I would buy a bottle of wine here - they have a great selection - but I would not have a drink here again. Â As others have said, there is one server in particular who is terrible. He pours each wine in your flight separately (one at a time) and never tells you what he's pouring. He spilled wine on my friend's bag and then charged her for the bottle of sparkling water that another (nicer) server got for her to use to clean it. Â He's unfriendly and just makes you feel like he doesn't want you there - basically, he provides the opposite of good service. Â Since so many other reviewers have said the same thing, it must not have just been an off night. So I wouldn't recommend it.
Review Source:New to Pleasanton and old to tasty wines. Unfortunately, we have been very underwhelmed by the Livermore wineries and are so happy to have a local high quality tasting room with informed employees and a great vibe. We joined the wine club and can't wait to become regulars at the wine steward.
Review Source:Well this was easy and also long overdue.
They're a wine shop with product from almost every wine growing region in the world.
They have a fantastic selection of chilled wine & champagne.
They have monthly wine clubs ranging in price from $20-$100+.
They also sell some pretty amazing cheeses, and imported gourmet foods.
They offer wine storage onsite and private tastings for their members.
They have a wine bar/tasting area upstairs that can be as lively, hospitable and friendly as any bar downtown.
The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, helpful and just plain cool.
And finally...
THEY SELL REALLY EFFING GOOD WINE!!!!
Nuff said, I'm getting thirsty.
I always dislike doing this but given the circumstances I must. So I was contacted by the owner which as always made me happy as it means the owner cares about his business to reach out to people disatisfied whatever the circumstances. I was in the process actually of accepting his offer to try them out again as I was planning on being in town this weekend. That is until I read the following written by what appears to be a friend of the owner.
Scott C.
Pleasanton, CA
Update - 8/6/2012
Meg W. , When you came to the Wine Bar it was closed, being a Sunday. But, since the Wine Steward offers private wine storage, members can open bottles and drink them at the bar during business hours. That's what we were doing. We don't work here. We told you that.
This is completely incorrect and the reason I choose not to come back and give this place a try. We WERE NOT told about any private tasting, nor we were given any service when we wanted to purchase bottles. Excuse me I have my own wine locker and I happen to be a wine club member at serveral places. I am not an idiot and understand the concept of private tasting hours. Given that explanation I would simply have come back during business hours if I had wanted to taste as that is something completely reasonable.
The entire point of my visit that day was to PURCHASE wine. There was indeed a gentleman working behind the bar assisting Scott C and his party that DID work there. Given the sour taste this has left in my mouth I have instead changed my plans. It is a shame too as it appears that those a generation older than me seem to get wonderful service here.
No time for Snobby Wine Store owners!
I will take my business elsewhere and be sure to let everyone else know how poorly
I was treated in this white trash establishment.
I came to an RSVP event featuring Spanish wines, tapas, and dance. I was on the guest list with my sweetheart and given one complimentary ticket. When we checked in with the owner at the register, my classy guy insisted that he pay. Little did I know that he was charged for 2 tickets. When he told me and I protested, he insisted that it was water under the bridge. He declined to give me his credit card # for the refund.
Really, it's not the money, it is the principal that caused me to call and ask for a alternative refund. The other owner was rude, snobby and treated me as an unimportant non-regular customer, insisting that his customers know how the
show is run and inferred that I was being petty. He could have so easily granted
us a gift certificate valued at the ticket price.
Never again will I set foot in this store. What a total turn off. Whatever happened to customer service? I guess these people are not interested in maintaining a good
reputation here in the tri-valley area where there are so many other lovely venues.
Good Luck Wine Steward!
One of my vendors surprised me with a terrific  marketing opportunity with just two days notice. They suggested that we have a wine & cheese tasting event at our store, featuring a celebrity guest.. Of course I said, "Sure, that sounds great"! I knew that I could easily put together promotional materials that would attract customers, but when it came to the event itself, I didn't have a clue.
I didn't want to sound too unsophisticated, so I didn't let on that I knew nothing about cheese(other than American & Cheddar), let alone wine. My plan was get a list, which I did from my daughter, who is much more sophisticated than I, and make a trip to BevMo.
List in hand, I rushed off to BevoMo with not a clue of what I was doing. On my way I got stuck in traffic on Main Street. At a dead stop, I glanced across the street to see "The Wine Steward Shop". Short on time, I quickly made a u-turn, and found parking right in front of the store.
Upon entering, I was promptly greeted and I explained my predicament. In less than 20 minutes, I was out the door with a couple cases of "White", and a couple cases of "Red" as well as advice to help me meet my customers expectations.
