Vintage Wine Merchants

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Place Built on Celebration, Not Pretension

Vintage Wine Merchants set out with a clear intention: to be more than a shop with an eclectic selection of superior quality wines at competitive prices. As the team puts it, they wanted "a friendly, inviting place where both wine aficionados and novices felt at home. No pretension. No condescension. Just a group of people who understand that, in the end, drinking wine is about celebration — celebrating the moments of our lives as we live them." That philosophy is woven into everything, from the way bottles are shelved to the way guests are greeted at the wine bar.

Situated in Santana Row, San Jose's open-air marketplace, the space operates as both a retail wine shop and a full wine bar — two complementary experiences sharing the same address. Wine Spectator recognized the depth of what's on offer here with its Best of Award of Excellence in 2024, a distinction reserved for wine lists that demonstrate exceptional breadth and vintage depth across regions.

The Wine List and Shop

The selection spans the globe without losing focus. France anchors the offering — Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhône, and Loire are all well represented — alongside Italy's Piemonte and Tuscany, Spain, Germany, Austria, Argentina, Chile, Australia, and New Zealand. Champagne gets its own dedicated section, with growers and grandes maisons side by side: Pierre Peters Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs, Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé, Béréche et Fils, and Pol Roger share shelf space with more accessible options. On the domestic side, Napa Cabernet Sauvignon from producers like Dunn Howell Mountain and Corison sit alongside California Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel. Spirits — American whiskey, Scotch, Japanese, tequila, mezcal, rum, vodka, and gin — round out the retail floor.

The wine bar menu pairs this range with snacks and what the team simply describes as "wine, snacks, sunshine soaking" — an honest summary of the atmosphere on Santana Row.

Membership and Community

For regulars, the Wine Club offers monthly curated selections across several tiers. The Grand Cru membership targets serious collectors, delivering one or two highly allocated, cellar-worthy bottles each month. The Sparkle tier is built for Champagne lovers, guaranteeing at least one bottle of Champagne alongside another sparkling wine monthly. The Ultimate Reds club focuses on Cabernet and other red varietals. All memberships include a 10% discount on most in-store and online purchases, tasting notes with each selection, and — for local San Jose members — complimentary monthly beverages at the wine bar. There is no long-term commitment required.

A Whiskey Club runs alongside the wine program, reflecting the shop's genuine interest in spirits beyond the grape.