Best places in Bay Area/Central Calif. to buy port?

[Steve Timko]

I want to add a couple of bottles of port to my collection.
My go to wine store is K&L Wines. I'm looking for the best port for say less than $50 a bottle for a 750ml or less than $30 a bottle for 375ml. Where's a good place to shop?
Anything stand out at K&L Wines? Any other wine stores to hit in the Bay Area, the Central Coast or Sacramento?
Thanks in advance for any help.

[Eric Menchen]

I considered going to K&L when I was recently in the area, to pick up some 2007 Smith Woodhouse which is well priced.

[Dylan Howard]

Check out http://www.bpwine.com/

They're in Napa Valley apparently, which might be a hike for you. They're not a retail establishment, but they say they accept visitors by appointment and seem to have some good prices on port as well as california and european wine...

[Eric Menchen]

I've been very happy with the customer service from bpwine.com and they've had some good prices. Of course one of the most attractive things for me buying from them is the $9 shipping per case, which isn't a factor if you're going to go visit.

Of course you also have Trader Joe's. In another thread I mentioned getting some 2007 Quarles Harris from the Campbell location.

And you have BevMo!, a big box retailer, but they have a pretty good selection online. I don't know how they work if you want something that is online but not at a given local store. I'm guessing they can have stuff delivered to the store. Checking their website, most of the VP seems overpriced, the LBV is reasonable, and 1978 Krohn Colheita Porto is just $49.99. I don't know how good it is, but that appears to be a very good price.

[Steve Timko]

I stopped buying wine from BevMo that wasn't recently delivered to the shelves because of my past experience. My sense is that storage conditions are less than ideal there.
Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.

[Eric Menchen]

Thanks for your feedback Steve. I've thought of ordering from BevMo, and considered stopping in when I last was near one. I'll think carefully about buying from them. Most of the large b&m stores around me in Colorado have a separate wine cellar room where they keep the high end (?) stuff under better conditions than their large floor where bottles bake. I haven't exactly figured out what makes it into the cellar room, as it isn't price alone.

[Andy Velebil]

I stopped buying wine from BevMo that wasn't recently delivered to the shelves because of my past experience. My sense is that storage conditions are less than ideal there.
Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.

I've often thought that myself. Several years ago, after seeing some bottles with leakage that shouldn't have had leakage (new vintages), I began to suspect their storage may not be the best in the warmer months. Or it could be they don't use refer's to make deliveries to their store. Plus I've had a couple bottles of wine (non-port) that I suspected were heat damaged. Never proved it, but I basically stopped buying wine from them. Once in a while I'll grab some beer or hard liquor if the price is right, but no longer do I buy wine there.