge and suggestions. Do yourself a favor and book a tasting to see why they were voted Wine Enthusiast's 50 best wine retailers in America for 2020. Side note: they offer a complimentary cheese and charcuterie tray with the Kahuna tasting which was impressive, varied, tasty and more than enough for a party of 2!!!

What a GREAT Experience! We had an unbelievable time at ACME, being able to taste wines that we would never been able to sample due to size of the winery. it was one stop and got to experience 6-7 wineries. Karen was the perfect host, and was fantastic to show us, teach us and sample the best wines that met our taste. We are total fans of the Clubs they have to offer, which brings these wines that you cant find anywhere into your home. Different programs that match to what you desire. Will be back to Acme next time in Napa.

They have an amazing selection of wine and that's the first step to get familiar with big wineries brands love this place

Placed an expensive order for wine. There was no mention of extra shipping, or the cost of shipping in the email, so it was huge surprise that it was an extra $10 per bottle for shipping. Then, when it was shipped - they sent to the wrong address. It bounced around in the FL heat for 3 days before I made multiple calls and was able to find the issue. Was told it was being recalled, not to worry, they would source again and send in a month or so. Well, 2 days later it was delivered, in terrible shape, with the boxes ripped and stained from what looked like a broken wine bottle. At this point asked for a refund until this was cleared up, as this experience has been a nightmare. After I reached out to Acme I was told I needed to leave it by my front door. I do not have one, I live in a condo. Two days later I was told to leave it at the concierge by 9am... After reaching out again, I still have no idea if they plan to source this and bill/send again, or not. AND - I have been removed from their email list. In contrast - I ordered from another wine company who sent me 1 of 4 bottle of the wrong year/vintage. They told me to keep it, and sent the right one overnight that day and I got it the next day. It is easy when things go well. And I know not everyone has a bad experience, but it is how people handle issues that is telling.

Whenever I'm in Napa for more than, say, 15 minutes, I make it a point to pre-order a 4-pack of wine from ACME to supplement my vineyard visits and restaurant stops. Why? Because ACME is in a category all its own: artisan, boutique, & unique - esoteric even - wines from Napa winemakers, savants, & beyond. I scan the web site for wines of interest in my preferred price point, especially the "miscellaneous" reds and whites. I email an order ahead of time, and Erin and her staff do the rest. By the time I arrive in Saint Helena, the wines are ready to go, but usually I linger to scan the wine shelves (which are like bookshelves, but with wine bottles) and sample an opened wine or two for future reference. The ACME staff are also super knowledgeable about interesting, off the beaten path wineries in the area, like O'Shaughnessy (whose estate Howell Mountain Cabernet won Best of Show in a recent SFChronicle wine competition), that adventurous tasters may want to add to their itinerary. Each wine on the shelf has a story to tell, so ask away; you'll be glad you did. In summer, the white and rosé wine offerings are superb. And if you want a coveted cult Napa red wine like Lokoya or Kapcsándy, you'll find them here, too. I've never encountered a wine shop quite like ACME. And this is not for lack of trying. So you should plan a visit here, too. If you don't pre-order, no worries; tell them what you like and what you are willing to spend, and they will take it from there.

One of my favorite things about ACME that I enjoy sharing with friends is how much effort they invest in promoting small scale, local winemakers in Napa Valley whose artisan wines sourced from heritage vineyards would otherwise fall under the radar screens of most outside visitors to the valley. A great example are the wines made by Haley Wight of Hayfork. She makes a classically-styled Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (with a bit of Petit Verdot added for color, spice, and structure) from a family ranch near Saint Helena, as well as a refreshing summertime Grenache Blanc, with fruit notes of pear, peach, and pineapple and a crisp, tart finish. Both wines you will never find at a wine store outside of Napa, so ACME has a bit of an exclusive on these unique and well crafted wines. ACME also likes to showcase private label wines crafted by high-end Napa winemakers, ex-sommeliers, vineyard managers, and Napa residents who are really passionate about their work and want to share it with others. It's a little like a community farmers' market, but with wine! Plan to visit here as part of your next stop in the Napa Valley. You'll end up with a very different impression than if you only stay in a famous resort or stick with the bigger wineries and tasting rooms.

