Fine Wines the World Over

For more than 25 years, North Berkeley Imports has discovered and imported authentic, expressive wines from France and Italia destined for leading restaurants and wine shops as well as for private cellars across the country. With a retail store in Berkeley, California and offices in Europe, our team is dedicated to providing customers with the finest wine selections the world over. Here’s our story.

Insider’s Tip: 2015 Southern Rhône Whites

Southern Rhône white wines — showcasing the vibrant, sultry flavors of grapes such as Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Marsanne and Roussanne, among others — are complex and flavorful, with good body, acidity and balance.

A Trio Of Talent: Wine & Spirits Top 100

North Berkeley is honored and proud to have THREE partners named to the Wine & Spirits Top 100 Wineries list for 2016 — what a showing! This list is the who’s who of worldwide wineries that consistently perform and have wowed Wine & Spirits tasters over the past year. Drum roll, please! Here’s our winners.

2014 Arlaud Charmes-Chambertin: “Powerful, Dense”

The Wine Spectator lauds the Arlaud family’s efforts in 2014, highlighting their Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru: a wine to which they give a nearly 30 year aging window, given its concentration and complexity. A truly grand cru, indeed!

Rosé Wine For Thanksgiving? Yes, Please

John Tilson of the Underground Wineletter named rosé wines from both Francois Cotat and Chateau de Pibarnon as “some of the best young rosés” he’s ever tasted.

The Champagne This Season: 2006 Egly Ouriet Grand Cru Brut Millèsime

“Another standout, the 2006 Brut Millesime is stellar. This is an especially broad, creamy Champagne built on textural richness. Lemon oil, white flowers, smoke, almonds and baked apple are some of the signatures…”

2014 White Burgundy “Concentrated, Expressive and Balanced”

Stephen Tanzer of Vinous Media recently wrote an excellent report on white Burgundy from the 2014 vintage, and since we have many of these wines now in our warehouse, we can only concur with Stephen’s positive assessment

Wine & Spirits Calls Vadiaperti Fiano “the Chenin of Italy”

Our newest partner in Campania, Azienda Agricola Vadiaperti is on a roll. Just this month his peerless Fiano di Avellino ‘Aipierti’ was named a Critic’s Pick at Wine & Spirits.

NEW ARRIVALS! 2015 Calot Morgon Vieilles Vignes

We’ve loved this older-vine Morgon over the years because it just keeps giving: gorgeous and fleshy when young, Calot Morgon ages stupendously, shining with five to even 10 years of cellar time. And think about it: How many Burgundy wines can you name that hail from 100-year-old vines on terroir that should essentially be “premier cru” and still cost under $30? We thought so.

Face to Face with Nerello Beauty and the Etna Beast

Steel clearly runs in the blood of the Murgo clan. But for good reason, as they’ve cultivated vines and olives under the fiery gaze of Etna for more than a century. Many times the volcano has destroyed their vineyards and property, and regularly covers the family home in layers of ash. Yet as the brothers told us, this is the price one pays for the privilege of growing vines on Etna’s slopes.

Wines from Italia

From the rolling, romantic hills of Piemonte to Sicilia’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 Italia. 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.