Alameda Wine Co

Alameda Wine Company, like Alameda itself, is one of the few remaining places in the Bay Area loaded with character. The wine is good, affordable and often off the beaten path. The cheeses are great and the rest of the food I’ve tried is good as well. The setting is also very pleasant.
The owner and often server Karen is not afraid to speak her mind. I’m sure this rubs a lot of people the wrong way but I find honesty refreshing even if it’s sometimes misguided.
If you’re uptight, easily offended or looking for a completely predictable experience try someplace else. If you’re tired of the flavorless monotony of most retail businesses, come here.

This place is deceitful! At first you think, «oh great there’s a nearby wine company that has affordable prices !» But beware having to interact with the owner and if you happen to be gay/​a POC/​or look «urban».
I came here last Thursday night with one of my girlfriends and we were hanging out until almost close time. It was our first time and we wanted to use the check in discount to apply to our drinks. The woman behind the bar had taken our cards and rang us up without letting us know (we had put them on the table when we first got there), which was fine but when we asked if she could void our charges and ring us up again with the discount, she said she «didn’t feel like it», then said we didn’t understand because we are «urban», asked my age, I responded that I’m «old enough, how old are you?» She said «I’m fucking older than you!» I replied, «well you should know better» and said «it’s fine, we’ll just pay our tab and be out of your way». Then when we were putting on our coats she called us «bitches»! Because we said we wouldn’t tip due to her refusing to run our cards again even after we told her that discount was going to go TOWARDS her tip! After she cursed at us we gathered our stuff and started heading to the door, confused as to why she would be so disrespectful, and as we were walking out the door she called us «cunts»!!! I poked my head back in and said «excuse me?» And she started mumbling and rambling, I was so confused so asked her «why would you say that? What makes you think it’s on to talk to people like that? We didn’t cross that boundary with you». She said «if you don’t leave I’m calling the police»! I said fine. My friend and I stood at the door discussing what just happened and I overheard her say on the phone «an African American woman and a Hispanic woman are being belligerent… They are cursing at me» (!!!) I’m flabbergasted at this point. We stand outside the door and a cop car pulls up. Two cops get out, one stays and talks to us, the other goes inside. We tell the cop what happened and he just says «I see what happened here». His partner comes out and says «there’s nothing we can do here ladies, I recommend complaining to the manager, drive safe». My girlfriend and I walked away humiliated and confused. I wasn’t going to say anything but when I looked at the 1 star reviews here it turns out this woman was the owner ! Karen. It also turns out that karen does this ALL the time. She curses at customers and she’s blatantly racist/​classist/​homophobic! Please pay heed to the other 1 star reviews, this woman has some serious problems, that’s not a diss. I’m legitimately concerned about her mental well being. Please don’t support a business that treats people like second class citizens.

Great wine bar! Super friendly owners! Don’t miss this spot, it’s the best pre-​movie location!

Karen and team are superb. I really like this little gem in Alameda. I love drinking and learning about wine. Karen is a true scholar of everything wine. She knows what cheeses and bites go with what wines. Its a cute place to get a unique bottle for a gift or a treat for yourself without breaking the bank.
Earlier in 2015, I hosted a happy hour event there for the East Bay Women’s Network. Karen provided us with an amazing spread of yummy appetizers. The place looks small but we were able to comfortably fit 40 women in there. We used the patio too. I’m excited that there is a small, comfy wine bar so close to me. I recommend this place for dates, solo time and small events.

I don’t have a lot of time and patience to write a thorough review on my little iPhone with my big fingers, but I would like to go on record as having enjoyed my visits to AWC. I live in San Diego and visit Alameda a couple of times a year, and when I do, I always visit AWC 1 – 2 times during a visit. The owner, Karen, is a character, and always entertaining, her place small but cozy and chic, her cheese plates and finger food delicious, and her wines good and very reasonably priced. If you like wine and are in Alameda I suggest to try out AWC.

