Fine Wines The World Over
Since its founding in 1979, North Berkeley has sourced authentic, expressive wines from France and Italy, destined for leading restaurants and wine shops as well as private cellars across the country. With a retail store in Berkeley, California and offices in Europe, our team is dedicated to providing customers with top-notch service and the finest wine selections the world over.
Did you know? We’ve been named “Importer of the Year” now FOUR times — in 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023 — by Wine & Spirits Magazine. Here’s our story.
Aligoté Master! Olivier Morin
Long considered Burgundy’s “other” white grape, Aligoté is now heralded as a more serious white with potential and pep, an affordable Burgundy that still delivers the goods.
Five Growers In Top 100 Winery List, 2023
Our congratulations to Fratelli Alessandria, Rocca di Montegrossi, Maison Frederic Magnien, Domaine Jean Vesselle and Domaine du Couvent for this well-deserved recognition of their hard work.
“Unprecedented Glory” 2019 Barolo: Fratelli Alessandria
The wine world is waking up to the greatness to be found in ‘Monvigliero,’ Verduno’s top cru vineyard — and one that Fratelli Alessandria has championed for literally decades.
Caillou 2021 Chateauneuf Is Spectacular
The NBI team in France just tasted these wines a week ago at the estate and they really are outstanding! The intensity and spice of the south are here in spades, with a refreshing lift and kick that makes them such a pleasure to savor.
Pibarnon Bandol Rosé In A Class All Its Own
The greatest of rosé wines, like that of Chateau de Pibarnon in Bandol, are wines of place and character, serious wines that can age, and always the correct pair for fine cuisine.
Radda in Chianti Rising! L’Erta di Radda
Winemaker Diego Finocchi has absolutely nailed the true essence of high-altitude Radda in his pure Sangiovese wines — lively aromas, crunchy fruit, tons of freshness.
“One of the most ambitious new estates … in Alsace.”
Amelie & Charles Sparr are part of a new generation that is making energetic, dry Riesling wines and paying particular attention to terroir — and crucially, shaking up a historic, sleepy region for good.
Romagna’s Top Name: Chiara Condello
A young yet serious talent who is crafting world-class Sangiovese wines from this charmed corner of central Italy, Chiara’s new releases are beyond excellent!
Italy’s Volcanic Diversity: Cantine Olivella
“Volcanic wines” are having a moment, as more and more sommeliers and wine experts are highlighting the particular characteristics of wines grown in volcanic regions, such as Etna in Sicily or Vesuvius in Campania.
Family-Crafted Hermitage Praised By Vinous
This very small family estate — with its monopole vineyard ‘Vignon’ at the foot of the noble hill of Hermitage — crafts exceptional wines in very limited quantities.
Wine & Spirits’ Importer of the Year 2022!
We’ve been named “Importer of the Year” 2022 by Wine & Spirits Magazine, the third time we’ve been honored by this award-winning magazine.
Four Partners Named To Top 100 Winery List
We are thrilled to have Fratelli Alessandria, Rocca di Montegrossi, Frederic Magnien and Petit & Bajan named to Wine & Spirits Magazine’s Top 100 Winery list for 2022! This is a great honor for these hard-working family wineries.
Wines from Italy
From the rolling, romantic hills of Piedmont to Sicily’s fiery volcanic slopes, Italy is a sensualist’s dream and a wine lover’s heaven. Nowhere else in the world will you experience such a rich selection of native grapes, each with its own character and flavor, than in Italy. Our partners from the bel paese are small family farms, many of which have roots that reach back centuries. Discover our Italian wines.
Wines from France
Our partners in France are true artisans, looking toward the future while respecting the traditions of the past. We’ve worked with not only mothers and fathers but also sons and daughters—who, after traveling the world, have come home with new ideas. Many of the regions in which we were first pioneers, are today household names—yet we’re still scouring the gorgeous French countryside for the next must-have wine. Discover our French wines.