Club Level

A quick jaunt to wine country is one of the highlights of visiting San Francisco, but you can't always squeeze in the side trip. Thankfully, you can now experience some of Napa and Sonoma's best wineries under one roof, thanks to Press Club, a new subterranean tasting room in the city's downtown Four Seasons hotel.

Press Club showcases eight of Northern California's most prestigious appellations. And yes, it's in a basement--arguably the most stylish basement on the West Coast.

Participating wineries include Napa cult faves Pahlmeyer, Miner Family and Chateau Montelena, as well as Sonoma's Fritz, Landmark Vineyards, Hanna and Saintsbury, as well as Mount Eden--famous for its Burgundy-style Chardonnay--from the Santa Cruz Mountains. Each winery's tasting bar--cast from steel and concrete--is staffed with a representative, who will tell you about the work that went into your tastes of Pinot Noir or Sauvignon Blanc.

Once you've picked your favorites, head over to the lounge for flights of three wines ($14 to $40) with a selection of Northern California cheeses ($12) or charcuterie ($8). Or try a three-course pairing, like the Golden Gate ($43): roasted tomatoes with Saintsbury's Brown Ranch Chardonnay, crispy corn cakes with Mount Eden Saratoga Chardonnay and skewers of spring lamb with Miner Stagecoach Cabernet Sauvignon.

Press Club also sells retail, so you can ship a mixed case home before heading off to the airport.

Press Club, 20 Yerba Buena Lane, San Francisco; 415-744-5000 or pressclubsf.com