The event was a success, my customers were happy, and no one had a clue that I knew nothing about having a "Wine & Cheese" Event. Â Thank you "Wine Steward" for you professional help and advice!
Bryon
Crank2 Performance Tandem Bicycles
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I probably would not have gone to the Wine Steward if we did not have a coupon (hey, its pricey!) and we mostly likely will not be returning...at least not to the wine bar upstairs. Â
We arrive (the hub unit and I) and grab a seat at the bar. There were two other people at the bar, one round table with some folks imbibing and oddly enough, a man with a dog that would not.stop.barking. Â
The bartender seems pretty friendly to folks who appear to be regulars. Â And since we did not fall into that category we just got to sit and wait. Â We ordered a flight and towards the end of the flight we did get more of a description of what we were drinking and why it is different from previous pours but when we began the flight the bartenders simply poured and walked away.
The wines we tasted were not bad, though I feel they are priced too high.
We left annoyed, which means we did not get to explore the shop downstairs which is too bad because I was intrigued by the selection...however the treatment upstairs was a total turn off.,
Great place to hang out and drink some great wine with friends, depending on who your server is, service is either 5 star or bleh, but its easy to overlook that portion with some good friends and good conversation.  Awesome cheese plate, great prices, love that  you can pick up a bottle downstairs and then drink it upstairs..but seriously what the what???  No kosher wine???  Guess I'll be picking up my wine for my Seder meal elsewhere.
Review Source:The staff here is fantastic. If you need help with a wine selection for your meal - this is the place to go for sure.
The wine selection is also over the top. I am certain that they must taste every variety of wine that they put on the shelf for sale - you can just tell it's handpicked and they have price ranges always make me happy, from great bargains to all the way up out of my budget;). It's nice to have a local owned store with the selection, pricing, atmosphere, & customer service that just seems to get lost or does not exist in any of the big box stores.
On the weekends they have a nice tasting area upstairs that changes themes every week. If you are able to go often you can really taste wines from all over the world. If you are visiting from out of the area this is worth a stop by as well.
Whining About The Wine Steward
The Wine Steward does indeed have a nice selection of wines. The problem is the wines are significantly more expensive  than our local Safeway.  The last time we went to the Wine Steward, we ordered a flight of wine. We then purchased two bottles of wine from the flight we tried, as well as 3 other bottles from the store...5 total. As we were paying, we inquired as to whether they could comp our wine flight (I believe it was around $30) since we were purchasing wines from the flight as well as  additional bottles from the store. Their response: "No can do."
No exceptions, no deal, no nothing.
While the people are nice, I'd rather get the same wine at a cheaper price just down the road on my way out from the grocery store.
Upon exploring downtown Pleasanton, we came across this place. Â They have a bunch of wine choices here and even has a wine bar/tasting upstairs. Â It's a cute shop with all these choices of wines, from something that is more affordable to something that is very expensive. Â This place carries a variety of selection wines to fit anyone's budget.
Review Source:Not too much into giving a lot of detail...just know that this wine store and the staff are top notch. Very knowledgeable and friendly with a large cross section of foreign and domestic wine.
The first time I was in here Jim spent quite a while with my wife and me pairing wines to a 5 course Italian dinner we were hosting. From the sparkling wine with our pear salad to a wonderful red Chianti Classico Riserva with the ossobucco, he nailed it!
Great deli assortment also! Nice wine bar upstairs open several evenings during the week, and they have excellent educational dinners/tastings that are very affordable.
Upon entrance, the laughter coming from their upstairs wine bar told me that I am in the right place. Â I love being rambunctious!
But wow, while Sophia C and I worked our way upstairs, I could not stop being distracted by all the bottles of wine they have in this little wine shop! Â THERE'S WINE EVERYWHERE!!!! (And cheese!!!)
We tried the red flight, which gave us two-ounce samples of red wine from five different wineries for $20. Â Needless to say, I had to finish Sophia C's last two glasses. Â She was done by the sixth ounce.
The decor is simple, the patrons and staff members are friendly. Â I wish they could be a little more informative about what types of wine we were tasting, but it could be partly our fault that we didn't inquire about them. Â Oh well, why ask when you can drink?
They also offer cheese pairings, meat plates and salami plates. Â Perfect place to talk about boy problems!!
The Wine Steward is my favorite wine store in the entire Bay Area. Â There are many terrific choices (K&L, North Berkeley, etc.), but I come here more often than anywhere else. Â Jim, Steve, and the inimitable Bill make shopping a pleasure.
