California Wine Merchant

I came down to support my Danish wine maker friend, Leo Steen. I was asked to pay $20 for the wine tasting, ridiculous. So Greg, the owner told me....its free if you subscribe to monthly deliveries. He clearly did NOT understand my relationship with said wine maker. So he charged me the fee without shipping the wine I don't want. Worst wine tasting experience ever!! Excess of $240

The wines were of course delicious. I would highly recommend offering flavored La Croix for designated drivers to have more variety of non alcoholic drink choices. We recognize accidents happen, but after having a tray of water glasses spilled on us, we would have really appreciated and expected some type of compensation. One of the small cheese boards comped, or a discount on the wine - that would have been the expectation after the inconvenience. Especially since we never received the follow up water glasses that we all requested.

Nice place to taste California wine. Extended happy hour from noon to 6 pm. You can also get their superior and exclusive wine through the wine club which is super interesting. The waitress is super nice and friendly and makes great recommendations ! For those living here, wine club is a really nice concept that unfortunately we cannot have access since we are living abroad.

My friends and I stopped by for drinks. The wines were delicious and thanks to the server’s recommendation. Alas the hummus platter wasn’t exciting. Came with no utensils and we asked for some only to have fewer than the number of our party. Ambiance was good.

Good place with a long bar and few tables around to sit. I liked the feel inside. Very crowded though (July 3rd evening). Loved their Paso Robles wine and found prices to be decent. Just didn't fall in love with the abrupt service. Conveniently close to Delarosa if you're waiting for a table, which is main reason why we stopped here for a glass of wine before our dinner reservation.

Good wines, bit weird and sometimes sloppy service. We wanted to buy an extra bottle but weren't able to so we left

I loved their atmosphere and ambiance! Very cozy, relaxing, and lovely. The staff was really nice!

Came here for a bottle of wine to round out my trip to the area. I am unfortunately not a wine expert by any means, but I knew that I wanted something rich and red. Host was friendly and instantly found me a well-thought-out selection that I would later discover to be the best wine I've ever tasted. Atmosphere was warm and friendly, service and price were exceptional. Highly recommend!

Came here with a friend on a weekday night and the service was great! it wasn't too packed so I feel like they were supper attentive and were great about asking if we wanted another glass once we were almost finished up. My only complaint is that I wish they had real candles here for ambience purposes!! Definitely a great spot for a nice date night or catching up with a friend. Would recommend a weeknight as I could see it getting really packed during the weekend as there is limited seating. Pricing here was pretty good considering Chestnut can be a pricey street - depending on where you go.

Stopped by California Wine Merchant on Friday and had such a great experience. The atmosphere was relaxed yet lively -- perfect for catching up over a few glasses of wine. Our server, was fantastic -- super friendly, knowledgeable about the wine list, and had great recommendations that really matched what we were looking for. Everything felt unpretentious but still elevated -- just really good wine, good people, and good vibes. Definitely coming back soon.

Wonderful service. Knowledgeable and helpful. Love their half glass option for a light weight like me. Cozy date night spot in the marina.

Well located on Chestnut St - lucky for them!! -over priced wines - inside meh - service the same -down the block - Howells is a much better option for a wine bar - as well as Morellla, Delarosa, Causwells or Bar Darling for wine & drinks!! Move on folks!

CWM absolutely deserves 5 stars. This is the perfect spot to have a nice glass of wine with friends on a day out in the Marina. Friendly staff, great wine, and and even cooler history if you do a little digging. Sure, glasses can be a little pricey, but I love that you can try multiple varietals by ordering 1/2 glasses or getting samples of anything on the menu. If you know anything about Greg and this history of this wine bar, it opened 50 years ago and has been a staple of the Marina ever since. Before California wine was a "thing" (yes, BEFORE the Judgement of Paris), CWM has focused on small producers of California wine, and many of the menu and store selections can be found almost nowhere else. Simply put, California wine wouldn't be the same without Greg and California Wine Merchant :)

Fantastic wine selection, knowledgeable staff, and a cozy atmosphere. Perfect for wine lovers! 5/5 stars.

Low key, unpretentious wine bar with a large selection of wines. Service is friendly and happy to help select wines. only 4 stars though because indoor seating is unfortunately limited

Great service and wine selections. It's great for an intimate group. Very limited seating but there is seating outside. I think I'll come back again for a date night.