Delightful Wine Bar in Saint Helena! SITREP It's not often you get to come to Napa Valley to see a wide variety of wine without it being associated to a specific winery, like Mondavi, or V.Sattui or Beringers, etc. Acme Fine Wines (Acme) is a great exception to this seeming ingrained rule. THE SETUP Located in Saint Helena, in the heart of the Napa Valley along Hwy 29, Acme is in the unique position to not be beholden to any specific winery which allows it to feature many many different wine products and varietals. Are you like me where maybe you get a little tired of the $30 to $50 wine tours which sometimes are a prerequisite before you can get to a specific winery's sales room, or be eligible for a discount? That's the beauty of Acme because it permits the wine connoisseur to economize their energies and perhaps taste, and then purchase several different varietals, vintages & wineries at one time: PLEASANT STAFF Our wine steward Dylan has been the gentleman I've seen the two occasions I've been by Acme. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/acme-fine-wines-saint-helena#0LEa7A4JWTGgcUXpyhR3Ag Not only is Dylan (and his colleagues) extremely knowledgeable about ALL the varietals & vintages they feature (and believe me, that is NO small task to keep track of over 100-200 wines), since they tend to "play no favorites", they will give you the honest low down and one winery may have had a bad year and which particular vintage you might want to steer clear of and so you can favor another. This is not the kind of honesty of one's own products you will find in a specific winery trying to sell their own goods. [Yeah, I'm looking at you Stag's Leap and some of the terrible bottles you passed off on me years ago when you knew better.] WINE ART Something that one may not always appreciate if they tend to stay in a "rut" with the specific wines they get over and over (and over and over AND OVER) again, is the incredible ART in the form of the wine bottle labels that there is. Some of the labels are exquisite. I've gotten some bottles just because I wanted the art and didn't really care so much about the wine inside (I know, I know, "HERESY") ;) These have included: *Skeletal Cardinal: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/acme-fine-wines-saint-helena#CHMFoa15pZ_QpqTrH5Fihg *Beautiful Female Torsos Without Arms: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/acme-fine-wines-saint-helena#p0j1jABsIVhju0I-42083A *Covenant (which also happens to share it's name with one of my favorite Norwegian Bands: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/acme-fine-wines-saint-helena#cO9NewV-XZH7Qeb4ecxYyA All-in-all, there is so much to SEE (more so than most wineries), as well as to taste. THE LOWDOWN Acme is a wonderful stop in Napa Valley if you already have been "toured-out" on expensive winery visits and just want to zone in on some specific varietals.

When you want to discover wines made by the "garagistes" and low volume labels, this is a primo spot. Mostly local wines, but some imports, too. Space is partnered with Pane & Vino. Best breadsticks I've ever tasted. Also the house made salamis are ultra-premium. Nice folks own & operate. Wine tasting by appointment only.

The ladies who helped us yesterday were not only knowledgeable but also personable and attentive. We enjoyed a tasting and it felt as though we were catching up with old friends rather than buying product. Great aesthetic and overall lovely place.

Why do people join winery wine clubs? I understand getting caught up in the romance of the winery experience but I can't imagine any single brand of wine I esteem so highly that I'd want to receive it in monthly shipments, month in and month out. Six months in do you open the shipment excitedly or is it more like "hey, more wine from XXX"? Acme Fine Wines isn't a winery; it's a wine shop. Their wine clubs don't feature one label of wine; they feature any label of wine. Sometimes it isn't even wine that's featured. Imagine my surprise when my first monthly box included a Napa Valley Vermouth made by a premier winemaker in his off-time. This is his little passion project and now it's mine to try as recommended, poured over ice with a twist of orange peel to accent the aromatics. Through Acme wine clubs you're exposed to wine not just from one winery or one winemaker but from the world of wine. Their packages include whatever strikes Acme's fancy regardless of origin. Along with that Vermouth was a porch-pounder bottle from Austria and a fine Pinot Noir from a 400 case project out of California's central coast. The following month included a bottle from a 60-case offering out of Calistoga, a highly touted Chardonnay from the Santa Maria Valley, and an old-vine Syrah from France. Acme benefits by being able to offer all wines and they get a lot of product from small producers who don't have their own wineries and bigger winemakers who are doing adored little side projects. Their wine clubs offer a really fun way to taste the world of wine and their liner notes (packed inside the carton) read far more interestingly than any others. Also: * Acme's St. Helena store shouldn't be mistaken as a wine tasting destination. It isn't. They may have some wines open and may offer a sample but it's really just a store. Don't go there looking to do a wine tasting unless you've specifically arranged something with them in advance. * If you go to the store don't miss the 50 cent soda machine stocked with craft beer. * Acme has several different wine clubs (check their web site). Through the "Pulse" club you'll receive 3 bottles monthly for a cost of $100, shipping not included. (If you live nearby you can pick your order up from the store and save yourself the shipping costs). * Acme occasionally hosts in-store events which allow members the opportunity to meet the winemakers and sample and purchase what they've sampled. An upcoming Rhone event sounds like a great excuse to visit. Did you need one? * "Hey, more wine from XXX" shouldn't be construed as a bad thing; it's just that opening a box from Acme is more like a grab bag experience, and elicits far more excitement.

