San Francisco Champagne Society

Bill is an incredibly attentive and knowledgeable host. He's got a positive demeanor and a chill vibe not to mention an excellent selection. Overall makes the place special and worth visiting, we had a good time with some strangers who we became fast friends with. Go here you won't regret it.

What a special, curated night. Bill was such a fantastic & knowledgeable host - my sister and I came for a bday celebration and I had no idea what to expect. Bill blew us away - such an interesting tasting and such deep context/history of the regions and varietals throughout the Champagne region we were tasting. 10/10 recommend for a fun and unique experience.

Bill is an awesome and knowledgeable host! It’s truly a great, unique and almost private experience with some phenomenal wines! I’m definitely coming back! Do get the cheese - it’s definitely better than butter!

Hidden away in SOMA is this super spot you must try and experience some awesome champagnes! Luckily there was availability to check out last minute and Bill made the tasting experience a great one. Time flew by and our group wanted to continue the pours. And that cheese, OMG, sooo good. Highly recommend if your looking to try some champagne and add to your collection at home.

Great experience! Bill has a great selection of champagnes in all price ranges, and an expansive knowledge of the champagne producers. Also has great add ons - cheese, caviar, … I highly recommend it.

Amazing experience; so much more than I was expecting. Bill is extremely knowledgeable about the champagnes he's serving and really opened my eyes to its versatility. Definitely get the cheese too... I couldn't stop eating it.

Absolutely wonderful and personal experience - I could not recommend this more. Bill clearly has so much passion for what he does, and his knowledge of champagnes is based on true experience. We did the champagne experience for my wife’s birthday, but you could do this any night of the week - it was just like having an engaging evening of champagne with a very knowledgeable friend. 7 stars out of 5!

Super fun experience. Bill is knowledgeable and entertaining when talking about the champagne, the growing regions and the different glassware. It was cool to taste some lesser known bottles and learn more about them.

This place is a scam. I'd give it 0 stars if I could. It's described as a "lounge" but is nothing more than the owner Bill's home inside of an apartment building. Upon arriving. you will be ushered into the owner Bill's living room with a nice view of his shower stall. Your caviar will be served on ice cubes, while his personal photos play on the TV in front of you. At best this is a creepy and weird dinner party, not a lounge. SF Champagne Society is completely misrepresented on the same platform as actual Michelin Star restaurants and Bill knows it. Bill should be embarrassed The reservation details that explain the apartment building's call box aren't provided until after you book the reservation and pre-pay (red flag). It's no wonder Bill employs a strict no refund policy, how else could he bait and switch? I'm disputing the charge with my credit card company, but don't worry about Bill, he says Tock will just give him the money back. It's almost like he's been through this before!

This review is long overdue. My friends and I booked a Champagne tasting for party of six. Going into this I had absolutely no idea of what to expect but was very pleasantly surprised with the experience. We tasted three different bottles of Champagne. These bottles aren't ones typically found at your standard chain wine store. Bill provided background information on each and led us in a discussion of the differences. He clearly has a passion for this and loved sharing his extensive knowledge. We opted to have cheese to nibble on while we sipped and chatted. There were two other parties there that night but ours was the largest. There are smaller rooms available but our party was in the main seating area. The experience lasted for several hours and is a must for anyone that loves Champagne. This would be a great experience for birthday party or celebration, for a group or a couple. I think the price is rather reasonable for this experience.

Absolutely an amazing experience. If you love champagne I would absolutely do it. You will not regret it

If you are into champagne, then you need to visit SFCS. Bill, the proprietor, will introduce you to many different champagne experiences and explain what you are tasting and its background. Having a first hand knowledge of the Champagne appellation, Bill is keenly qualified to answer your questions. My wife and I brought 6 of our friends, who had never been there, and we all had an amazing time. I recommend splurging and getting caviar, cheese, smoked salmon and crackers. It's a great experience.

This is one of the most exclusive, private and fun experiences in San Francisco. Bill had a really great vibe and champagne for his guests. I love going here and impressing my friends and business guests.

Literally the most horrific experience in my life. Not even close to what was advertised. We pulled up to a persons apartment and he handed us a glass of champagne on his sofa. Complete waste of time and money.

Wonderful experience! Highly recommend the tasting for champagne enthusiasts! Will definitely be back for another tasting and to purchase champagne from the host!

