Purity Wine is a winery dedicated to organic and natural wines and the Study, the affiliated wine bar, expands on that dedication by offering not only Purity’s range of pet nats, roses, red, and orange wines, but also bottles from some of their fellow natural winemakers. Offerings (aside from Purity’s line) change frequently, but recently included the Bianco from Meigamma on the Italian island of Sardegna, a skin-contact white wine made from the red grape Cannonau.

Both tasting room and wine bar, Riggers Loft offers tasty pours with unbeatable bay views. The tasting room for R&B Cellars, Riggers Loft also regularly features wines from Carica Wines, Wachira Wines, Prima Materia, and more. There is a menu of Limited Reserve and Library Wines, and they also offer ciders from Far West Cider Company (for any wine-averse tag alongs).

Wine So Cru’s owner and Certified Sommelier Nu-Beer Putthongvilai has put together a well-crafted selection of international and domestic wines at her Berkeley wine shop and bar. The list is exceedingly approachable and affordable for those looking for memorable bottles, like a Premier Cru Montagny from Les Tourellese for $50 or a 2014 Barolo from Elvio Cogno for under $100. There are plenty of bottle options under $30 as well, along with a by-the-glass list for those who want to sit and sip a while.

Up in the hills of Oakland’s Montclair Village neighborhood, Perle Wine Bar leans heavily on some of the most well-known wine regions in France and California for the bulk of a wine menu that complements its French-tinged food. Pascal Jolivet Le Roc Sancerre (2017), Justin Dutraive Les Bulands Beaujolais (2018), Quintessa’s Rutherford red blend from Napa, and Ridge’s 2004 Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon are just a few of the standout options.

Heading over the hills to Danville might seem like a stretch for an East Bay list, but the wine at The Find is well worth the trip. The bar is the brainchild of three Napa Valley vintners who conspired to create a wine list that features some very hard-to-find California wines (at least outside of wine country). Wineries like Vineyard 7 & 8, Aesop, and Julien Fayard are represented, with nearly every wine on the list available by the glass in addition to the bottle. Members of The Find’s Wine Club get discounted bottle prices.

It’s easy to switch into experimental mode with the wide selection at The Punchdown. With options like Domaine de Grottes’s 2019 “Un Petit Coin du Paradis”, a Gamay pet nat, and “Sidra!”, a co-ferment of Carignan and apple juice from native Oaklander Ashanta Wines, this is one of the best spots in the East Bay to do a deep dive into the world of natural wines. By the glass pours are available in addition to bottles, and a happy hour wine menu makes exploring the world of natural wines a bit more affordable for those new to scene.

If minimo’s aesthetic is minimal it’s wine selection is anything but that. A frequently changing by the glass menu is available daily, and any bottle in the shop can be enjoyed on-site for just a $10 corkage fee. On Fridays and Saturdays they offer a featured flight, a great opportunity to explore some of the natural wines they have on hand, which span the globe from California to France, Georgia (the country) to Slovenia.

The name is a tribute to owner Dianah Rodriguez’s late father, Pastor Virgilio Remorca, but don’t expect a holier-than-thou attitude when it comes to the drink selection at this Alameda wine bar and cafe. The approachable menu covers both Old World and New World favorites like the Roederer Estate Brut sparkling from the Anderson Valley, Daou Vineyards rose from Paso Robles, and the Chateau Le Bonnat Graves from Bordeaux. Red, white, rose, and sparkling flights are all available, and with no glass over $16 (or bottle over $60), The Preacher’s Daughters is a great spot to enjoy quality wine without breaking the bank.