One mark of a great wine store is the service. Â I'm knowledgeable about wine, but I'm always hoping to learn more and I appreciate the attention you receive here. Â I want points of comparison, new suggestions, and different price points and the Wine Steward always provides those. Â It's a beautiful store with plenty of room to roam (take note, K&L!).
If you're buying wine from Europe, learning about who the best importers are is a big advantage, as it's one of the best ways to take a flier on a wine without assuming much risk. Â The Wine Steward stocks wines from Thiese, Eric Solomon, Kermit Lynch, North Berkeley and other well-known importers, but they also have gems from Charles Neal, who I didn't know before I started shopping here, and others. Â They have done their homework and the buyers benefit from that.
I went here for a bachelorette pre-dinner tasting.
Nestled in a wooden-esque built structure, giving off a winery vibe at best. Wine bottles from all over were in rows and rows and some even piled alongside the walls. There was a group of 6 of us and we had a choice of different flights and appropriate pairings. The pourers here know their stuff! We went with the white wine flight which gave you 5 tastings and pairings for $28. I didn't feel robbed at all. I was amazed at how knowledgeable the pourer was since he was the only one there (fri evening) and looked busied . The wine bar sits upstairs and is quite quaint.) Cozy and very close knit. I can see this place getting busy on the weekends although they do not stay open late.
Great place for date night, friend night, or singles night alike. Come early and beat a crowd and take some time to peruse the different wines downstairs.
While I wish that they carried more Oregon Pinots, I think this place is really great. Â Excellent staff and customer service, very nice setting ot shop for wine or enjoy their tasting room or wine events. Â A local treasure that deserves a lot of support. Â I once asked them to give me a case of wine for a party and asked for the tab to be at or below $120. Â I was worried that they'd think this too low end, but they took on the challenge happily and we had a great experience with their selections. Â And I believe that they came in $10 or so under budget.
Review Source:Jim manages this gem of a wine shop with a tasting bar in downtown Pleasanton. Â Steve and Jim's knowledge of wine is unpretentious and focuses on your taste buds irrespective of price.
Learn about wine or just enjoy it! I love to go down there on a Fri or Sat and just taste and then buy what I like. Once you get to know them and they get to know what you like, their recommendations are right on.
What a great place to drop in on the weekend and browse, taste and mingle.
Cheers!
Wine snobs my petite, red-headed passion flower and I we are not. We just know what we like to drink in the way of the grape when we have dinner and this suits us well. We stumbled upon the Wine Steward walking Main St. and enjoying quality time before her flight took off back to SoCal.
Right from the get-go, Steve very generous with his time. Nothing pretentious or snooty in our conversation. He shared knowledge with us and was able to offer up suggestions after we discussed some of our favorites. What I tend to favor is shop recommendations. When he shared with me the shop's daily red, I had to try it. My best girl picked a white we had never tried. We tend to use the 10 dollar a bottle rule and we can't wait to try the two bottles we picked up from this shop.
I was also impressed with the several wine clubs they sponsor, all catering to different budgets, from modest to down right expensive. This has motivated us to check out a similar shop closer to us in SoCal.
I don't drink alcohol, so I have little personal use for the things I buy here. Â That said, if you know nothing about wine, because for example you don't drink, this is a good place for gift shopping since they're friendly and avoid mocking your shameful ignorance of that which every other northern California resident seems to know from birth. Â They also wrap and ribbon-tie gift bottles just for the asking, which is nice since I can't wrap things either.
Review Source:This type of business is only as good as the people working there. The Wine Steward's staff are all very knowledgeable when it comes to wine and they do not always push the most expensive option.
Great Wine bar upstairs. The owner should do a better job advertising this aspect of their business.
I have to agree with Rick D about this place - I had the same experience.
My friend and I stopped by the Wine Steward last night. Â It wasn't very crowded - there were a few people at the bar and at one other table. Â My friend and I asked to share the flight of 5 wines. Â The server seemed somewhat annoyed by this and poured the first wine without telling us what it was.
We drank it and waited. Â And waited.
Finally the server came over to pour the second wine. Â We asked what wine it was, and she just directed us toward the menu.
Again, we drank it and there was a very long delay before the third wine was poured. Â And so on for the other wines. Â I was almost ready to leave after the 4th wine, since I thought the 5th might never come.
All in all, they seemed annoyed having us there - it was very haughty service.
(The only saving grace was the nice woman downstairs, who was very pleasant to us. Â She was the reason we went up to the bar in the first place.)