This was my first visit, but I plan to come back often. Bill is a fantastic host and made us feel right at home. We tried a good variety of champagnes, learned a lot and went home with some fantastic new bubbly friends.

My husband was looking for somewhere to go Saturday night, we had a last minute babysitting situation and just wanted to get out. We stumbled onto this little gem of a place. It is a Champagne speakeasy basically. The owner Bill is your host and really knows his stuff! We sat there for a few hours talking about different champagne makers and how different one bottle tasted from another. We loved it and had such a wonderful and intimate experience. Thanks Bill, we hope to see you again soon.

If you enjoy champagne you must visit San Francisco Champagne Society. This is an intimate tasting of delicious bubbly with an expert!

If you are a champagne connoisseur, this is the place for you! It's not for the faint of wallet, but you will be delighted by all the hard-to-find small producers of champagne and the tasting journey that Bill presents in the intimate space. While he can sometimes accommodate last-minute visitors (call him if you have a spontaneous craving), it's best to plan ahead and make a reservation through the website. Expect to have 3 different glasses of champagne on your pre-paid tasting journey, with the option to keep going after that if you want to continue. There is also an option for the extremely buttery Brillat Savarin cheese, or caviar or smoked fish. And he sells bottles for you to take home, too. (Or he can deliver via Uber Rush). Expect to have the place to yourself or one other couple there. You'll learn a lot about champagne and taste some really unusual bottles. It can be a great way to start off your evening, or a fun place to spend the whole night. And make sure to check out the excellent sound system in the bathroom!

If you're seeking a unique champagne tasting experience, you must come here. We celebrated a retirement and this was the perfect venue. Bill is extremely knowledgeable. We were treated to some amazing champagnes along with quite a bit of interesting info. The time flew by. I would definitely visit again.

Oh, I love this place. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I figured if the staff of Saison was willing to personally recommend this place after they watched me sip on bubbles for hours on end, this must be a place to check out. Reservations were easy to make on Tock, and there is plenty of availability. I opted for the champagne experience, and when I arrived, Bill greeted me, asked me what my preferences were, and he went off to work his magic! Each pour is generous and took me a good 30 minutes to finish. He took the time to explain each grower, what glass the champagne is best served in (and served it thusly), and provided some personal anecdotes as to why he included it in his offering. I was so pleased with my three pours that I spontaneously opted in for a fourth as an add-on. The experience doesn't end after the tasting. Bill sends out offers to field trips to Champagne or other regions of France, announcements about other events he hosts, and thorough descriptions of wines he's offering for the month for sale. I've already returned to purchase two lovely bottles to take back for Thanksgiving, and I can't wait to share the bubbles with my family. I look forward to future months and future toasts w/SFCS.

Virtual/Covid splurge awesomeness! During this abnormal time in history, it was such an amazing treat to experience fancy champagne and caviar delivery service to San Jose. Thank you Bill! I will be a repeat customer.

Amazing selection of champagnes thoughtfully paired with beautiful glasses to bring out the best flavors. The best part is learning about the various small producers in Champagne because Bill has so much knowledge and experience!

Wow... What an amazing experience. In addition to learning significantly about champagne, the glass tasting experience was mind blowing. To have the opportunity to taste the same bottle in 4 glasses to taste the difference in texture and feel was amazing. I don't yelp much, but can't help this time. Bill is amazing!

SFCS is truly an exceptional experience, a MUST for champagne lovers and a beautiful way to start a trip to Napa or Sonoma. We had the pleasure of a tasting with Bill on Friday, we felt at home with him. There is so much to learn, ask a thousand questions if you need to! Bill will gladly answer questions and really takes his time with you. The San Francisco Champagne society is truly worthy of five stars, we started with a delicious magnum, learned the difference in bottle size, how the same wine can vary in taste according to glass, who knew a split and a half bottle were not the same thing? I didn't! Now I do! May I suggest an uber or car service here to enhance the experience? I had to limit myself to just a taste and I really regret it now. Cannot wait to return.

This place was just amazing! I was invited as a guest for a birthday party and so excited because I LOVE champagne! What a great idea for a small group! The host was charming and knowledgable. The venue was killer and the bubbles.. Well of course delish! We had a taste of some awesome cheese as well that I'm most surely going to try to find locally. Bill showed us some different glasses and how they change the taste of wines which was fun. We had two glasses each and it was the perfect way to start an evening. Much better than the average happy hour! The space is very cool with some little side rooms and a main pouring room. It's a super cool renovated commercial space with exposed brick and pipes. Very Manhattan ! I don't usually give 5 stars for anyone because perfection is well, perfection. Bill totally deserves every one of them!!