Been a fan of CWM for a while - used to buy interesting and unique wines from them 20+ yrs ago when they were are the other location. Love the Chestnut location with a tasting bar. We sat down at 1pm, had some great tastings and some cheese / olive / bread to go with it. Lily who helped us out was awesome and was super knowledgeable about wine, etc as you would expect and also really nice and fun. They also have a wine club which sends you 6 bottles of their hand selected wine 4x a year for what I think is like $40 a bottle or less. Pretty good price for curated small batch wine. (We ended up joining and got a great discount on the wine we bought that day.). Definitely check it out if you are hanging in the Marina for a few days.

Chardonnay was sooooo yum. Vibes were 10/10 very Martha Stewart dinner night and just elevated but cozy!!! Service was fast, friendly, classy. Not overwhelming. It's a hidden gem

I recently visited this wine bar during Happy Hour on a weekday before 5pm, and I found the selection of wines to be quite nice. However, the hummus appetizer plate left much to be desired; it was rather unremarkable, and I doubt I would order it again. Nonetheless, the service was friendly, and I have no complaints in that regard. Overall, it's a pleasant spot for a drink, especially during Happy Hour. I'd rate a 3.5 stars as the city has a pretty high bar for wine bars. But I did enjoy that it had a nice afternoon ambiance--busy but not crowded. Good energy and there were a lot of kids but they were all well behaved.

Dropped by here for a quick visit. Pretty fun place. It doesn't look fancy from outside. But it has a good selection of wine. The barrel tables are quite cute. Service was awesome. It was pretty busy already for a Tuesday evening, but they were very attentive regardless. It was busy but it wasn't too loud. A good conversation could take place. I went with a white wine recommended. It was delicious. Light, fresh and crisp. Funny story. My uber driver over mentioned that this place has come highly recommended by many of her past customers. I could understand why. I am hoping to be back again with some of my buddies for a good catch up. Overall, a very nice wine bar.

Right in the Marina this is a super popular wine bar that I had been dying to go to. Service: The staff was great and super attentive. They also allowed us to substitute stuff from the charcuterie board. Food and Drink: They have a pretty decent wine list and some noms you can choose from like cheese and salami. We opted to try some reds and got a charcuterie board which was a nice. Overall: It was a pretty ok. I would not say I would go out of my way to come here, but if I was back in the area and we were looking for a wine bar, I would not rule it out.

Perfect place on a warm - or warmish - SF afternoon, or late morning! No judgement here. With cute outdoor seats and indoor space As well, this cute establishment will cater to your wine needs, people watching, and not break the bank. There is a small food menu available As well- in case you forgot to eat breakfast -- yes, I'm talking to YOU, my boozy brunchin peeps who are more about the booze and less about the brunch. This place is for you- especially if you wanna keep it classy. In any case, gentleman: throw on your nice shirt, bring your dog, and indulge your lady- or guy friend- in a vino-centric day that's anything but pretentious.

Came here at night on a weekday after dinner with a few friends! We were just looking to end the night on a relaxing note and stumbled upon this place while strolling in the district. We opted for the cheapest bottle and the staff let us taste test a few options prior. Nothing that super stands out, other than it being a nice quiet place to enjoy wine with friends. The decor was cool with the wine wall. Dark ambiance.

California Wine merchant has a good selection of wines and a good cozy atmosphere inside. There aren't many seats and only a few extra outside, so if it's busy odds are you may have to try another wine bar. I love their Vino Verde Portuguese wine. They do have some snacks on the menu, including bread, hummus, cheese, and nuts, but if you're hungry, definitely eat before you come or have dinner planned for afterwards. Compared to some other wine bars in the marina/cow Hollow neighborhood, this one's a bit more low key.

Came for the wine, stayed for the music. Great playlist! Wine was really good and the staff was super kind and helpful. Great spot with both indoor and outdoor seating

Decent wine and good place to unwind! Came here in the afternoon on Saturday and liked that it wasn't too crowded

Wow...we bought 2 bottles of wine and ate our sandwiches outside. Little did we know that there is a $20 corkage fee per bottle if you have them open it for you. What a joke. Not one person said anything about a corkage fee to drink a bottle in the shop. When we went pay he just said. "Oh...no one told you?" Didn't even offer to comp one of the fees. So ridiculous! Never again!