This is the place to go of you are looking for a special wine. The selection is probably the biggest of any store in the area. At first you might wonder where to start, but the wines are well organized and the staff write their own review tags, so you can just walk the isles and check it out. Wines range from bargains to top shelf, so you can find what you are looking for, be it a dinner selection or for a special occasion.
I've gone in here every so often over the years. I've always found the staff to be helpful and knowledgeable, but never pushy. Â The other evening I was walking home and stopped in. The owner, Joe, was there. I haven't seen him in years so it was great to catch up. He left high tech to start The Wine Steward as a family business and he really puts and effort in to making it a great place to shop for wine.
I usually go to the tasting room on Friday evenings. They have a nice selection of reasonably price wines in flights, by the pour or glass, that you can try. It changes every week. There are a lot of regulars and I've got to know a lot of people. Some times you have to let the staff know that you are ready for your next wine, but they are friendly and knowledgeable. You can buy bottles down stairs and drink them upstairs at no extra charge which is quite a deal considering the selection and you can get a cheese plate to go along with it.
We can't say enough good things about this wine shop. We enjoy their wine and unlike many other shops, it does not include a big markup. We suggest joining the wine club. You can enjoy their monthly picks and get the ongoing discounts offered. Â If you are interested they have fantastic theme based events offered to their wine club members that give a great opportunity to expand your wine experience. Â
The wine tasting room is just that, a place to try different flight offerings each week to get to know their wine. It's not a bar or a restaurant, but they do offer some cheeses or you can purchase anything from downstairs and bring it up. If you have any questions about the wines, just ask. They even have maps available. Interesting that I hear people call the staff pretentious. They are very excited and knowledgeable and I assume that must translate to some as pretentious.
When purchasing wine, don't be afraid to explain what you want with the price range you are looking for. They are very personably and easy to talk to. And unlike buying wine based on cards descriptions from bevmo or a grocery store you will most likely get a wine you will enjoy. After continuing to buy wine from various places and wasting money on bad choices we have decided to support our local wine shop 100%.
I had to take two stars away from them. Â This place is now the worst wine store I've ever walked in to.
I've tried going back several times because I *want* to like it sooooo much. Â I want to give them lots of breaks so I can just love the place. Â But they keep taking the chances I give them and throwing them out.
In my latest visit, I went to the wine bar for a tasting. Â Here are the bullet points.
- Waited for about 10 minutes for someone to come and ask us what we want. Â I finally got up and went to the bar and asked for a flite. Â
- The waiter came and poured the first wine in the flite and DID NOT EVEN TELL US WHAT IT WAS. Â He walked away without even mentioning who made it. Â When I order a flite, I also want to know a bit about the wine. Â Thanks for keeping me in the dark.
- He also did this on the 2nd wine. Â After that, I just got up and asked if I could pay for the two tastes I had. Â He said fine and didn't even ask why.
- They have cheese to order on the menu, but you have to order an entire brick of the same cheese, so you better love it. Â No samplers or mixed plates.
- Wine bar closes at 8:30. Â You better not want a night cap or even an after dinner drink.
This place was voted the best Bay Area Wine Shop???? Â It must be because there's just not much competition in the East Bay so everyone voted for it. Â Clearly the people who voted for it haven't been to a wine bar in San Francisco or somewhere with a staff that really knows how to teach their customers and enjoys having customers that want to learn. Â
Stay away. Â Go to BevMo, get a better price on the wine, and take it home and you'll be much better off.
Love The Wine Steward. Â Been going to there a couple times a month for a year or two now. Â Everyone there is passionate about the wines and willing to put up with my many questions. Â I've gotten a great wine education with my flights. Â I came in there knowing if I liked a wine, but now I have an idea of why and what I like about it. Â
Excellent selection of wines and they host entertaining and educational events. Â
Great place to do start off your nite out in downtown Pleasanton. Â Good wine and cheese in a friendly atmosphere.
Updating my review from before. Â I've come in here a few times in December to purchase some wine as gifts for friends. Â The store really does have a wide selection of wines (inexpensive $10 bottles and up from there) and a VERY knowledgable staff.
What I like about this store is that the owners and people working there are all having a great time, share their knowledge and are very helpful. Â They do a great job at the details--using a razor blade to take off the label, wrapping each bottle carefully in tissure and recommending gift bags.
I will start making this a go-to place to buy wine rather than just relying on Gene's, TJ's, Whole Foods, etc. Â Here, you can find a much wider selection and really get some good advice!