If you like getting gloriously drunk on champagne in the most fancy way- I highly recommend you try this unique place out. Intimate tête-à-tête experience, most well curated champagne selection and the nicest, coolest host! Like the fact he is actually a sound engineer but champagne is his life long love and passion! Awesomeness.

Came here with my wife for our anniversary last week. I cannot say enough about this place except that it deserves more stars than 5 and is a VERY unique experience. It is an intimate place that is good for a couple or a group. More important than the place is Bill himself. He has an amazing collection of champagne and spends a lot of time explaining each bottle and champagne in general (from the history ... to the processes behind it ... to the best ways to experience and understand it). It is much more like a cooking class with a master chef - than a "bar". In fact, it isn't a bar. It is part of his home which makes it a much cooler experience. If you want to try the best ... learn a lot ... and meet a great guy ... all wrapped up in a very unique night ... this is your place. For what you pay - you get so much more. (Also, the sound system is excellent - which you can ask Bill about as it is a specialty and business of his.)

A PERFECT EVENING! My girlfriend and I went to SF Champagne Society on Friday after work and had a wonderful time. I am not a champagne expert, but our host (Bill) served us interesting and unexpected champagnes that we loved. It's a small place (only 4 other guests) and so it's incredibly personalized. I felt I learned a lot about what we were drinking and the different varieties and techniques involved. Bill's passion for champagne is infectious, and the champagnes he poured were delicious. We also started talking about beer and he served me a delicious, fresh IPA from a local brewer. My girlfriend was so happy for the experience (killer V Day gift) and couldn't stop talking about it all weekend. We will definitely be back. Thanks Bill!

We visited SF Champagne Society for my husband's birthday and thoroughly enjoyed our time there. Bill was so informative about champagne and we learned so much. Of course, we really loved tasting different champagnes than we've had before. And the cheese is so delicious and pairs well with the champs! We loved the SFCS Riedel glasses and bought some as a souvenir of our first trip there because we loved the way everything was tasting in them. Bill was so thoughtful and kind to us, and really made the evening a unique experience. We can't wait to come back with friends so we can try more champagne. Thank you for an evening to discuss and the wonderful experience!

We visited the SF Champagne Society on a whim, having discovered it via the Tock app. I had no idea a champagne tasting was even possible...We aren't exactly connoisseurs. From the very minute we knocked on the door, it was clear that this experience would be unique. The venue is lovely. No commercial feel whatsoever. You are literally walking into someone's home - a beautiful home at that. Dozens (hundreds?) of champagne bottles are found in the corners. And we proceeded to spend the evening in front of a classy bar, where the owner shares with you his passion for champagne and pouring generous glasses. There is no fixed menu, no pre-defined list. He asked us about preferences and other champagnes we've enjoyed, and brought out champagnes we'd never heard of - but loved. We splurged and added cheese and caviar to the pairings, which was over the top but absolutely worth it. Highlight of the night was the conversation with a dude who is a obviously brilliant and a true gentleman. Overall, an awesome night.

Bill is excellent and very knowledgeable. Excellent conversation and made the time fly by. He took the time to find the right champagne for us. He explained everything from sweetness to how glassware affects initial taste (he blew our minds when he poured the same champagne into a flute and the taste was drastically different). We will definitely come back when we are in the area again. This is a unique experience and will recommend to others visiting.

Bill was a great host and shared a lot of valuable information about champagne. The ambiance was perfect and I will definitely be back! We had a group of 6 and it was comfortable.

Love this place. It was a very memorable experience and just... amazing. Bill will set you up with everything you could possibly need. He has a very large supply and variety of champagnes, He can also work with you based on how much you want to spend. It's a must for any champagne lovers or anyone who is curious about it. Bill will tech and inform you on the different effects glasses can have over taste. It's a great idea for 2 or more. The best part is, I don't have to travel far for good champagne anymore. The area is not the best IMO (but don't let that scare you away), just proceed with caution if you are a women and alone. Parking out front was pretty easy to find though. Cheers!

A great concept of a "champagne society" drew us in; but after the experience, I cannot recommend it. (It was not a negative experience, but my low rating applies because I wouldn't recommend it.) We paid about $80 for 3 tastings. Each pour was generous, but if you think about paying ~$25/glass and for the experience - it was not worth it to me. Say no to the "Aubry" - it was so bland for the price we paid IMHO. You'll be drinking out of Bill's home/kitchen- with a few other unknown guests. This event may be better-suited for new drinkers of champagne, but it's my drink of choice and I've done the tours thru Reims/France, so I did not learn anything new from Bill, nor felt that I tasted any unique champagnes.

The unique selection of champagnes is fantastic. A great resource for SF. I don't think you could get any of these bottles anywhere else in the city (and at this price point). Also, you can buy bottles direct once you become a client. We opted for the starter experience and I think that was a smart move. Will go back to try the higher levels now that I know what these champagnes are capable of. A tip on reservations, message directly if you need to add somebody to your existing reservation. We had trouble getting a friend to try and join after the fact using the reservation system. We thought maybe the space was already full, but he can actually accommodate 15-20 people.

This place is pretty scammy and doesn't take a customer-first approach. Very disappointed in their service. Also, very over-priced.

First heard about this place through a Thrillist article and decided to drag one of my friends here who has now become such a SFCS fan. I'm not a huge champagne fan, but I do like new experiences, so I came here with my friend. Bill's a super nice guy that has a ton of knowledge about champagne. It was great being able to learn more about champagnes and trying to narrow down what my taste buds are for champagne! As my friend who loves this place says, it's more of a place for people who have more refined tastes and are sick of the typical stuff that other places serve. Bill knows what seems like everything one could know about champagne -- from the obscure makers of it to everything. It's definitely a bit pricey ($45 for two drinks), but if you're a champagne fan, I can see how it would be worth it. You have to email SFCS to make a reservation beforehand for a basically essentially private tasting. It's a super cozy place and very comfortable. The tasting it up to you -- you tell Bill what you like and he goes into his fridge of champagnes and pulls out stuff that you like. Really cool guy, fun to talk with, and just a generally great environment and experience to have. tldr; Bill's great! Even if you don't love champagne, worth going to just learn a bit more about champagne

Wonderful place and owner. Super intimate offbeat setting in a loft with couches, a table, and a bar. Owner was super knowledgeable yet chill. Highly recommend for a solid fun date or group night.

Had a fantastic time here on Friday night. The selection was great and as someone who didn't know a lot about champagne the tasting was customized to palate and learnt a lot about not just champagne but also the glasses and also industry. Will be back!

Quite the amazing experience. I've been here twice with two different friends, both of whom "don't like champagne" because it's not "sweet" / "it's not pink moscato" -- you know the type of person. Bill is a super-knowledgeable guy and as someone who is a wine-lover, bored of off-the-shelf champagnes, SFCS was a must-go for me. He brought out all his bottles for us and took the time to understand what my friend and I liked and didn't like; after some time we settled on three bottles of champagne and had a really amazing tasting that convinced at least one of my friends that there is a world outside of pink moscato (the other one was a bit more hopeless). Bill even threw in some glassware experiments where he poured some champagnes and pinot noirs into differently-shaped wine glasses and we got to experience how that affects the tasting experience. Definitely opened my eye to such an important aspect of wine! Highly highly recommend!

This is as good as it gets for wine lovers! My visit here last week was part of a group of five and was one of the most memorable tasting experiences I've ever had. Not only was the bubbly amazing but Bill is one of the most passionate and knowledgeable wine fans I've ever met. Tasting here is done at the absolute top level as Bill has created the ideal environment for hosting private parties. Wine and champagne are served from Riedel varietal specific glasses, stemware that literally changes the taste and smell of the wine you're drinking depending on the shape of the glass. We tasted the same Pinot Noir out of three different glasses as an experiment and the whole crowd was blown away. He also uses a Coravin which lets him pour a bunch of different wines without having to pull the corks. We tasted through a variety of excellent wines such as a Robert Sinksky Pinot Noir as well as a Mourvedre and Cinsault from TwoShepherds. Two really interesting Rhone varietals that you don't often see by themselves. If you're interested in learning about wine stuff like this really educates yourself on what these blending varieties taste like. The highlight, however, is obviously the champagne. Bill is really knowledgeable about the region and makes it his business to find small producers putting out the highest quality product. This is not the place to drink Cristal or Dom Perignon or anything from a high production winery. He presented at least a dozen options and we ended up picking three, two rose's and one blac de blanc, all Premier Cru. All three fantastic but the highlight was the third and last, the NV Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne. The best rose' and one of the finest wines I've ever had from a guy few have heard of. This is why you go. Seriously, if you appreciate fine wine and champagne there is no better experience around. Can't wait till the next time! Thanks, Bill!

Amazing private nook in the middle of the city. Try amazing champagnes in your own private space for the night - perfect for girls nights, engagement parties, you name it. It was really educational but mostly relaxing and fun. Highly suggest as a fancy night out that feels like a cosy night in. also duh CHAMPAGNE :D

"You take the blue pill, the story ends. You wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland, and Bill shows you how deep the rabbit hole goes." Think of Bill as the Morpheus to the Matrix that is Champagne. I walked in only knowing that the more you paid for Champagne the better it was, that it was supposed to be drunk in skinny flutes and that you only drank it when you celebrated. I walked out knowing that all of those preconceived notions are wrong. Bill did an awesome job of opening the world of champagne to my wife and I who were there for her bday. He talked to us about what our flavor preferences were and tailored a champagne tasting around those flavors and had all great picks can't wait to go back and try some different ones. We drank the first champagne (Doyard) out of Bordeaux glasses which gave it a very even flavor in my mouth not so concentrated which is what you normally get with a skinny flutes. He also has some of the best brillat savarin cheese ever so there's that. We purchased a bottle of the Doyard after the tasting at a fraction of the cost of what you would pay for Dom P. If you want your Champagne mind blown visit the red pill that is SFCS.

My boyfriend gave me the best Valentine's gift of an evening at San Francisco Champagne Society and it was amazing! Bill really knows Champagne - both the region and the wine- and went out of his way to make our tasting experience wonderful. We tasted a number of Champagnes that we never would have had the opportunity to try otherwise and Bill served all of them in vastly different glasses, each of which highlighted the nuances of the flavors of the wine. He also served a lovely triple-cream French cheese along side which made the tasting even better. It was a relaxing and entertaining evening. I highly recommend this experience for anyone who loves Champagne or wants to learn more about it.

SFCS was an amazing experience. We went there with a group of 15 for a birthday party, and everyone had an amazing time. Bill was a great host and the champagne was amazing. The tasting was so fun and the space was incredible. Would highly recommend to anyone.

Bill is the Man. I have been here four times now with family and friends. I always learn something new from Bill, he is so easy and interesting to engage with. He offers excellent champagne and an incredible experience. I will be back, love you SFCS!!!

Great experience.The host was great in explaining different things to us.

Transcendental experience. Bill is a gracious and engaging host. His knowledge of champagne is the highlight. Realized that i had never really had champagne until this experience as you taste wines that unless you travel to champagne frequently and hunt around for the best, you would never otherwise experience. Can't wait to go back!

Wow! I have nothing but the most amazing words for this incredible venue and experience. It's like a private club where the owner regales you with his incredible knowledge of bubbly while tasting the most rare and delicious champagne possible. We had the pleasure of having the space all to ourselves but it would also be a fun vibe for a group. The converted loft makes it feel so exclusive and you can also order small bites to go with your tasting. Treat yourself and enjoy this hidden secret. You will not be disappointed!

Wow! Wow! Wow! This place is absolutely amazing. Bill has created what I can only call heaven. A private tasting room for some of the best bubbly that has ever passed these lips. I took my wife here and we were treated to a wide array of champagne and wine in a posh living room set up in an industrial loft with an amazing sound system. Bill's knowledge and passion for what he pours makes this experience unbeatable! We will be back! And we will bring friends!

If you are looking for a fun night with someone who loves bubble then look no further. Bill knows his bubbles and can tailor your night to perfection. We went in December and had a fantastic time tasting some exquisite bubbles AND Bill also guided our choice for our dinner later that night. The tasting feels private the sound system is fantastic too so all around a great experience.

The perfect venue and experience for learning about Champagne and having fun with friends. Bill's knowledge and affable personality is unparalleled. You must try this!

A fantastic experience for exploring some champagnes not commonly available. Each tasting is different as Bill adjusts the selection to your palette (and budget). You will also learn some things too! This is a "must" experience. If I lived in San Fran, I would be here every week.

My experience at the SF Champagne Society was amazing! This is truly an undiscovered gem that I'm surprised to not have heard about earlier. The owner, Bill, does this because he himself is a Champagne aficionado and wants to share that experience with others, which makes it feel more like being invited over by a good friend to his place, versus a more typical commercial venture. I would highly recommend this place.