Delicious wine. Attentive service with a warm smile. I was impressed by the taste and presentation of the hummus plate. Pleasant atmosphere. I'll be back!

Great wine bar Family owned and managed Great selection of wine to taste and to buy Memberships are available and they are a good deal,

We walked into this place to have a quick glass wine. The place was pretty full but we got a table for 2 very quickly. The place is really cool with bottles of wine everywhere. Really liked the ambience. It's good for couples, but a big group might find it hard to find seating. There's a lot of wines to chose from but it's very pricey.

Very welcoming and warm environment. The owner Greg and bartender Chris were super personable. My wife and I both enjoyed our wines. She had sparkling white wine from Portugal and i loved the McManis Petit Syrah from Lodi. We'll be back. Thank you!

Nice wine & Snacks. We went on a sunny day, so experience was supper cute. They have good music that you can hear outside too. Overall very nice little patio

Stopped by CWM for a glass of wine to kick off the evening. The staff were chatty and welcoming. Nice selection of wine, and fairly low key energy. Will be back!

Good place with a long bar and few tables around to sit. I liked the feel inside. Very crowded though (July 3rd evening). Loved their Paso Robles wine and found prices to be decent. Just didn't fall in love with the abrupt service. Conveniently close to Delarosa if you're waiting for a table, which is main reason why we stopped here for a glass of wine before our dinner reservation.

My family and I came here on a Monday night after having dinner down the street. We instantly loved the warm, cozy atmosphere and the great selection of wine. The staff were extremely friendly and attentive. We had the pleasure of meeting Greg, the owner, and he was very welcoming. He answered all of our questions and offered us a tasting of a delicious riesling. Their prices are very reasonable, wine is great, and service is great. I 100% recommend checking this place out, and I can't wait to visit again.

More than a decade ago, I'd come here many times to enjoy wine by the glass and it was always a great way to start an evening out before heading to dinner. Last night, I stopped in to treat myself to a nice bottle of white with some minerality. I'm not great at picking wines on my own so I appreciated the expert advice; it was spot on (Enkidu 2016 Grenache Blanc Sonoma/Lodi). The owner asked if I wanted to try a small glass before buying- which was thoughtful especially since I was buying an inexpensive bottle of wine ($25)- but I couldn't linger since my little boy was waiting for me. Chill ambiance, excellent wines you can buy retail -for your evening in!

There are so many things that work well at California Wine Merchant that I don't know where to begin. Let me start with the proprietor, Gregg. As I made my way through his lovely Cab list, he came over, chatted with me, and a wonderful conversation about the world of wines began. Gregg is no slouch: He dove deep into the world of California wines two years before "Bottle Shock" the California wine movement stunned the world in Paris with its quality! And he hasn't given up. I asked him point blank: What do you keep touching inside yourself that you have stayed with this all these years? He answer was varied, authentic, and deep...so much so that it would be too much for a Yelp review. But know this: The guy knows and loves wines, and it is reflected in the choice he offers both on his wine list and his wine club. California Wine Merchant specializes is boutique, small but wonderful vineyards. Bigger isn't always better and I believe what they are aiming for here is to capture the great essence of California wines in all its various regions. Having made friendships over his many years, Gregg has cultivated relationships that are reflected in what's being served. Indeed, I had three different Cabernets from three different locals: All of them very different and all of them lovely. His staff is attentive (Oh, how I love attentive) but not pushy. And the noshes they offer are very tasty and pair well with the variety of wines. Indeed, I was very pleased and sorely tempted to join his wine club...half a case of wine every quarter for $200.00 is a great deal (Especially with boutique wines). And while it's a small space here, they do wonderful things like Monday night vintners pouring's...and that's with 60 people there! In short, if you love wine, this is a great spot to return to again and again, which I'm sure I will do.

I liked the food and the wine selection, the cheese platter was nice and it was not that expensive for the Marina. Overall nice and cozy.

A retail wine shop/wine bar on Chestnut st. specializing in various California wine regions. They also carry well curated imports. I wanted to try one of the "Last Call" wines and decided on the Count Karolyi Grüner Veltliner, but they ran out. So I had to settle for my second choice, a Rose. (Maybe they should call it the "you're too late list?!") I feel that the prices are more expensive than normal, but they do have half glass prices too. The ambience is laid-back, with some uncomfortable wooden chairs at the back of the wine bar next to the makeshift "office" area. Sit near the window if you like people watching. I prefer the Cellar Door on Fillmore for a better ambiance and same expensive prices.