Had my coworker not specifically recommended wine tasting at the Wine Steward, I would have thought it was a just place that sold wine. The first floor somewhat resembles a BevMo, and the wine bar is actually located in the loft. The atmosphere was relaxing and sophisticated. My date and I thought it would be fun to dress up to go wine-tasting, but for a place like this, that isn't really necessary. Other people were wearing khakis and polos. The staff was polite, knowledgeable, and not judgmental (a lot of pointing was involved when I ordered my wine and cheese). We tasted about four wines and had a cheese plate, amounting to a bill of $27 (not being a frequent wine taster, I can't tell you if this is good or bad). I highly recommend the manchego; it was quite delicious!
The Wine Steward is located in Downtown Pleasanton, which is a surprisingly nice area to hang around, as there appear to be a handful of privately-owned restaurants and small boutiques. For those of us currently residing in the East Bay suburbs, this is definitely a good find!
Wine Steward is a great place to hang out on a Friday night. Â Their tasting loft is open Thursday-Saturday and features a select tasting of different wines that changes weekly. Â You can also order a few different wines by the glass. Â The wine is always great. Â The ambiance is comfortable and classy. Â The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly too! Â They have great cheese plates with fabulous crackers and apple slices. Â They also have a few sausage plates and I think a dessert or two.
Review Source:This was a really great place to buy wine, especially if you are after something to take to a dinner party or a nicer dinner. There is a wall of selections by country and then the store is segmented by varietal. Quite a large fridge for chilled whites and sparklings.
The prices were very accessible. Every bottle I picked up was priced at around $15-$20 which made me feel like I had a lot of choice at the price I was prepared to pay.
Great place for gathering friends and tasting some wine. Entering the store you are presented with an endless bounty of wine but upstairs in the back is where the fun tasting is. We basically made a Bee line for the tasting loft and settled down to syrah flight. They only have flights on certain nights.
the selection was nice but it would be have been better to have at least 2 flights to taste from.
The loft is comfortable and spacious and the staff is nice and friendly and will come to your table to pour.
Glad to see Pleasanton is getting more cityfied but you can still go next door and get your saddle shined while your are getting new boots.
The Wine Steward is an amazing wine bar in downtown Pleasanton that sets itself apart from many others with friendly, personable staff and fun, creative wine flights that cater to every wine taste.
Pros:
- Super knowledgable yet unpretentious staff with no pressure to buy a bottle
- Creative and fun wine flights from around the world
- Yummy cheese, meat and dessert accompaniments
- Great atmosphere - friendly, laid back patrons. Cute upstairs seating in a great location on Main Street in downtown Pleasanton
- Expansive wine store downstairs
- Various wine club levels that give discounts on wine tasting purchases
Cons:
- Can sometimes get a bit busy on a Friday night (good places always do)
- If you're there weekly (like we are) would be good to add in more cheeses every once in a while
If you're ever in Pleasanton or the East Bay, the Wine Steward is a must visit.
Like the other reviewers mentioned, the staff is very friendly, and there is no pressure to buy.
I would not consider myself a wine connoisseur by any stretch. Â Sometimes I enjoy a glass or do the occasional wine tasting.
My Mom was in town visiting so we decided to duck in and enjoy a glass of wine before getting dinner downtown.
The staff upstairs in the tasting room was polite, but we got there at eight o clock and wanted a bottle of wine, but they refused stating that they closed at 8:30 and we would not have time to finish the wine. Â Obviously, they have no idea how my family drinks... =)
So we opted for a glass of pinot noir. Â Quite tasty. Â They also had cheese plates, with only one type of cheese, ranging from 9-15 dollars. Â That is a little rich for my blood.
I did not however care for the other patrons. Â Way to bourgeois for my taste. Â I was dressed casually, in my So Cal way, and got several discerning looks from the highbrow crowd there. Â Way to pretentious for my taste.
I would not recommend this place. Â They even had a sign that said it was a cologne free environment in the tasting room. Â Probably too many yuppie @ssholes stinking up the place.
I love wine. I go tasting in Livermore all the time (why are breakfast tastings so frowned upon?) and I have to say that this is the BEST wine store I've ever come across. The staff is sooooooooo knowledgeable (Jim rocks~) and never pressures you to buy. They just explain and YOU decide whether you're buying or not. Tell them what you like and they'll find some reasonably priced alternatives to try. Also, I could be wrong but it seems they go out of their way to match Costco pricing on local wines. The tastings they have on Thurs and Fri nights are a blast. Check it out. It's the best party in town.
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