K&L Wine Merchants

06/07/2007 Posted by jkibler

I live in Hollywood and was very happy when I find out K&L was moving into my neighborhood. I typically buy my wine in Marina Del Rey (LA Wine Company or Beverage Warehouse) or Orange (Wine Exchange). It was very nice to have such a well-reviewed store so close. I finally got around to visiting and left the store somewhat disappointed. While the store is well stocked with worldwide wines, every single wine that I was familiar with was more expensive at K&L than it was elsewhere. Glad to have the resource but my wine buying binges will be held elsewhere.

Pros: Selection

Cons: Prices

05/08/2007 Posted by chicmca

This is THE place to buy wines. I’ve been buying from them on-line for about 1.5 years. Their selections are from all over the world at routinely the best prices. But for me the clincher is the staff. Knowledgeable, friendly, and no attitudes (unlike a certain store on the Westside). I once asked a staffer to recommend the best wines under $10. They gave me the names of three wines, one from France, one from Italy, and one from the state of Washington…ALL excellent. Easily comparable to any wine in the $20-30 range. How refreshing…you get the feeling they really love what they do (not just trying to make a buck). Of course they also carry the rare and expensive. And, best of all, you can order anything in their inventory on-line and they’ll have it waiting for you to pick-up or they’ll deliver. If you love wine or are just starting to get into it, this is a great place to shop.

Pros: great selection, price, staff

Cons: addictive

05/06/2007 Posted by chuco13

I live in San Diego County, and I have been buying from K & L in San Pancho for about a year. So having a K & L relatively close to home is a god send!!!!! Their selection of affordable wines is great, as is the selection of incredibly priced "first growths" ( That I will probably never be able to afford!) I was like a little kid in a candy store when I first visited it the store to pick up my wines I had ordered thru the internet. I look forward to getting up to L.A. more often now!

Pros: fantastic selection

Cons: busy L.A. neighborhood.

05/05/2007 Posted by dharmakid

I have been a lover of K&L Wines for years. I've always found their selection to be excellent and the only drawback was their location in Northern Cal. Finally they have come to LA, and what a wonderful store. Helpful staff, no attitude or wine snobs here. You have a selection that can’t be beat and prices which are some of the best in town. I think the best thing is that if you like a wine, they will normally have it in stock. So, it's not a "we bought a bunch of this for a special price and we can never get it again" thing. Top notch, but be warned it's addictive!

Pros: Easy parking, fine seletion, good prices

Cons: Not in Pasadena!

05/04/2007 Posted by steveh2007

I had heard about K&L from my friends in Northern California and I've used their site several times to find hard-to-get wines, so I was anxious to see them open up shop in Hollywood. I'm really into wine and this place has the potential to be my downfall. Anyways - the store is not your average bottle shop - it's HUGE. There are wines from all over the world... a lot of the famous labels you've heard about and then tons of things I've never seen before. Staff seems helpful and knowledgeable. Prices are very good. I've found them to be the lowest in LA on a lot of things but not everything. I'm willing to pay a little bit more if I'm getting great advice - and I haven't been steered wrong in the handful of visits since they opened in March. Last time in there I picked up some Champagne that they imported directly from France, which is a much better way to buy bubbly if you don't need to have a recognized label. Free parking in their adjacent lot is also very nice, since the last thing I want to do is fight traffic and then circle for parking or lug a case of wine three blocks. Overall I highly recommend this spot - my only complaint is that I usually leave here with very little money left in my wallet and an angry wife as a result.

Pros: Free parking, huge selection of thousands of wines

Cons: If I keep spending all my money here my wife will divorce me. I love my wife.