Undiscovered wines from small producers on display; some are available for tasting. I guarantee if you can describe what you are looking for in a wine, the gals at Acme can find it for you. They know wine and they know a lot about high quality, small vineyards that don't have the Corporate Machine behind them. I like that. I found some amazingly complex and relatively unknown wines at reasonable prices that are worthy of a very fine meal with someone special sometime real soon.

Wonderful wine shop in St. Helena offering a curated and elevated "wine club" experience based on your specific preferences. Their detailed emails provide notification of unique, rare and glorious wines with a concentrated focus on Oakville (I shared Oakville is my favorite appellation). The service is outstanding and very personalized. Highly recommend visiting, tasting their selections and engaging in a conversation.

This place is awesome. We were driving up to Napa and Tra Vigne, the restaurant we booked for dinner, told us that they have no corkage fee for the first bottle! I Yelped around the area and found ACME on the list. I called at 7:02 pm and they closed at 7 pm. It may have been the fact that I was pitifully sad that we missed this place, but the owner Scott asked if I was close by. I told him I was 5 minutes away at Tra Vigne and that we could be there right away. He stayed open for us, and we were able to buy two delicious bottles of Orin Switt wines: D66 and Abstract. The prices for the Orin Switfts are comparable to BevMo and other discount stores even on the internet. Since the price difference was vast as to the prices we would have paid in the restaurant, coupled with the amazing service, it just made the experience sweeter. Scott's friend showed us the tasting room, and explained the bottles to us so that we could fully enjoy it for dinner. We will definitely be back to buy more wine from ACME!!!!!

I can't describe how much fun it was to taste here. Not only that, it's wonderful to get a knowledge of smaller production wines. Erin was so helpful in helping us pick wines based on the style we said we liked. The only glitch is that when it comes time to buying, you might not exactly be in the most clear state of mind. ;) The wines that we didn't finish, we corked back up and brought back to the house we were staying at. It's really a great experience - much better than a lot of the pretentiousness you can get at a lot of the wineries.

Wow. We made our first trip to Napa, my bride and I, a few weeks ago. Our #1 destination was Orin Swift, just south of ACME in St. Helena. Sadly, since we were to be there on a weekend, Mr. Phinney's establishment was closed. However, despite my Episode III Vader-esque scream into the phone ("NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!"), the OS crew referred us to ACME, where we ultimately started our wine infused day. Wow. We had hoped to see Erin, the newest team member and She Who Unknowingly Got Us Into Wine some years ago on a trip to NYC. Instead, we spent time with Tony and David, who were fun, patient, knowledgeable and kind to the neophytes (us). We had arrived in the Napa valley expecting snobbery and derision, but Tony and David immediately changed our perception and attitude. Great guys. Wine was tasted, tales were told, connections were made, opinions were expressed and advice was given. A splendid time was had by all. Ultimately, we left with a little over a case of wonderful, diverse wines that we would never have had the chance to learn about or taste, and at fantastic prices. I HIGHLY recommend ACME Fine Wines to anyone who enjoys. . . err. . fine wines. You can call on the phone or order online as well, but I think the magic lies in a visit. If you like wine, you must go to ACME. Did I mention the "Wow" part? Because there's that.

As with all my reviews, I must give credit when credit is due. Living in St. Helena I had driven by Acme Fine Wines almost daily - always wondering who would be operating a retail wine shop in a remote corner of downtown St. Helena. Finally, I had know - was this a vanity wine operation or serious retailer/reseller? I walked in rather skeptical but was warmly greeted by Erin - one of the resident ACME Fine Wine aficionados. The space is industrial chic with a minimalist décor. The wines are neatly displayed by bottle on a single wall. This ain't no Bottle Barn, BevMo or Dean & Deluca. No boxes, no wooden wine cases, no advertising, no obvious price/sale tags, handwritten recommendations or wine club brochures - just a display wall chalked full of great Napa vino. Acme Fine Wines market nothing but "hand picked", "best of breed" boutique Napa product. Of course, you will see some the big cult names routinely revered by cult wine enthusiasts - but more importantly you will see wines that you may not be familiar with. This is where Erin and her colleagues come to the rescue. I was a bit overwhelmed at the quantity of handpicked treasures on display. Fortunately, Erin was available to provided detailed information on each and every wine. She was also quite helpful in making suggestions that fit into my budget which was great. It really felt that she was going out of her way to present the best wine for the buck. I write this review for my fellow oenophiles, wine aficionados and connoisseurs who are not so fortunate to live and work in Napa but are looking for a single point of contact for quality wines sold by seriously oenophiles. The folks at ACME are people who truly appreciate wine from Napa Valley. It is this passion that will most certainly resonate with most hobbyists like myself, but also with professionals vintners, sommeliers and wine merchants. I highly recommend that you sign up for the email newsletters and feel free to know that you can place a phone order with confidence. Hoping this review is helpful to all.

