What's a beyoncé? my five year old recently asked me. You mean a fiancé? I suggested, not registering quickly enough. No, a BEyoncé she insisted. A more worthy wonder indeed. And I'm clearly failing her as a parent. She's at that age now, and her three year old sister too, I suppose, wanting to know how and why about everything. Hearing snippets on the playground and in her Kindergarten classes and in markets and movies. Sometimes big ones (Where do babies come from?) and often just random ones (Why don't people wear pajamas all the time?). More often than I'd like to admit, I'll truly have no clue what to respond or how to explain (Why is Simone left handed? she asked just yesterday about her sister). 

There is a quote from an interview with Tom Waits that resonates: “Everything is explained now. We live in an age when you say casually to somebody 'What's the story on that?' and they can run to the computer and tell you within five seconds. That's fine, but sometimes I’d just as soon continue wondering. We have a deficit of wonder right now.”  I find myself more ok these days not knowing. Wondering more. Asking friends and colleagues, exchanging perceptions and impressions. I'm very lucky to get to consider the alchemy of something as simple and magical as wine daily. Maybe it's the former school teacher in me, but I particularly enjoy when the shop or bar here becomes more of a classroom, a space for questions and curiosities and exploration. During the education component of a recent staff meeting, we were discussing minerality, a word of such wonder that spellcheck still refutes its existence. We wondered as a staff, how one can taste a certain "stoniness" in a wine - something rocky or chalky or like granite or iron, even while science suggests that vines cannot deliver actual minerals from the soils below. So, we are left to wonder more. We do of course, go to books and to the internet, and to scientists and winemakers and farmers, which, happily, often leads to more questions and even more worthy wonders.

If any of you or anyone you know would like to learn more and to wonder more along with us... I humbly invite all to explore the many regions of this wonderful world with us and join the OAKLAND YARD Wine Club. A spectacular holiday gift to yourself or a loved one, and a gift that will keep on giving! Each month, club members receive two outstanding wines for just $42. Max writes dynamic and detailed tasting notes for each release as we move around the world tasting and exploring various regions and grape varieties. This month it was wines of Loire Valley. Last month the theme was Austria and before that, Sardinia! We are tasting wines from all over, all month, to choose selections specifically for this club - so these bottles rarely make it onto the shelves here. With each club installment we share why we love these wines and include background notes on the producer, grape varieties, winemaking techniques, regional history, tasting notes and occasional recipes or pairing suggestions - a mini personal wine class. Club members also enjoy 10% ALL in store purchases - along with 10% off ALL FLIGHTS and Wines by the Glass, always! JOIN TODAY. Stop by the shop or give us a call at (510) 808- 5129. Or you can now sign up ONLINE!

Cheers,
Daniel
 

TONIGHT - Thursday Night Flights...SPANISH REDS & FRENCH WHITES
2022 André & Michel Quenard Chignin Blanc
2021 Bernard Fouquet Cuvee de Silex Vouvray
2021 Cave Cluzel Roussanne
2021 Bernabeleva Camino de Navaherreros
2020 Raul Perez Bierzo Ultreia St Jacques
2020 Bodegas D. Mateo La Mateo Rioja
Flights $15 from 5-9 and wines by the glass until 9pm

SATURDAY: ORANGE WINE Tasting!
Beguiling and aromatic skin contact whites from around the globe...
2021 Maturana Naranjo Torontel Loncomilla
2021 Ampeleia Bianco
2022 Bannister Gittens Vineyard Dry Creek Valley Ribolla Gialla
2021 Artana Rkatsiteli
Flights $20 from 2-6 and wines by the glass until 9pm