I don’t normally Unilocal but I needed to write a review to warn people of the horrific experience of going to this place. Not to say the products they serve are bad, those are fine. The management is the problem.
I was there recently, the manager seemed intoxicated. One of her employees was trying to help customers when she (the owner) started talking to her very aggressively. The customer they were helping called her out on treating her employee rudely, then in these exact words she yelled, at the CUSTOMER, «F_​_​_​you! You’re only treating her nice because she’s pretty, but I give better blowjobs any day!»
I’m honestly surprised everyone didn’t just walk out. Turns out regulars there say this is just an average night for this woman. If you can stay away, do! You’re better off buying wine at Safeway in peace then having to deal with this absolute nut case. Good luck keeping that business running.
She also even said she expected bad Unilocal reviews after her scene. Well here you go lady.

This place is amazing. I first came here because it says they’re dog friendly! And they really are. Your dog can be inside or outside and the owner, Karen, kindly brought me dog a bowl of water and dog treats throughout my visit. She has great recommendations on the menu in terms of wine, bubbles, and cheese. She was very friendly during my visit and tonight was a special night with a French wine tasting. Even though I couldn’t participate, she brought me two generous samples on the house as I paid my bill. I love this place and will definitely come back. You should try it out!!!

Love love love love love! Karen is very knowledgeable about wine and her selections are on point. Wines don’t have to be crazy expensive to be wonderful and she proves it over and over again. Need a little nosh? I still can’t get over the cabicou (sp?) goat cheese. The tasting room may be small in size, but with Karen at the helm it’s rich in local color, cheese, and great wine. *Get on her email list asap! :)

Husband and I were hanging out at AWC. Karen has the best wine and the most delicious and beautiful cheese platters that are truly a work of art! We love coming here and can really relax. Cheers to Karen and her crew!

Love these people and their willingness to share their extensive knowledge. Fantastic cheese plates: best in the East Bay! Clearly a discerning wine buyer (certified specialist in wine, certified somnelier).

Love this place and they have the best wines for a reasonable price! The owner, even if quirky, is great and very knowledgable about wine. Anytime I have asked for a recommendation, I have never been disappointed! Great place to grab a drink before a movie, waiting for dinner reservations or just hanging out!

I appreciate the artistry of the owner, who, time after time has set me and my good friend up with an amazing selection of wines, selected to our taste, complimented by a beautiful and generous array of delectable cheeses. I enjoy the real down-​to-​earth, personable people who work there, too. Fun atmosphere, great food and wine selection.

As soon as I walked in I was barraged with questions about wearing perfume. The owner asked me to leave after she said I smelled like paint! She seemed totally psychotic!

Love, love, love this place! The wine is always fantastic and the cheese plate is out of this world. Karen’s is the only wine bar I have ever heard of to have a Blaufränkisch rose by the glass!
This is the best wine bar in Alameda hands down!
Cheers!

Yesterday I stopped in with a friend to catch up I always enjoy having a flight tasting. The wines are very nice and the pours are Generous Karen knows her wines !! I enjoyed the summer white flight I don’t drink much white wine and I enjoyed all 3 just what I needed on a Hot summer day! The cheese plates and Truffles are very good so don’t miss! Keep in mind it gets very busy in the evening s so give yourself time to enjoy.

Very relaxing environment. If you are in a hurry this is not the place to go. Again, a very relaxing place with a comfortable environment. The owner is extremely friendly and kind. She is very knowledgable and encourages her staff in that manner too. My boyfriend and I have been in on many occasions and our experiences never fail to leave a great impression.
The wine selections are top notch at reasonable pricing. This place KNOWS how to do a cheese platter, the best around.