I'm the fourth review? Huh! I make it a point to stop by Acme any time I'm within hollering distance of Hwy 29. Acme is a hub for small, hard to find (ie I've never heard of that label before) wines from Napa Valley and beyond. They work directly with vintners and are easily familiar with every wine they stock - both impressive and helpful. It is a refreshing, happy experience every time I step through the door - a total antidote for Big Winery Burnout. As has been noted, it's not a tasting room, it's a specialist shop. They have tasting nights, though, and occasionally there's a bottle or two open so you can sip something pleasant while you wander around. Most importantly, though, the staff know their stuff, and can / do discuss any given bottle. They can also work with your tastes and make dead accurate suggestions, which is critically important when one isn't at all familiar with the small scale vintners they feature (like myself). We have always worked with Jeff, a personable, witty, and completely down to earth guy. In fact the truly outstanding aspect of Acme is their customer service, both inside and outside of the shop. Inside, for all of the above reasons - but outside, once you've left, is really what sets them apart. They'll occasionally send personal, zero sales pressure emails that maybe they just got more of your favorite pinot in stock, or your favorite vintner is coming in for a tasting night, etc. Their followup sets the bar for other wine specialists. And as for pricing - as low as $15, as high as I'm afraid to imagine. But most are very reasonable - this is not a cult place at all. 5 clicks, and I hope you try it.

A gem in Saint Helena!!!! Do your self a favor and make an appointment to have a tasting. This is a wine shop and not a tasting room for a single winery. They specialize in many small production wines and/or up and coming places that are going to explode on the market. We did the $25 tasting, and since it was a Tuesday afternoon, we were the only ones inside and it felt that much more personalized. I told them what we generally drink and from which producers and they knew exactly how to personalize the flight. Karen and Beth are fantastic. Beth guided us through the flight and she really knew her information [She's a level 2 sommelier]. We didn't arrange with the needed 48 hours for the charcuterie, but will have to do that next time. Pours were generous and we walked away with several stellar bottles that I am eagerly awaiting for shipment and to taste. The room is modern and classy with beautiful wall shelf of wine bottles. Beth and Karen are fantastic and the service is above outstanding. Make sure you go, its an amazing experience.

Though I live in the wine country, my in-depth wine knowledge is sparse - white, um, smells like apples; red, um smells like cherries; nice! So in hopes of expanding my wine knowledge, I made my way down the tracks from my house, hung a right and made my way into the refurbished warehouse that now houses ACME wines: wine sales and weekly tastings (Pulse). High ceilings, clean colors, with a mix of modern and old-world décor set the stage for lovely, wine tasting experience. I tasted through several wines while having convivial conversation with the wine maker and other patrons. The wine maker was wonderful. He was able to help me articulate what it was that I tasted, and also was able to speak to the nuances of each bottle to more wine-savvy guests as well. Pulse: It's a weekly tasting event at Acme on Fridays from 5 to 7. The setting is casual and welcoming. The wines tasted, which are featured at Acme, are excellent. Usually, the winemaker is present at the tasting, and they have always been very approachable. And best of all, it's free. I'll be there this Friday, hope to see you there. Cheers, Malcolm

I joined Acme about 5 years ago and have enjoyed being part of their wine club and making trips to their tasting room when in St. Helena. The ladies do a phenomenal job finding the obscure wine makers and exposing their customers to something outside the box. They always have a ton of information about the product.

original posted on winodepot.com *** Date: whenever I am in St. Helena and have a bit of time to kill Winery: Acme Fine Wines Owner: David Stevens Contact: 888.963.0440 - David Stevens I think a fair amount of folks are familiar with Acme Fine Wines in St. Helena. They are the folks that shares the same office with Switchback Ridge, Realm, Hourglass....etc. For those of you not familiar, Acme is not a co-op or tasting room, it's a shop, although they do produce a label called Shelter. Due to the fact that so many folks share the same space, often time, there are open bottles floating around. Perhaps something from Realm or maybe distributor samples, even bottles David decides to open to entertain guests. Unlike the small boutique wineries, it's best to visit Acme on Friday - Sunday. This would be the best time to visit with a chance to sample a few interesting wines and pick-up some limited production bottling to take home. Obviously, this not a winery, so please do not plan your visit thinking that it's a winery tasting counter. If you do want to stop by and visit, possibly discovering a few new wines, call ahead and talk to David to make sure someone is around.

This shop is a great place to buy smaller obscure wines that quickly sell out from other spots. I found my 2004 Orin Swift Mercury Head (Cab), 2005 Orin Swift Prisoner, and Three Clicks Sauv Blanc. David is a great guy and really talked it out with me to help me find the exact wines I was looking for.