Total Wine & More

The word “total” is in the name for a reason—with a collection of bargain basement and low-to-mid priced wines (plus beer and spirits) to high-end bottlings, there’s truly something here for everyone. Tastings are every Friday from 1p-7pm, Saturday and Sunday from noon-6pm, and each weekend features a different theme, often showcasing seasonally-driven global wines. There’s no “atmosphere” to speak of, beyond bright fluorescent lighting, but at least you’ll get to try a few wines before buying. Flights cost a nominal ten-cent fee (it would be free, but California laws dictate that retail shops must charge something—and Total donates it all to various charities) and you’ll get an ounce and a half of three to six wines. On some weekends a “Meet The Maker” tasting occurs, or there might be a special event during the week. Two-hour wine classes are held once a month, featuring a new theme like Italian or French wines, and will run $20 (which gets you a sampling of 9 to 12 wines). These classes are generally held on a Thursday from 6:30pm-8:30pm—call ahead to find out which Thursday or go online, select your local store and click on “events.”