Now that it’s mid-June, we’ve largely lost our morning sun to the marine layer. In spring and summer northwesterly winds increase, causing cooler water to surface from deep in the Pacific. This process, called upwelling, creates a temperature inversion in which a layer of warmer air overlies cooler air. Condensation ensues and low clouds drift eastward to sock us in. It’s one of the oddities of living near a huge, cold body of water, and while it helps keep things moist, alive, and less on fire, it’s not great for my tomatoes, which take every opportunity to welcome powdery mildew.

For wine grape growers, there are both benefits and disadvantages in this coastal phenomenon. Normally, the air gets five to six degrees cooler with every thousand feet of altitude, but along our coast, the temperature inversion means mountain vineyards are sometimes warmer than the foggy valley floor, allowing the higher fruit to ripen more quickly, while lengthening the ripening process for the lowlands. Sam Teakle, who farms in the northern Mayacaymus Mountain Range says: “Bud break is often three weeks behind that of the valley floor, but because of the inversion layer, with the cooler days and warmer nights, the vines catch up, maturity-wise.” Meanwhile, at Peay Vineyards, within five miles of the ocean and below one thousand feet, summer temperatures are fifteen to twenty degrees cooler than inland areas.

At Oakland Yard, we appreciate that farming and winemaking are not rote but reactive occupations, and the best practitioners are insightful experimenters combining knowledge of practical history with always-changing conditions. We also appreciate that the clouds generally burn off by the afternoon in Temescal, leaving our patio on 40th street bathed in early evening sun just in time for the thirsty hours. Come sample our favorite bottled products of art and science, each specific and snowflake-unique, at our tasting bar, open every night until 9pm.

TONIGHT - THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS:
Eastern European whites and Southern French Reds
2023 Fekete FKT Olaszrizling
2022 United Cellars of Tekov Just Kids Muscat
2022 Ocho What RU Waiting For ? Kisi
2023 Domaine de la Damase Grenache
2020 Château Plaisance Fronton Rend Son Jus Jurançon Noir 2019 Dom & Terre Corps à Corps Corbieres
Tasting Flights $15 from 5-9 and wines by the glass until close!

SATURDAY 6/14: Sicilian Wine Flights
2021 Gurrieri Moscato
2022 Al Cantara Occhi di Ciumi Etna Bianco
NV Paolo Calì Jazz Rosso Terre Siciliane
2023 Occhipinti SP68 Rosso
Tasting Flights $20 from 2-6 and wines by the glass until 9pm!

Cheers,

Max