Prima Materia Wine

I had been wanting to try Prima Materia so I took myself out for some wine tasting in my neighborhood today. I got there a few minutes before the Sunday at 2pm seated tasting. The tasting was six wines for $25. It started with a rosé and then went to five reds. It was fun to experience this in temescal, and as a wine lover the wine was pretty good! I didn't feel compelled to buy a bottle but the service was nice and even though it was cloudy, the patio was pleasant to sit on. Would recommend for the novelty of the experience (why should Berkeley have all the fun with their tasting rooms)?

If you ask "too long?" as I walk away from your establishment, you only add lighter fluid to the fire. Thank goodness there are an abundance of superior bars and tasting rooms in the area to run to. Had this been our last stop of the day surely it would have soured a lovely afternoon. My friend and I arrived just after 4pm for a tasting. One couple were seated ahead of us, quickly followed by our escort to a table near the entrance. Our host provided menus then said he would be with us shortly. I stepped away to the restroom, returned, then my friend did the same. While she was away I requested water for the table, to which the host said 'it's inside," as he continued indoors. Tone. Is everything. I tucked it away because I noticed he was operating solo, and an hour remained for him to be open. When I walked in to get the water, he said "I probably should have said that when I sat you." All good. At the table we reviewed the menu and continued our conversation about wine regions and our favorite blends. I noticed how the host served the tables both in front and behind us, never coming to our table in the middle and at the entrance of the wine shop. We could not be missed. This happened two times. You know the moment when you realize something is off about something, you squint your eyes, maybe tilt your head and tune everything out. I began to quietly simmer then asked my friend how long we'd been there. I thought maybe 15 minutes had passed but it was a whopping 32 minutes! We confirmed by our check-in on Yelp. 32 minutes of watching this man pass us by. I stood up and said let's go to my friend. As we exited the alleyway, the host conveniently comes out only to say "too late?" My guy, seriously?! No games to be played here, I have checkers at home. I hope management, the owner and investors read this. Hire someone else.

The star - by far - was the Aglianico. My new favorite varietal.Tastings arrive in test tubes. This aerates the wine when poured. I found it a clever way to control which wine and how much I wanted to try at a time. Space-saving over a table full of glasses. Also, chic.Plenty of outdoor seating. $15 to try 6 wines. If you buy, a portion or all of the fee is waived.Aglianico is as old vine as it gets. Pliny the Elder dug it. As did the ancient Romans. Today it's cultivated in Campania, Italy and in a spot here in California to taste in Oakland. Pretty amazing. Dark, deep fruit. Complexity. Dry like an Italian wine should be. Further develops over 10 years. Drinkable now like a Californian. Full-bodied and interesting to get to know. Nice to meet you, Aglianico.Open Sat - Sun.

Prima is a hidden East Bay gem! Haven't had a wine we didn't like. Many old world varietals at a really accessible price point...the Sangiovese is a favorite. You can usually walk up and snag a table though I wish they were open more days.

Pietro, the winemaker, crafts authentic Italian style wines from vineyards near Clear Lake. The Temescal tasting place is easy going and has great cheese plates .

If you're thinking about visiting - DO IT! I was here with a party of four for outdoor seating. Since it was our first time here , we each did the wine tasting flights, which comes with 6 wines from their menu for only $15. They come in these cute tubes that you pour into your glass to taste. We are a mixed group of wine drinkers so we can attest that there's something for everyone. My personal favorites were the Barbera (their best seller) and Sagrantino. We also ordered a bottle to share after the tasting. Bottles are around $20-35 which is relatively affordable.Our host, Jonathan, was stellar! He was nothing but patient, considerate, helpful and knowledgeable. In addition to being great at his job, he had us laughing the entire time which really created for a non-intimidating and memorable experience. The location is great for small parties and tables were socially distant. The location is also convenient. There are tons of eateries, desserts, and shops nearby to explore.I am definitely coming back here again and may even sign up for a membership.

Wine tasting in a cute alley! I almost felt like I was on vacation. I went on a Sunday and made a reservation prior. They have wine for sale by the bottle, glass or you can get a flight of 6 for $15. We decided for the variety and got the 6 tastings. All of the wine we tried was delicious. I will definitely be back for future tastings!

Small and cute wine tasting room. Prima Materia grows their grapes and makes their wines in Lake County near Clear Lake. This little taste room is in the Temescal Alley. They have some interesting varieties that you don't typically see. The Barbera is a medium red that is super smooth with some coconut notes on the finish. The Aglianico is a heavier red, full bodied, sweeter, but not too sweet, and would pair wonderfully with steak. They also have great Chardonnay and Rose. The staff are super friendly and welcoming. And we brought our chihuahua to taste with us.

This place makes great wines and serves them in a great little alleyway that feels removed from the chaos. The service is always good, but sometimes spread thin. The times when the service Has been the best and when the servers seem to be the most at ease is when there are two people working.

Visited the tasting room for the first time with my partner. Overall, the wines are okay - I've had better but I've also had worse. The best two varietals we tasted were Sangiovese and Zinfandel (both from their current Regular Production flight - $28). It's a good place to visit if you're newer to wine tasting. The wines are not super complex and you get six tastings per flight. A cheese plate is available if you'd like to snack/pair while you taste your wine.