Shopping for wine these days can be a boring, uninspired transaction. The all too familiar big box store experience of fluorescent lights, dodging other customers as you panic at the overwhelming (or underwhelming) selection, maybe settling for the boxed wine. But there is a better way to discover wine and that is at Clos Wine Shop.

Located in University Heights, Clos is easily one of the best wine shops in San Diego. They offer small batch, natural wines, a small menu with distinct snacks, gourmet groceries, and a great deck out front. A visit here can inspire even the most casual of wine shoppers and while you may not reach enlightenment (the tinned fish brought us close) it will deepen your appreciation of great wines and gourmet delights.

No, we are not sommeliers, but we do drink enough wine to qualify as knowledgeable, which counts for something…somewhere.

Location: 4521 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92116

How much do we like it?

We would have a crisis if it closed

See or rating scale here.

Why We Like Clos Wine Shop

San Diego is a better place with Clos Wine Shop and for good reasons.

The bottle selection at Clos is sourced from high quality domestic and international wineries, focusing on more organic and low intervention wines that are not loaded with excessive additives, which we appreciate. We will spare you the “pencil shavings” flavor descriptions because the staff does a much better job at describing their wines with inspiring, hand-written tags placed on the bottles. You will find everything from local Pinot Grigio made along California’s central coast to smokey flavored reds from Italian vineyards with rich volcanic soils. At Clos, any wine purchased or glass drunk feels like you are discovering a secret vintage that few others have tasted, which makes shopping for a bottle here a genuinely fun experience.

Clos also has a wide selection of gourmet tinned fish which was something we never knew we needed in our life. We are not talking about a can of bumble-bee tuna, but rather octopus in a Galician sauce, a smoked sardine pate, and other exquisite tins. Make your selection, get a glass of wine, and the staff will happily prepare the tinned fish on a board along with anything else you order – such as a charcuterie board of meat, cheese, crackers, jams, peppers, nuts, and local hot sauces. Most of these items are also available to go so you can bring them home and create your own indulgent meal. Clos also offers sakes, ciders, and specialty chocolate bars.

There are a few seats inside, but the charm is out on their front deck where you can sit against the railing or grab a small table to enjoy the breeze and sunshine.

The staff at Clos never fail to give you a warm welcome and are eager to help you find the perfect bottle or explain the unique selection of wines they carry. It is a far better experience than perusing the aisles of Total Wine in a half trance all by lonesome.

Clos also hosts regular events – virtually every month you can find wine tastings with exclusive vintages from the Iberian peninsula and they even have a “Tinned Fish” meetup that we will now be attending regularly. For $60 a month you can become a member of their wine club, where you receive a curated selection of two bottles each month and discounts on in-store purchases. They will even deliver wine in San Diego for their club members (check with them for details).

Final Word

If you want a truly wholesome experience where you will discover entirely new wines and indulgent foods, then you need to visit Clos Wine Shop. Head there for date night, or to read a book, or to show your parents how cool it is to live in San Diego.

We have enjoyed watching it succeed, and we hope it continues to flourish for many years to come.

Kudos, Clos.