I'm so happy this place is open now. The variety of wines and Gouda from Holland is absolutely amazing. Coming back the next time I am in San Francisco.

It's a bit strange that a place that focuses on wine needs wine glasses with water for their servers to compare so they're not over-serving. The ambiance is okay. The wine variety available for tasting was okay but not great.

Calm and cozy wine bar situated on Chestnut. Good place to grab a drink while staying away from loud crowds. They have a large wine selection with a majority of their wines from California. If you're unsure of what to get, the staff will be able to make recommendations.

Living in the area, I was surprised I hadn't known about CWM previously! My friend and I were in search of a fun wine bar on an early Sunday evening and we found our spot! Owner Joe is incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. He gave us a few tastings of wines he loved and we were convinced to join their Monday wine tasting! The music is fun and upbeat as Joe's daughters help curate his playlists.

California Wine Merchant is a true San Francisco institution. Greg has been running this wine bar for nearly 46 years and it shows. It's a beautiful, rustic little place with lots of old wood, character and ambience. The staff are super friendly and very willing to help explain the extensive selection of California wines. I love the fact that they now have a happy hour 7 days a week, offering a great selection of wines for $9 a glass (a bargain these days in SF). They also have a reserve selection of wines for $14/glass which is an amazing opportunity to try higher-end wines without buying a bottle. I have been a member of their wine club for the past 3 years and love it. Greg is very particular about the wines he and his staff select. They are mostly Californian and also include at least 1 wine from Europe or abroad. I receive a case of 6 bottles once per quarter. Anyway, even though I do not live in the hood, I love popping in here spontaneously for a little R&R with friends or just by myself. Their Monday wine tastings are legendary. Amazing producers (tonight was Robert Foley). And if you are a member you don't have to pay and you can bring a guest on the house. I also want to mention that their cheese plate is delicious!! It's the best hangout on Chestnut, and they have a very extensive selection of California wines, some of which are very hard to find. If you are a member you can also buy wine to take home at a 15% discount. The main thing that brings me back are the staff and the fact that the clientele are always super friendly. It feels like being at someone's home or private party. Go with an open mind and try some amazing California wine!

This place is pretty small, so it can be pretty hard to get a seat, especially on a weekend. Food: The cheese plate is just a single cheese with some fresh bread, pistachios, and olives. It's good, but nothing amazing. It would've been great if the platter had more variety. Wine: I got the rose, which was decent. It was a drier more acidic rose, which I appreciated over the usual sweet stuff. I might go back to try some of their other wines, but I'd probably hit up one of the other wine bars in the city over this one, given the choice.

Great ambiance, wine, and service. My friend and i went for a couple glasses of wine and tried 2 different white wines that were great. The glasses were reasonably priced for san francisco and it wasn't too crowded. Would come back!

Chestnut Street in SF could not be graced with a more personable, classy and welcoming establishment. Greg, the owner, takes time to talk with you and definitely enjoys the day he is in. Their Club is warm and welcoming, the folks that come in are beyond friendly with strangers, and really just feel like you're around great friends and family. They know folks in my neighborhood by name. I always feel like I'm in an episode of "Cheers" when I come. They also welcome you to use your space to work with your laptop. Plus, they have exceptional taste all around. Top 5 in my SF recommendations.

I had a lovely experience, and the pleasure of meeting Debbie and Gregory, hearing how they met and how the business came about. The one take away, was before I even met the owners the staff was informative on all of their wines, they were able to suggest a wine with the tasting notes I preferred and able to pinpoint the wine to the T. This is a neighborhood gem and will definitely come back for a glass of wine and cheese. Thank you for the hospitality!

Self admittedly I come here once to twice a week. The wine is reasonably priced for the area and the selection is constantly rotating. The service here is what brings me back - the owners are so friendly and welcoming, the bartenders are knowledgeable and see me enough that when I bring dates they upsell for me! I love to come in here on Sundays and have a good white wine cry with my sister. 10/10

Disrespectful service. We simply refuted one thing on the bill and immediately was threatened with camera surveillance and accusations of being cheap and to "f*ck ourselves," we simply looked for an answer as to why something was charged double than the listed price and was met with defensive and aggressive behavior. As we began to adjust the tip on the receipt, which they refused to reprint, she snatched it away and began shouting for us to get out, not to be cheap, with plenty of profanity in between. Spare yourself the bad vibes of this spot and enjoy the services of a respectful establishment elsewhere.