A little oasis in Alameda!
They have a great laid-​back approach to wine here. It’s not stuffy or pretentious at all. It’s what drinking wine should be… relaxed, comfortable, enjoyable, and social.
The prices are amazingly affordable and on Tuesdays there is no corkage fee on bottles of wine making it even cheaper… so go on a tuesdays and get that higher priced bottle you’ve been wanting to try for cheaper! :)
The staff here… well. I love them! They are colorful in their humor, they keep in laughing, and know when to leave us alone to chat. They GET IT!!!
The cheese selections here are simply amazing! The selections change constantly, which we appreciate. I always just let the owner make me a plate at her discretion and I have never been let down. I also do the same thing with wines… I let her pick for me from time to time. She knows a ton about wine! She seems to also want you to really enjoy your glass!
They will pour you a splash here and let you taste a wine before you buy a glass. THIS I LOVE! Wine and Waffles is too cheap and not customer friendly this way. They will NOT let you try before you buy. It’s their policy so Ive been told. Well, their «policy» has lost them these customers!
Hit up this bar ANYTIME and I promise you a good glass of wine and maybe a good laugh with Karen, the owner!

Karen the owner is very passionate. Truffles are out of this world. must try. wine flights are hefty pours; great value. love the wine selections. just wish they provided tasting notes.

I’m giving this place a 5-​star review, because the business (idea) itself is really great. It’s a perfect spot to hit before or after the movie, with really great wine and well-​priced yummy noshes. We each asked the server (nice guy, looks a bit like Mark Ruffalo in 10 years) for a recommendation, and he scored a bulls eye on both. We both also remarked on the perfect background music.
But I’m also writing this review in defiance of the owner, who has actually posted a sign out in front that tells passersby that Unilocal reviewers «F*** them up the ***» and to PLEASE give them a bad review. Also that Unilocalers HATE them. And, you know, SPELLING it out. I swear like a truck driver, but there is a time and place, and the front window of a business is not one of them.
Now, Alameda’s a pretty chill place, with a small town feel and nice people. I can’t imagine a business cultivates much goodwill by posting a sign like that, especially with kids walking by all the time.
We sat down two days ago, and just for kicks, filled out the survey they left on the table. I couldn’t tell if the owners were generally interested in feedback, or they were trying to gauge political support from their patrons. A LOT of questions were about the various «battles» the owner was fighting with zoning, meters, etc. Plus it was TWO PAGES and close to 50 questions.
I don’t even know why the owners HAVE this business. There seems to be no joy, no passion at all. Lots of anger, resentment, though. It’s as if they’ve gotten themselves down a rabbit hole, and don’t know how to get out. You know when you are dating someone, and instead of doing the honest, decent thing (which is just breaking up with you), they behave so badly and treat you so poorly that you finally shove them off the ledge? Then they turn around and paint YOU as the bad guy?
Yeah. This place is like that.
You can’t defy everyone you come in contact with to hate you and wish you ill. The default setting for humans, at least most of us, is to see each other succeed. It’s good for the tribe. But if you continually position yourself as the outlier, the antagonist, the outcast and martyr, you WILL find yourself on that ledge. And you can blame no one but yourself.

I was in the area today and was free from my list of things to do. I walked up to the door pausing to look at a poster that caught my eye. Next thing I see was a woman with short curly hair walk up to the door, lock it, and walk away returning to her conversation with a man inside. This conversation mind you was maybe ten feet from the door she just locked. I couldn’t believe how rude someone could be. Was it too much ask for you to open the door and say” I’m sorry Sir but we’re closed right now.” «Would you like to come back at blank time („blank“ because she never told me what time they open) when we’re open?» Nothing at all. Complete lack of customer service and no clue what two very important customers are for any business. 1) New Customer & 2) Returning customer. Thankfully I won’t be labeled either of them for this place.
You missed your big opportunity here for nothing more than simply not opening your door to inform me of your hours. I love wine and so do all my friends. I would have easily come back another time. They lost my current business and all future business.
I’m willing to bet your unwillingness to open a door will lead you down a path that will keep your doors closed. Also, looking at the other reviews lady maybe you should get into another line of work for your own self preservation. Just a thought.