Best Wine Seller

Here's one of those little things that makes living in San Francisco worth all the hassle: One of the most notable wine merchants in the nation is headquartered here. While our friends in other parts of the country are left to peruse the K&L Web site (awesome in its own right), we can stop in and read labels, talk to real people, and taste. Sure, wine snobs still go to Napa Valley, Sonoma, or down the coast to shop for vino. But who wants to brave that kind of traffic every time you throw a dinner party? For more specialized needs, customers can consult with K&L's various wine specialists. The store also produces a list of vintages coming into stock, and allows customers to join a wait list to be notified when their favorites are in the store. The prices are outstanding, and because K&L imports from small producers as well as the big houses, there are great deals to be had on some terrific wines that you'd never otherwise find. For the more serious fancier, the shop buys old and rare wines from collections in California and Europe, so this is a good place to find a special addition for your cellar.