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The Infatuation
10 Great Not-Natural Wine Bars In SF
By Julia Chen, Patrick WongLani Conway,
5 days ago
If you’ve glanced at a wine list in San Francisco recently, you’ve probably noticed that natural wine is, um, everywhere. Pét-nat this, glou glou that—we love to sip on an unfiltered chillable red as much as the next person, but sometimes you just want to escape all of that and get as far away from the words “skin contact” as possible. You might find the occasional organic orange pour at these “unnatural” spots, but for the most part, they serve conventional bottles. No sediment allowed.
Fool’s Errand is NoPa’s requisite first date bar, so don’t be surprised when you overhear the pair next to you discussing sibling counts or birth times. Aside from hoping to meet the loves of their lives, everyone is also here for the excellent wines—especially the global sampling of Austrian, German, and Oregonian riesling (plus, there’s a not-so-subtle directive on the menu to “Drink More Riesling”). If you’d rather get a bottle and split it with whoever you’re getting to know, grab one from a fridge in the back and settle in for a couple of hours.
When you want to spend a night getting wine-drunk without spending the equivalent of six months of AMC A-List on a “barnyard-forward” bottle, go to Cafe Meuse. Their pretty conventional three-pour flights will run you $19-21, and anything by the glass falls within the $10-16 range. The string light-adorned space is situated on a Nob Hill corner where you can watch the cable cars roll by, which really adds to the San Francisco-ness of it all. Cafe Meuse is also home to the best apple crisp in town—it arrives warm and melty with a big scoop of ice cream, and you won’t want to share.
At Scopo Divino, you wouldn’t be out of place with a cigar or a curlicued mustache—the old-timey wine bar feels like the library from “Clue.” The Lower Pacific Heights spot focuses on mostly French and Italian wines, which go down smoothly with a side of live jazz (there are bands and musicians most nights). The chairs andbar stools here have real backs, so you can come here with anyone who needs extra lumbar support while they swirl around some sauvignon blanc. Or just sink into a couch with a date and discuss jazz licks over thick vanilla crème brûlée.
Anyone seeking housemade pasta and a sh*t ton of Italian wine should head to Corks. The Richmond wine bar also doubles as a solid Italian restaurant where you can be as chatty or anti-social as you want—staff will just as easily discuss their favorite nero d’avola with you as they would leave you to relive that embarrassing text you just sent in peace. Come here for a solo date with some amatriciana and a glass of something full-bodied, or to debrief the latest work scandals with a friend over caprese and bolognese.
This SoMa bottle shop, wine bar, and event space hybrid is perfect for unnatural wine amateurs—or if you just have a lot of questions. Everyone here is more than happy to answer any you have while you sip on a glass of albariño that they probably recommended. Beyond the mostly European wine list, beers and spirits are available, as well as enough tinned fishes and mollusks to ensure several (delicious) years of survival on a deserted island. Once you’ve had your fill of grape juice and brine, have a repeat at home, as everything from the by-the-glass wine menu and the selection of canned seafood can be picked up in the bottle shop.
Ungrafted may be the nerdiest wine bar on this guide. The casual, industrial-like space in the Dogpatch has an impressive 28-page bottle list that spans the globe and highlights everything from the classics to the unusual–and the staff is down to go deep about maceration times and the characteristics of new world reds while you decide. They also host weekly events that’ll up your wine IQ, including blind tastings, and deep dives into high-elevation or volcanic wines. While you can pop in at lunch, we like to head here at Happy Hour (3-5pm, Tuesday to Saturday) or before dinner to order a quick glass, have some deviled eggs, and grab a to-go bottle or two from the shelves before heading out.
The life-sized cardboard cutout of Dolly Parton will draw you into Scarlet Fox—but taking a photo next to the 2D version of the legend herself isn’t the only reason to come to this wine bar in NoPa. Big windows let in lots of light as you sip on Italian, Austrian, and local Californian wines, and whoever’s behind the bar will happily pour a few tastes before you commit to anything. There are also cheese boards and olives for you to nibble on while “9 to 5” blasts through the speakers.
Kicking back on the red velvet couch at Blush is a nice way to spend any sunny Castro afternoon, but it’s especially appealing during their Happy Hour (Monday to Friday until 6pm). This is one of the highest value wine deals in SF: everything by the glass is half off, and their extensive selection is leagues away from your corner store two-buck-chuck. The BTG options, which will run you around $6.50 during Happy Hour, range from bubbles and red dessert wines to icy, refreshing whites. They also host weekly mini tarot readings, plus live music with enough space for your entire adult pickleball league to fit in another game.
Walk into San Francisco Wine & Cheese and you’re immediately surrounded by stacks of wine so high you might need a ladder to get them down—this Hayes Valley bottle shop has no shortage of variety, though most of the wines are either local or imported from France and Italy. But this place is also home to a fantastic hidden patio. Snake your way through the walls of wine and you’ll find the covered, heated back garden, complete with tables, enough plants to rival the Conservatory of Flowers, and loaded sandwiches or charcuterie to snack on. Head in for some pre-dinner brie, share a prosciutto sandwich and chardonnay before a show nearby, or visit any time you want to experience the great outdoors with a glass of wine.
For wine al fresco, go to Arlequin. This specialty bottle shop in Hayes Valley has a separate tasting area and dining room, but the lush uncovered patio is where you’ll find the best seats. Get a glass of small-batch wine and nibble on charcuterie next to blooming shrubbery under strings of twinkle lights. Parking yourself on the patio for hours is easy to do, whether you’re asking the staff for yet another round of suggested wine (you can buy a bottle on the way out) or if you’re taking advantage of the free wi-fi to “do some work.” Whatever the case is, you’ll likely need more substantial food at some point—take the short walk to the attached Arbor restaurant and get salads, fries, burgers, or a sundae if you want to skip straight to dessert.
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