A very relaxing spot to enjoy a glass of wine and watch the world walk by. Every changing glass pours ensure you'll have an opportunity to sample a bunch of different styles. Staff is knowledgeable about what could end up in your glass. If you don't know what you want, don't be afraid to ask for a tasting, they'll work really hard to make sure you're going to enjoy what you're drinking. Best seat in the house is by the front windows as they're often open for you to enjoy the breeze on a warm day.

This place is super cute and has good wine, but it's definitely a little pricey. Most glasses range from $11 (normal) to $18 (expensive) or even more. They do have a wide variety though, and you can order half glasses which I really like. And, of course, full bottles. There is a decent amount of seats, and they have wine barrels for some of the tables which is really good. I've seen some cheese/meat platters for food, but nothing more extravagant than that. Overall, I like coming here when people are in town because it's in a good location on chestnut near other bars and restaurants.

I arrived in San Francisco a few days early for work and had the chance to make a few stops with an old buddy. California Wine Merchant was one of them. Small, casual, affordable and lacking pretension, CWM is a great little detour when in the neighborhood - definitely not an upscale grape bar. Our bartender for this particular pitstop was, John. Nice feller... a bit soft spoken but able to casually chat you up without being that stereotypical bartender guy. The selection is great and your wallet doesn't have to take a beating unless you want it to. If you're looking for that, they're happy to oblige. Is it a place that you'll want to spend all night in? For me, no. For you? Maybe. I get my fix, sip a little wine, chat up a few of the beautiful locals before moving on down the block. Small doses, friends. See you next time, CWM!

I won't pretend to be the vino expert that I'm certainly not but here are my two cents. Small wine bar / seller on Chestnut, selected wines only, in the upper price range (glass: $9-$17, bottles +$45). Bar seating and a few tables. Intimate decor, rustic. Will get packed easily! I'm not too fond of paying that much for a glass of vino but I liked the chatty yet relaxed atmosphere in there. Crowd is mixed - some old folks and the young&beautiful.

There's an art to wine. And wine, like art, may not have my complete understanding, but I know what I like. If you like CA grapes and forcibly booty grinding/dropping The People's Elbow on your attractive neighbor patron, then by all means, head to the California Wine Merchant. The pours from less-than-engaging "corkers" will be carefully measured, and you'll most definitely not be subjected to egregious bar chatter. Blank stares, OTOH, are a dime a dozen. If you like a palpable personality to boost the mood fueling your excuse to juice (or, say, a reasonably priced bottle), look elsewhere. I've been to packies with more of a sociable, inviting feel. Of course, with a ho-hum name like California Wine Merchant, perhaps we should have known better.

The service was excellent! I am from out of town and visited a friend who took me here. We weren't able to get to Napa on my trip so she took me to this wine bar that had some napa (as well as global) selections. The guys behind the bar select all the wines are were *extremely* knowledgeable. Fully knew a lot about the wine. I told them what I typically like and they suggested several wines that they also let me taste before committing to. I actually think they let me try just about everything on the menu. Fantastic service and overall experience. I see some reviews that talk about the service. I had no problem. They were extremely kind, attentive, and willing to work with what I like and recommend new things. I just suggestion being nice in general and I think they are nice. I got a cheese board that was decent. They also have a wine club membership that locals can pick up there. Being from out of state they also said I could have it shipped.

A great casual wine bar I used to go to when I lived in SF. Gets busy during happy hour and Friday/Saturday nights, but fun. Always a good list of wines by the glass. Since it's a wine shop too, you can buy a bottle and open it there for a small corkage fee. But it's totally worth it--don't make the mistake I've made there often, which is having a glass with a friend, then another and maybe another, and then asking to be charged the cheaper bottle price instead. Ain't going to happen. Looking for food? They've got a cheese plate, and only a cheese plate. Cheese, bread, olives and pistachios. What more do you need? Guys: on Sundays during football season, when all the local dudes were at sports bars, I would go in to find myself the lone male surrounded by a dozen young women. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon...