In our book of family lore, my entrance is greeted with filial ambivalence, to say the least. I arrive home from the hospital crying inconsolably, and my mother asks my three-year-old brother,
“James, what are we going to do with him?”
“Throw him in the garbage?” He suggests, without missing a beat.
Because this was one of so few examples of hostility, in a lifetime of close interaction, I maintain that it was just a thoughtful recommendation; James was trying to be helpful and maybe didn’t really know what happened to the garbage at the end of the day. After this initially bumpy start, we were close comrades, standing together to face the world. “I don’t need to learn how to read,” I once explained to my parents, “My brother knows how to read.”
James and I shared a bedroom, strewn with juggling balls, books and records, for fifteen years, but rarely did we cross each other in any serious way. There were the requisite smacks and squabbles, teases and digs, but nothing truly mean, and, as we grew older, we developed a friendship I would now trade for nothing. We haven’t seen each other all that much in the last thirty years, and we don’t speak or correspond as often as many siblings I know of, but when we do, he is the same thoughtful, kind, self-possessed person I looked up to as a child, and when friends ask me if we are ‘close’, I say yes, in my mind we have remained very close, despite our distance.
James turns fifty years old this Saturday and I’d like to take this opportunity thank him for being such a good brother to me (and for reading all of my newsletters every other week.) HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JAMES !!!
Those of you who have the advantage - my word, maybe not yours - of a sibling here in town should go ahead and grab your brother or sister and drag them down to Oakland Yard for a wine tasting this week.
TONIGHT: Thursday Night Flights! This evening we’ll be pouring GERMAN whites and AUSTRIAN reds - $12 tasting flights from 4-8.
SATURDAY 9/29: SPANISH TASTING with special guest Cory Gowan from Mission Wine Merchants -Red, White and Bubbly from the Penedes and Ribera del Duero - $15 flights from 2-6 and wines by the glass until 9.
SUNDAY 9/30: WINES from OREGON – Tasting flights of reds and whites from our neighbor to the north - $15 flights from 2-6 and wines by the glass – as always - until 8pm.
Cheers,
Max
Daniel and I met, and began working together, at a wonderful little wine shop in Brooklyn, called Smith & Vine, and we made a quick connection there based, at least in part, on a mutual love of music. There were no rules at Smith & Vine about what constituted a reasonable retail playlist, so we listened to whatever we wanted. Ari played a lot of Wu Tang Clan and Kool Keith; KaMar would put on Battles, Caribou, or Damfunk; and Sherry often blasted heavy metal for hours straight, with Pantera and Megadeth rattling the bottles, and the customers, until some poor soul would ask if we could please turn it down.
Daniel and I liked it all – or at least most of it – and I learned from him about bands like Sparks, Richard Hawley, Little Joy, and tons of classic folk, rock, and skiffle I’d never heard. I, in turn, shared my love of Jazz and funk, from Parliament to Miles, and everything in between. Daniel gravitated toward two of my very favorite albums by Cannonball Adderley: Somethin’ Else and Bohemia After Dark. If you like Jazz and you haven’t heard these two discs, you’ve just got to check them out. No one played the blues like Cannonball, and it is a beautiful thing to hear, and to be able to share.
This week, we celebrate the birthdays of both saxophonist Julian ‘Cannonball’ Adderley, born 9/15/28, and guitarist Dave Mustaine, of Metallica and Megadeth, born 9/13/61. Thank you for the music, dear fellows! We’ll continue to play what we like to hear at Oakland Yard, and we hope – at least most of the time – you like it too.
TONIGHT: Thursday Night Flights! This evening, in honor of our ongoing home state grape harvest, we’ll be pouring all CALIFORNIA wines, three Chardonnays and three Cabernet Sauvignons - $12 tasting flights from 4-8.
SATURDAY 9/15: FRENCH ALPS PART 1: Jura and Arbois Tasting - Red, White and Bubbly from the mountains - $15 flights from 2-6 and wines by the glass until 9.
SUNDAY 9/16: FRENCH ALPS PART 2: Savoie Tasting - More Red, White and Bubbly from the mountains - $15 flights from 2-6 and wines by the glass – as always - until 8pm.
Cheers,
Max
Six years ago I walked into a small café in the kooky, quaint town of Guerneville. I had returned to Sonoma to learn to make wine and settled in the remote coastal town of Occidental, with Glenny, my girlfriend at the time (now my wife). We had just moved from New York a week or so earlier and discovered that the manager and chef at this café had not only recently moved from Brooklyn as well, but was from the very same neighborhood - and had lived just a couple blocks from us. She had even worked at the sister wine shop where my wife and I met.
A connection was made. Something more than coincidence was at play perhaps. We became quick friends. It wouldn’t be long before she would remark that I needed to meet her brother. That she just knew we'd connect too. But he was busy, or rather – away at the time, with his then girlfriend (and now wife). More on that shortly.
Eventually, her brother and I would meet - at Doña Tomás, here in Temescal, just over two years ago. And his sister was right, but not just about her brother, David – it was easy to feel an immediate connection with his partner, Alexandra, as well... and impossible to ignore their unique magnetism, and the sense that I was supposed to meet this pairing that was destined to pair.
A Year Off: A Story About Traveling the World-and How to Make it Happen for You is a book about connections. About destiny and destinations. One part memoir, one part travel essays and one part travel guide, it documents the story of Alexandra and David Brown, a couple who decided to take a year off from their jobs and 'regular lives' to travel the world together - embarking on their journey after only knowing each other for four months.
TONIGHT... A very special Thursday Night Flights! OAKLAND YARD welcomes Chronicle Books and the authors of A Year Off, Alexandra and David Brown. Join us as we celebrate this spirit of exploration. There will be white and red flights from around the globe and complementary nibbles. Say yes. Throw your homework onto the fire. Come out and find the one you love. Tasting Flights and wines by the glass from 4-8pm! Launch party from 6-8 For more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/259409701365264/
SUNDAY: September 8th: ROSÉ Tasting! The sun will be out and we'll be pouring some dry and delightful pink favorites from around the world. Roll in to OAKLAND YARD for Flights from 2-6pm - and wines by the glass until 9pm!
SUNDAY, September 9th: LOIRE FLIGHTS – some of our favorite mineral-driven whites and earthy fresh reds from the Loire river valley! Flights $15, from 2-6pm.
See you soon,
Daniel
I tell people I don’t like to travel, but that’s not entirely true. Unfamiliar places can be confusing, and sometimes downright dangerous. I feel sorry for those who look forward to nothing more than their next vacation; how sad to want always to be somewhere else. There’s so much to see right where you are, I say, just look more closely. Emily Dickinson rarely left her bedroom. With a superior air, I echo Ram Dass, suggesting perhaps it would be good for them to simply ‘be here now’.
But, in fact, the grass is greener in New York today, and it’s nice to see. Unlike the Pacific, the Atlantic Ocean is warm enough for long swims, and the still night air here is alive with sounds of crickets and cicadas. The people-watching here is unparalleled; one cannot imagine the range of styles, and sometimes it’s hard not to laugh at the east coast accents, when you hear “that’ll be two dah-luz” or just the tell-tale one syllable greeting, “Hoi”.
Our identities exist in relation to our surroundings, and when we leave our element, we create ourselves anew, engaging with the unexpected, connecting ideas of who we are with who we have been. I thought I’d enjoyed the heat and humidity of Brooklyn in August. Last week it rendered me exhausted, and slightly nauseous. Have I changed, or just misremembered? A few days ago, I ran into a family friend by chance who knew my grandfather much better than I, and she told me he was a very kind man. That was also my impression, but it felt good to hear from someone else. I look forward to returning to Oakland and the shop, but I’m glad I made it off the block.
In the spirit of travel and the value therein, Oakland Yard features wines from around the globe this week and into the next. This Sunday, wine club members will receive wines from Greece, and we’ll be offering tasting flights not just from California, but also from Argentina and Portugal. And next Thursday, along with Chronicle Books, we’ll be hosting a book release party for A Year Off, written by our world-traveling friends, David and Alexandra Brown.
TONIGHT: Thursday Night Flights. This evening, we’ll be pouring white wines from California and reds from Argentina. $12 tasting flights from 4-8.
SATURDAY (9/1): Noel Diaz of Purity Wine at OAKLAND YARD! Noel makes some of the most delicious and affordable California wines, using the most basic recipe: no additives - only grapes. And he’s fun to hang out with! Come meet the winemaker this Saturday! $15 flights from 2-5 and wines by the glass until 9.
SUNDAY (9/2): WINE CLUB PICKUP PARTY and Wines of Portugal! Flights open to the public - featuring special guest, importer Rachel Miers. Our good friend and Portuguese wine maven, Rachel, will pour tasting flights of 3 new wines on our shelves: a red, a white and an Oporto. $15 flights from 2-6 and wines by the glass – as always - until 8pm.
OAKLAND YARD will be CLOSED this TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3rd. Hate to do it, but we all need a break sometimes. Please plan ahead and stop in this weekend or during our special MONDAY Labor Day hours, from 11-4!
And…finally…one week from today, NEXT THURSDAY September 6th from 6 to 8pm Chronicle Books celebrates the release of A Year Off, Alexandra and David Brown’s story about traveling the world, and how to make it happen for you. Meet the charming and erudite Browns and enjoy complementary nibbles, with $12 tasting flights from around the world, and freshly printed books for sale.
See you around,
Max
Growing up with six siblings, our little house was pretty much a zoo at all times, but getting ready for school in the morning was its own kind of crazy. At one point, there were 5 of us in elementary at the same time and we were always tripping over each other in the early a.m., trying to beat the clock, sharing one bathroom, pulling uniforms out of drawers or hampers or from under beds, shoveling Cream of Wheat or Kix cereal or Pop Tarts into our mouths with mom hollering her countdown - a one-woman assembly line stuffing Capri Suns and PB&Js into brown paper bags with our names written on each in her distinct cursive.
I've never been a morning person, nor particularly motivated to rush off to school or work at any time. I probably deserved the daily nagging, digging out old cardigans and putting on my shoes at a snails pace. They'd often threaten to leave me behind, which was obviously a joke- until the one day it wasn't.
I think I was in second grade at the time. I heard the door slam and the last pair of sneakers tearing down the steps. But the van was still warming and I knew they'd yell for me soon (once again), annoyed as always at my procrastination. But then I heard the van reverse - and pull away. Surely they'd see me running down the steps or someone in the rear window would be smirking back at me, alerting mom to stop. But as I made it to the street I realized it wasn't a joke. They were gone. I was a mess, tearing up in a mix of anger, desperation, and sadness. I had already dropped my shoes earlier on the steps, but was still holding my socks, which I threw toward (or at) the van in a listless fit - a futile fling to halt its departure. Life lesson: throwing socks is a ridiculous gesture. But if you must, one should roll them in a ball first. Otherwse one sock travels all of three feet, at best. The other falls from the air, back onto your face and you'll still be wearing it there when your mom and siblings, having realized that you're not in the van, U-turn back up the hill a minute later to spy you sprawled out on the steps in practiced agony, sock still on your head.
Max and Julia left this morning for the east coast for a couple weeks. I'm not the little boy left holding his socks anymore, but it's gonna be a bit lonely here, I'll confess. So come say hello and hang with me and Jessie and Glenny. We've all kinds of fun tastings lined up - and will be pouring delicious wines from around the world. Wines to turn around a bad morning. Wines worth chasing after. Wines that pair with anything, even PB&J.
TONIGHT: Thursday Night Flights! All French lineup this evening, with dry whites from the Loire Valley and Savoie and reds from Savoie and the south. Flights $12 from 4-8pm.
SATURDAY: And Copeland of APS Wines at OAKLAND YARD! Andy will pouring an eclectic lineup of dymamic French wines (Colin Aligote, du Seuil Graves, Nerleux Cremant Rosé and Domaine Deffends Truffieres Rouge. Flights $15 from 2-5 and wines by the glass until 9!
SUNDAY: Wines of Piedmont! Four wines (Timarossa, Arneis, Dolcetto, Nebbiolo) from the Northwestern of Italy. Dry aromatic whites and earthy, elegant reds. Flights $15 from 2-6pm and wines by the glass as always.
See you soon (with socks on),
Daniel
I got my first fake ID when I was 15. It was not to purchase alcohol, but to gain access to 315 Bowery in Manhattan, the punk rock mecca, CBGB. I knew that this was the place that made The Ramones, and Blondie, and Talking Heads- and beautiful as it was to me, I was tired of looking at that tattered awning and crumbling façade. I wanted in.
My friend Michael was my age, but already a talented musician, and his mod-style ska band, The Feds, landed a gig at one of CBGB’s early evening all-ages shows. But ‘all-ages’ meant 16 and over, so the world-wise Michael took me to Times Square, where, in 1986, along with the key chains and snow globes, the trinket shops sold phony photo IDs. Mine had my little bleached, spiky-haired head on it and said I was 17 and attended community college. It didn’t look anything like a proper ID; you had to cover the ‘this is not a valid ID’ line with a sticker, and it was laminated with quarter inch plastic, but I was going for it. What were they gonna do? Arrest me at the door?
They did not. The loaf of a man behind a wooden desk at the entryway looked skeptically at the card, then at me, and I was allowed to pass. And glorious it was: a true wreck of a bar, with wooden booths worn to ruins, smelling of rotting citrus, stale beer, and hairspray, covered floor to ceiling in stickers and graffiti, the birthplace of the new music.
In the spirit of inclusion, in opposition to ageism, and for the sake of the whole fandamily, Oakland Yard will be hosting a truly all-ages event this Saturday in our back lot. That’s right, our neighborhood artisan market, the 420 FLEA, returns to 420 40th street from 11am until 4pm. No ID required to shop, get your face painted, eat tacos and noodles, or drink Topo Chico, but if you want any of our Roses’ Taproom Strawberry Jams IPA, you’ll need to show us the real deal.
But first... TONIGHT, August 16th: THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS! An ALL SPANISH lineup this evening. 3 whites and 3 reds. $12 from 4-8
SATURDAY, August 18th from 11am until 4pm: The 420 FLEA Artisan Market: Tacos Oscar will be here! Nokni returns! Beverages from Steep Tea Co! Vendors and artists include Mercy Vintage, Gold & Rust Finds, Sundryladen, Flower & Forage, Mind's Eye Vintage, Westward Succulents, Pablo Cristi, Lucas Ahlstrand, and Lemon Jitters. There will be a beer and wine garden outback and Tasting Flights inside at the bar from local winemaker and rising star, Jennifer Reichardt, of Raft Wines!
SUNDAY, August 19th: ALBARINO & ALVARINHO $15 from 2-6pm. Crisp, dry, bright mineral whites from Spain and Portugal and wines by the glass until 8pm.
See you soon,
Max
Yesterday morning I was sitting in a rocking chair here in my apartment, trying to get my 8 month old daughter to take her bottle. She wasn't having it, but I was stubborn and insistent. So much so that it took me an absurdly long time to discover that her fuss had less to do with being full and more to do with the earlier deposit of poo down her leg and in my lap. It was a fitting start to a hell of a day, where many and worse things fell.
We are into our second year now here at OAKLAND YARD, and while we are proud of our offerings and operations and have things running smoothly, occasionally something overlooked falls into laps (or elsewhere), something unforeseen that has me scrambling. Though rarely for long, I'm moved to confess. When we needed a forklift to unload the steel for the buildout, our neighbors across the way at Moran Supply said No problem, use ours. When we needed extra tables and a tent for shade at an event earlier this year, our neighbors at Clove & Hoof and Homeroom both said No worries, take ours. A tap for the keg? Our neighbors at Hog's Apothecary said No sweat, here you go.
We are lucky to have such wonderful neighbors, and to be here - a part of this great city. Where folks have our back. And we have theirs, and yours. Know that we have a cup of sugar for you too. We are here for you and because of you. And we are grateful to serve you and to see you returning.
SATURDAY, August 18th: Our neighborhood artisan market, the 420 FLEA returns. Happily, we've done enough of these now where we don't need much. We just want to see your faces! And to share another fantastic collection of artists, curators, builders - and culinary delights from our neighbors! Tacos Oscar will be here! Nokni returns! Beverages from Steep Tea Co! Vendors and artists include Mercy Vintage, Gold & Rust Finds, Sundryladen, Flower & Forage, Mind's Eye Vintage, Westward Succulents, Pablo Cristi, Lucas Ahlstrand, and Lemon Jitters. There will be a beer and wine garden outback and Tasting Flights inside at the bar from local winemaker and rising star, Jennifer Reichardt, of Raft Wines!
And THIS Saturday, August 11th, we are thrilled to welcome back Julie Tesar of Skurnik Wines! Julie will be here pouring a dynamic, eclectic wines from around the globe. Four wines (German Riesling, Australian Sauv Blanc/Semillon, Argentine Malbec, and Napa Cabernet Sauvignon). Flights $15 from 3-6pm! Wines by the glass too, as always.
SUNDAY, August 12th: Wines of PORTUGAL! Come explore and connect, we'll be pouring a stellar selection of wines - Portuguese Flights from 2-6pm, and wines by the glass all day until 8pm.
See you all soon, I hope.
Daniel
The commercial glass washer at my last job was called The Avenger. Not an inside joke, this was the actual model - the manufacturer spelled it out right on the front. I always found that so ridiculous. Watch out, grime, this is personal!
What's in a name? I hope not too much, considering my brothers called me Buttsum for much of my childhood. The off-handed nomenclature of my older siblings was two parts absurdity and one part alchemy - and surprisingly effective in making blood boil. I don't know who said it or when - but it likely followed "What are you looking at?..." And Buttsum fell out, and stuck. Forever. (This is the first time I've actually written that name - I'm not even sure how to spell it). Whatever, they all had their cursed nicknames too. Some were simple lazy twists (Stephen becoming Step-Henwhen they wanted to rile him) and others had their own bizarre etymology. My sister Joanna would never shuffle off her mortal coil, Jopantyhose, and calling David Diception might still send him over the edge.
Anyway, I digress. There are hundreds of obscure grape varieties overlooked and unappreciated due their peculiar sounding names. Happily, more folks these days are willing to give grapes like Grüner Veltliner a try - and have discovered it's bright, crisp, easy-drinking and exceptionally food-and-fun-friendly nature (I believe the ETZ liter of Grüner here at the shop may be our most restocked bottle, which makes me quite happy). We also see many more readily reaching for Counoise or Grignolino these days... but what about the Xinomavro? Nerello Mascalese? Pallagrello?? So many buried treasures here at the shop and in the world of wine - so let's pull some corks and let the genies out of the bottle this SATURDAY, JULY 28th. Tasting Flights of rare and unusual - and utterly delicious grape varieties!
Come taste and explore these delightful obscurities with us. We'll be pouring fresh, mineral whites like Malvazija Istarska, one of the oldest Croatian grape varieties, grown in the Istrian peninsula since the ancient Greeks. Also in the lineup - a natural Garganega (no sulfur and unfined, unfiltered) from 80 year old vines, Maybe a fresh and fleshy Austrian Zweigelt, with tangy red fruit and a dry, peppery finish. And we're certainly down to throw in a light, chillable and uncomplicated blend of Kraljevina, Zlahtnina, Ranfol, Lipna, Zametna Crnina, Franconian, Portugalka too! Come explore and enjoy the afternoon here with us. Get on down to OAKLAND YARD this Saturday - Flights from 2-6pm!
But first...
TONIGHT: Thursday Night Flights! Three Whites from Portugal or Three Reds from California. Your choice from 4-8pm! Flights just $12 and wines by the glass as always.
SATURDAY, JULY 28th: Rare and Obscure Varieties Tasting. Flights $15 from 2-6pm.
SUNDAY FLIGHTS: Cabernet Franc! A stellar selection of this beautiful and beguiling grape - with delicious, dynamic expressions from France (Charles Joguet), California (Phantome Cellars), and Slovenia (Batič)! Flights $15 from 3-6pm
See you soon,
Daniel
I have always distrusted technology, but it was my seventh grade science teacher who cemented my identity as a Luddite. Computers were a new thing in 1985, and Mr. Wasson got a hold of one and gave the class an assignment: Write a program using the logic computer language to draw a simple picture on the screen. I chose an image of a whale, but I couldn’t wrap my brain around the process, or maybe I just wasn’t willing to spend the time telling a machine to draw something I could draw faster and better myself. In any case, Mr. Wasson gave me a ‘D’, my first nearly failing grade, and told me he was disappointed in me, and I’ve been avoiding computers ever since.
It is a quixotic stance in our time, a rejection of the great march of progress, but there are principles in the absurdity. Satisfaction comes in many forms, differing for each of us, no doubt, but I find I‘m most gratified by the tasks that are eternally human: playing, dancing, singing, cooking, washing, sleeping, laughing, eating, and drinking. In an Old Babylonian version of the Epic of Gilgamesh from the early second millennium BC, Siduri, the tavern keeper at the edge of the world, shares with Gilgamesh what may be the oldest written prescription for happiness, and what she feels are the true tasks of humankind:
“Gilgamesh, let your belly be full
Enjoy yourself day and night
Every day make merry, dance and play
Let your clothes be clean
Let your head be washed
Bathe yourself in water
Gaze upon the little child that holds your hand and
Enjoy your partner’s repeated embrace.”
So, I propose, this Thursday, or Saturday, or Sunday, let’s all close our laptops and meet up at OAKLAND YARD, drink ancient beverages, follow some of the oldest advice in the books, and make merry.
TONIGHT: THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS – New Italian Reds & Whites – $12 from 4-8pm
SATURDAY, July 21st: Special guest TOM SWITZER pours classic French and Italian tasting flights – $15 from 2-5pm
SUNDAY, June 22nd: FRENCH GAMAY – Fresh and fruity, from Beaujolais to the Alps, find out why Gamay makes our favorite summer reds - Flights from 2-6pm
See you soon,
Max
As Max mentioned in his last newsletter, this Saturday, July 14th, is the annual 40th St Block Party. The timing is a funny coincidence (Alanis Morissette might even say it's ironic), that the party is held this particular weekend each year. As I've certainly mentioned before, Max and Glenny and I all met years ago working at a wine shop in Brooklyn, on Smith St - and each year, right outside the shop would be the annual Smith St. Fun Day and local Bastille Day celebrations. In addition to the expected vendors and food carts, these events would be marked by a massive petanque tournament in front of Bar Tabac, with throngs of spectators enjoying chilled Ricard and Lillet and gallons of wine and beer. Just up the street the beloved local cheese shop, Stinky, hosted a cheese eating contest - appropriately called Stinkfest, a grand and sometimes grotesque affair that always drew an impressive crowd.
It was fun seeing the neighborhood come together. Regulars at the shop would be out wandering about, inviting us and familiar folks passing by to join them on their stoop for an ice cold beer, some passing around bottles of rosé, and others sneaking up fire escape ladders and onto their rooftops to share a joint and take in the cityscape and the spectacle below.
It's exciting to have another opportunity to enjoy this weekend in a similar way each year. To peer out the window and see all the faces, to step outside and take in the sights and smells and sounds and to say: I live here.
TONIGHT: Thursday Night Flights! Crisp, dry and mineral-driven whites from France's Loire Valley or bright, expressive reds from Piemonte. Your choice, flights just $12 from 4-8pm.
SATURDAY: 40th St Block Party from 11-5! Outdoor Wine & Beer Bar - and Rosé Flights at OAKLAND YARD. It's on and 40th St is going off. Get on down. Share a bottle and some laughter. Be a part of the party. Wine and beer will be flowing all day. Bands and bites! A skate park! Max in shorts! Two stages of music and DJs, food trucks galore. It's all happening here on 40th, from Webster to Opal. OAKLAND YARD Wine Shop will be open regular hours 11- 9pm for bottle sales, Rosé Flights, and wines by the glass. Cool A/C and warm hearts. All joy and love here, always.
SUNDAY: The Wines of Olivier Lemasson! These are the first natural wines I tasted, that very same summer in Brooklyn - and I would often bring his Poivre et Sel to summer BBQs to convert friends. They, too, were immediately hooked. Lemasson produces natural wines from the Loire Valley. His wines are fresh and dynamic - as he states: "wines that are sincere, and true to their terroir and vintage... and whose production is not conditioned by the current fashion of the time or 'law of the market' but by nature". He is still one of my favorite producers. Come taste why. Flights $15, from 2-5pm
This weekend is going to be a blast. Let's do this...
See you soon,
Daniel
First impressions can be misleading. My friend David snuck his first beer as a pre-teen at a party his parents hosted in the mid-seventies in rural Vermont, and the bottle he snuck had been spiked with LSD. The young fellow held it together, but wondered how his father could manage to drink as many as two or three of these in a sitting after work. It was a long time before David had his second beer.
Years ago, when my friend Stephane moved from Marseille to a garden apartment in San Francisco, he awoke that first morning, opened his blinds to an eye-level sea of leather chaps and genitalia, and thought: “I guess I’m not in Kansas anymore!” Stephane was unaware that his arrival coincided with the Folsom Street Fair, and that this was unusual, even for SF.
And our friend Natalia told me just yesterday that when she moved into her apartment off of 40th Street on a Friday last July, she was greeted Saturday morning by blaring electric guitars and whining, crunchy feedback. “Is this my new neighborhood? She wondered.
Yes and no. Natalia had gotten here just in time for the annual 40th Street Block Party, which will happen again, one week from Saturday, on July 14th. If you haven’t been, you’re missing out. They shut down 40th from Webster to Opal and there’s live music all day long, food trucks, and general merriment in the street. It’s usually hot (though always cool inside the shop), and very loud and lots of fun, and you won’t likely see any of us in chaps, but we may wear shorts for a change, and I promise we won’t put anything besides beer in your beer.
But before all of that…here’s THIS week’s tasting lineup:
TONIGHT: THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS – Reds & Whites from AUSTRIA – Gruner Veltliner, Orangetraube, Zweigelt and Blaufrankisch – $12 from 4-8pm
SATURDAY, July 7th: CILIEGIOLO Three Ways – Tre Ciliegioli: Rosato from Liguria and reds from Tuscany and California - all from the Ciliegiolo grape - $15 from 2-6pm
SUNDAY, June 8th: 2017 ROSÉ FLIGHTS – 3 rosés from around the world - $15 from 2-6pm
See you soon,
Max
Most of my stories involve me making an ass of myself. But every so often my existence is validated. I was in my late 20s and road tripping with my friend through the Pacific Northwest. He had a small wedding outside of Victoria to attend and the plan at that juncture was that I'd hang back to explore Vancouver and we'd reconnect. The day before the ceremony I dropped him for a meet-and-greet and ended up hitting it off with the parents of the bride who insisted I stay for the weekend celebration. Cool beans. Flash forward to the big night: it's after the vows and dinner and speeches, and things start slowing down. For whatever reason no one is dancing and most seem content socializing and settling into the calm of the evening. The mother of the bride looks concerned and for some peculiar reason locks in on me. I'm paraphrasing her dilemma here, but something like: "Everyone seems so sleepy - I was going to make coffee - but I don't want folks to stop drinking or they won't dance. What can we do??..."
It was only beer and wine there, but I inquire anyway: "Maybe Irish coffee? Do you have whiskey?". In my head this was as straightforward as It's raining? How about an umbrella? She looked at me like I'd suddenly grown wings. This will sound incredible, I know, but she had never heard of Irish coffee. Maybe some of you are nodding yep, that's my mom. But here's the craziest part: I kid you not, virtually no one there had either. I'm not saying Twilight Zone, but it was odd. Even for Canada. It was like my friend and I were from the future. But a couple bottles do eventually materialize, and in short time both old and young folks alike are lively and giggling in disbelief. "Like this?" "How much do I need? "Yep, he said just pour it straight in!"
It would have been almost creepy if they weren't all so darn nice. Flash forward again. Music is blasting, and guests are twisting to this song and hopping to that, running all about and doing interpretive dances to "Total Eclipse of the Heart" by the end of the night. It was ridiculous. And pretty great. What? A hero you say? No no no. Please. Let's just agree on a very very great man.
SUNDAY at OAKLAND YARD. Chilled Reds Tasting. It's a similar dilemma. Some want to drink red, but it's so damn hot out. If only there was a way. What can we do?? Don't laugh, there are actually still folks out there who have not explored such a simple obvious pleasure. And I'm not talking just about Canadians. As Max once noted, the lower temperature brings out the fresh berry flavors, tightening and brightening the wine into a sharper focus. These are game changers: BBQ, picnic, summer wedding wines. And perfect for the 4th of July parties! We'll be pouring 4 light, fresh, chillable reds from around the world Sunday from 2-5pm! Roll in. Relax. Recharge. Refresh.
SATURDAY from 2-5pm: PET NAT Tasting Flights! Pet Nat, short for pétillant naturel which just means "naturally sparkling". Made with less-intervention, these bubblies are honest and unadorned. Bottled and capped while the juice is still fermenting, the result can be unpredictable - occasionally funky but normally delightful, fresh, fizzy and fun. Never heard of them? They'll have you dancing. Get up and get on down this Saturday, 6/30. Flights $15 from 2-6. Flights 20% off for Wine Club Members - and Canadians.
And first... TONIGHT! Thursday Night Flights at OAKLAND YARD. The evening it's French Whites or Spanish Reds. Your choice. Flights from 4-8pm and wines by the glass as always!
See you soon,
Daniel
Few foods afford the consistently reliable satisfaction I find in a simple tomato toast. I had my first of the season this week and was reminded that it is one of my great joys of summer. In fact, the promise of delicious, fresh tomatoes for more than one month out of the year made it easy to leave New York for California.. Of course, the bright green chives are only a buck fifty here, and stone fruits in season are unreasonably tasty - and let’s not even begin to compare avocados - but it could have been the tomatoes that sealed the westward deal.
Throughout my childhood, I helped my mother manage a sizable tomato plot in her back garden, and I remember her zeal in bisecting the grotesque, horned green tomato worms we’d find on the vines from time to time; they would ooze green slime after she snipped them in half with her gardening clippers. I learned early, there was little mercy for woodchucks, and clearly none for tomato worms. Most summers of my adult life, I’ve managed to plant a few tomato plants, and again this season I’ve got a handful of plants on the roof and am looking forward to the toasts. So far, we are wormless, with clippers at the ready.
It is fortuitous, or perhaps no coincidence at all, that rosé season corresponds with tomato season, because there’s no better accompaniment to a fresh tomato toast, than a glass of subtly fruity, dry rosé. We’ll be pouring plenty of rosé at our Sunday afternoon tastings over the next couple of months, but this Sunday’s lineup is especially exciting, with three dry pinks made from Cabernet Franc grapes by a few of our favorite producers in Chinon and Anjou. Hope to see you there!
But first…TONIGHT: THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS – French Reds & German Whites –Syrah, Gamay, and Merlot, as well as Silvaner, Gutedel, and a Gemischter Schatz, - $12 from 4-8pm
SATURDAY, June 23rd: BEAUNE IMPORTS TASTING with special guest RACHEL GOLDMAN – Rachel will share her prodigious knowledge and pour flights of four classically-styled wines from Italy, Spain, and France - $15 from 2-6pm
SUNDAY, June 24th: LOIRE VALLEY 2017 ROSÉ FLIGHTS – Bernard Baudry, Chateau Soucherie, and Thibaud Boudignon - $15 from 2-6pm
See you soon,
Max
It's starting. At least a couple months of delirious and delightful déjà vu. Folks entering the store with an audible sigh of relief, the A/C washing over like a cold shower, everyone asking for dry rosé, crisp whites, and chillable reds. And yes, we have all of those. Loads. This time of year always brings a warm feeling for me, knowing that summer is arriving - my schoolboy heart still marks the calendar in semesters and quarters and I occasionally even slip up and call this season summer break. Being a teacher for a decade didn't help break this habit.
As a kid, summers meant pool days and weekend parties at the Gleasons, and frequent terrorizing of mom and the neighbors. On Saturdays we'd be torn from our morning cartoons and have weekend chores to get through before the endless party could begin. I remember one summer Dad gave me the nod. I was 10 or 11 and was ready for greater responsibility. So long vacuum! Adios, leaf raking! I have a date with a lawnmower. It was thrilling at that age to be in charge of something that (by a large stretch of my morbid imagination, of course) could indeed kill me. Dad showed me how to work it and I went to work. I had made several passes when I noticed there was a peculiar lever down on the side that when stomped on lowered the mower significantly. What? Did Dad even know about this?? First day on the job and I thought I was smarter than the boss. Poor old guy. He does this every couple weeks? Geez! So I thought I'd show him how the pros do it. I dropped it into the lowest position and proceeded to turn our lawn into a putting green. I was so proud.
Turns out dad knows a thing or two about mowers. And how grass grows. The next day was in the high 90's, as was the rest of the week. I killed the lawn. It was so dried and sun blasted it looked like hay. Short hay. The boss took me off that detail permanently. Oh, hi again, vacuum. I didn't mean what I said...
It's looking like a sunny Father's Day weekend ahead. We're pouring Pinot Noir and Rosé Flights and will have the shop and tasting bar chilled down for a relaxing weekend as always. Dry rosé, crisp whites, chillable reds galore. Tell your friends. Tell your dad. Tell your friends' dads. Happy Day to all of you out there, all you fathers and father figures. Put on some George Michael and enjoy yourselves. And if you need any last minute bottles shipped to yours - give us a call today and we'll make that happen! We can ship bottles overnight to California residents- including our monthly wine club (just $42)!
TONIGHT: Thursday Night Flights! Italian Whites & German Reds. A stellar lineup up of crisp, dry whites and fresh, vibrant reds. Flights $15 from 4-8pm
SATURDAY: Pinot Noir Flights! Pinot from around the globe... 2016 Prisma (Chile), 2016 Anthill Farms Sonoma Coast (CA), 2014 Montebruno Mantazi Vineyard (Oregon). Flights $15 from 2-6pm.
SUNDAY: ROSÉ! Dry and delightful rosés from Germany, California, and France. Yes, all dry. And all crazy delicious. Flights from 2-6pm!
See you all soon,
Daniel
PORTUGAL vs. CALIFORNIA INDEX
Number of 750ml wine bottles consumed annually per Portuguese citizen: 72
Number of 750ml wine bottles consumed annually per American citizen: 15
Year in which Portugal became the 8th state to recognize same-sex marriage: 2010
Year in which California re-instated the right to same-sex marriage: 2013
Year Portugal outlawed capital punishment: 1976
Number of death penalty executions in the US since 1976: 1476
Year Portugal decriminalized all illicit drugs: 2001
Number of inmates in US prisons on drug related charges: 1,566,722
Average cost per year in dollars to incarcerate an inmate in California: 71,000
So, America may still be great in a lot of ways, but we’ve clearly got a few things to learn from Portugal. They obviously know how to enjoy themselves. They’ve got some of the highest ratings for moral freedom in the world and are ranked the most peaceful state in the EU. Who doesn’t want to be the most peaceful?
The Portuguese are also making some of the more exciting wines we’ve tasted recently. Winemakers like Tiago Teles, Luis Seabra, Vitor Claro, Filipa Pato, Sara Dionisio and Antonio Ribeiro are making transcendent, non-interventional, ‘natural’ wines that are expanding our view and enjoyment of Portuguese wine. They come to us in small batches and are difficult to keep in stock, but we’re always scrambling to find more. Come taste the excitement this Sunday, June 10th from 2 to 6pm.
But first…
TONIGHT: THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS – Sicilian Reds & Sauvignon Blanc from around the world - $12 from 4-8pm
SATURDAY, June 9th: MEET THE WINEMAKER: COTE WEST FLIGHTS with BRET HOGAN– taste the new releases and chat with Bret - $15 – from 2-5
SUNDAY, June 10th: The NEW PORTUGUESE STYLE: Casa de Mouraz Dao Branco, Anselmo Mendes Contacto Alvarinho, and Luis Seabra Xisto Ilimitado Vinho Tinto $15 from 2-6pm
I was 8 when The Goonies was released, and like most kids then, I became obsessed with secret underbellies and buried treasures and I longed for adventure. My neighborhood seemed ripe for one, with hills all about and old little homes like crowded teeth rooted along the narrow, winding streets. I'd tag along with my older brothers, riding our bikes past various plots rich with mythology passed down from the eldest and other neighborhood oddballs and weirdos.
One summer day, having found nothing in Ms. Scarvacci's backyard and too afraid to explore the vacant garage of the supposedly haunted house on the next ridge, I begged my older brother, Stephen, to draw a treasure map for me. An hour or so later, to my extreme delight, he handed me the map- a strange and complex (and certainly not-to-scale) illustration of our home and the surrounding properties. A pointed peppering of identifiable landmarks here and there, and (of course)... the most palpitation-inducing detail: a large X in the upper left corner. I snatched it from his hand and sprinted out, with a warm feeling swelling in my chest.
I was too stubborn to ask for hints, and spent hours in the sun digging countless holes in the rock hard, barren plot that I was certain was the spot. Until finally, with weary body and weary spirit I collapsed to reason and returned to the source.
Life lesson in disappointment. Turns out Stephen never buried any treasure, or anything at all. He was actually surprised to see me, caked in in dirt, and was more indifferent than amused.
"You just asked for a treasure map", he said.
This SATURDAY, June 2nd: Enter through OAKLAND YARD. The big X will be in the lot behind the shop, and happily for you, you get more than just the map . The 420 FLEA will be an outdoor artisan market, with vendors, artists, and culinary delights from 11-4pm. There will be a beer and wine garden and abundant treasures from Owl & Wood, Pacific Wonderland, Miwak Junior,Charlotte Stone Shoes, Pablo Cristi, Westwind Succulents, Flower & Forage, Lucas Ahlstrand, Gold & Rust Finds. Bites from NOKNI Oakland, and MK Gold Bakery. Tea from Steep Tea Co. And... Wine Flights inside from local winemakers and shining stars, Trail Marker Wine Co.
And first... TONIGHT: THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS! Italian Whites and Spanish Reds. Your choice of 3 wines from 4-8. Adventure awaits...
SUNDAY, June 3rd: ROSÉ FLIGHTS. Dry and delightful pink flights from around the world - and OAKLAND YARD Wine Club Pick Up Party! Flights $15 from, 2-6pm. Wines by the glass all day until 8pm.
Get on down here and be a part of this. Don't take Troy's bucket.
See you all soon!
Daniel
It's a special time for me. Some of you know about this tradition already.
I'm reminded this morning of my friend who is so ridiculously positive at times it ranges on absurd, but kind of amazing and admirable in a way. He once was parked in a sketchy part of town and had his stereo stolen from his car. A mutual friend offered condolences: "So sorry to hear, man, that stinks. Did they smash your windows or something?"
My friend replied: "No that's the good news, I was really lucky... I had all my windows down"
As I write this, I'm in the Sierras again but a multi-day thunderstorm is heading our way, an uninvited guest to this celebration. The fishing part of this fishing trip might be rained out. I'm struggling not to let it upset me nor allow disappointment to seep in after a full year of anticipation. Perspective is something I'm working on. I still have much to learn from my father and my brothers. They remain upbeat and unfazed. Their revelry is unyielding. It's beautiful and, happily, proving infectious. Because ultimately, there is still plenty of good wine and laughter to go round. And yes, an ample amount of whiskey too.
At the shop we're often asked by new visitors something along the lines of "What's the theme here?.." or "So, what kind of wines do you specialize in?" And while we frequently will talk about small producers who make wines with great care and integrity, or about wines that are fresh and expressive, or perhaps food-friendly, etc... I often think of our collection as wines meant to pair with anything. Wines that go with dinner parties, with weddings and graduations, with old friends in town or new promotions. Wines that go with playoffs or play dates, with coastal escapes and long afternoons in the park or on the patio - or on the pontoon. Wines that pair with awesome. Even if the occasional storm tries to disrupt that awesome...
Roll in to OAKLAND YARD and check out some of these wines. We'll be pouring flights tonight and this weekend - and wines by the glass as always. Come celebrate a revelry that is unyielding. Beautiful. Infectious.
Tonight... THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS!
Come hang with Max and Jessie and enjoy a flight of your choosing. Flights $12 from 4 to 8.
Argentine Reds
2017 Serbal Pinot Noir
2013 Hinojosa 'H' Malbec
2016 Don Carlos Calathus Malbec
Loire Valley Muscadet
2016 Domaine de la Pepiere La Pepie Muscadet
2016 Metaireau Black Label Muscadet
2015 Claude Branger Gras Moutons Muscadet
SATURDAY FLIGHTS: Local Legend, Cory Gowan, of Mission Wine Merchants at OAKLAND YARD! Flights from 2-5... and wines by the glass until 9pm!
Flights $15 form 2 to 5.
NV German Gilabert Cava
2016 Domaine Seailles Gascogne Blanc Sauvignon
2015 Omero WIllamette Valley Pinot Noir
2016 Unturned Stone Productions The Stowaway Red
SUNDAY FLIGHTS 5/27: Spanish Mencia
2016 Bodegas Godelia Pilgrim Bierzo
2016 Raul Perez Ultreia St. Jacques Bierzo
2014 Fento Xabre Ribeira Sacra
See you soon (with some delicious trout, hopefully),
Daniel
‘We, mothers…’ begins the ancient Tibetan prayer recited by believers, regardless of gender or age. A footnote in this Tantric tome explains: through the innumerable cycles of reincarnation, we have all been mothers. A further footnote purports that not only have we all been mothers, but that every sentient being has also been our parents. This is a lot to wrap your head around, but it’s a good place to start when it comes to caring for others. Mother is just an other with an M.
After reading the Buddhist prayer as a student, and discussing the concept with my roommate, Seth, he began referring to everyone we knew as ‘mother’ or just ‘mom’ and I followed suit. It confused people to no end, but it drew us all a bit closer, laughably familiar. My good friend Gita, the architect who designed our shop, still calls me mom.
The power and significance of the word was not lost on Frank Zappa, who named his band the Mothers of Invention. And inventive mothers they were - in their memorable rendition of Stairway to Heaven at the Rochester War Memorial in 1988, the horn section played the ripping guitar solo. There was also enough pot smoke in the crowd to make one believe that everyone there was in fact one’s mother.
A few months ago, one of our generous customers gifted me a mother - a useful mother, but not a sentient mother - a mother of vinegar. No more dumping old bottles of red, or paying for the commercial stuff; I’m now on my third batch and happy to share the magical, gelatinous goo with you, if you want a mother too.
This Sunday is not just the ‘Hallmark Holiday’ when we acknowledge those who birthed us. It is a celebration of life, love and family, and we will raise a glass of Burgundy to all of us, to all of you, and to all of those crazy, sweaty, long-haired Mothers of Invention.
TONIGHT: THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS – Spanish Reds & California Whites - $12 from 4-8pm
SATURDAY, May 12th: ROSÉ FLIGHTS around the world – delicious, dry, pink wine from France, Austria and Spain - $15 – from 2-6... to wash down some crispy shrimp Bao Buns or other satisfying delights from the Wezy Cuisine Food Truck serving here from 4-8pm!
SUNDAY, May 13th: The MOTHER of ALL BURGUNDY TASTINGS: Bourgogne Aligoté, Marsannay Rosé, Passetoutgrain, and Bourgogne Rouge! $15 from 2-6pm
Cheers,
Max
Let's get something straight. I'm a California kid, through and through. The rest of the gang here hail from various parts of New York state, and Max and Glenny and I met working together at the same shop in Brooklyn. But I was the one asked at that shop, several times each month Where are you from? And more than once followed by you're much too nice to be from here (full disclosure, I'm frequently asked if I'm Canadian).
Anyway, no one was likely to ask me any such thing this time of year. It's May, and for approximately two weeks this month in New York, Californians don't stand out. For a sweet spring spell, everyone is nice. There's a sudden pop and all are out and about, smiling, in their best moods and in their best sundresses and white sneakers, pants rolled above ankles, folks off to parks and skipping to cafes and bars, afternoon drinking, cappuccinos to stay. It's like an endless transition scene in a musical, someone about to break into song. It's pretty great.
This magical time of year is also marked by the arrival of new rosés, boatloads from France and beyond, reaching our shores and trucked to shops like ours. These towers of pink, brilliant beacons of sunshine, of joy,... of months of adventure ahead... picnics in the park and day trips to the coast, weekend getaways, unplanned parties, backyard BBQs and impromptu dance-offs, endless evenings of endless warmth.
A.A. Milne writes best about the anticipation of such promise: “Well,” said Pooh, “what I like best,” and then he had to stop and think. Because although eating honey WAS a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn’t know what it was called...
It's May and the pre-party is on. And Rosé is the pre-party wine. Or rather, it's the pre-party is the party wine. And this week a boatload arrives to OAKLAND YARD. So SUNDAY, May 6th, we'll be pouring some new pink delights, from 2-6pm. It will be a hummy sort of day outside and the birds will be singing. Come on down!
And this SATURDAY, May 5th, we are thrilled to welcome Julie Tesar of Skurnik Wines! Julie will be here pouring a dynamic, eclectic selection of wines from around the globe. Four wines (Albarino, Montepulciano, Cotes du Rhone, and Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir), Flights $15 from 2-6pm!
But first... TONIGHT: Thursday Night Flights! Spanish Whites and French Reds. Flights just $12 as always, every Thursday at OAKLAND YARD. Come relax, enjoy and explore with us from 4-8pm.
See you soon,
Daniel
I'm a pretty happy adult. My folks did a commendable job denying me certain indulgences as a child. Junk food was scarce and gum was pretty much off limits. I was at Lucky's supermarket one time with my mom and a couple of my brothers. When dispatched to secure some Bisquick, we detoured and bolted for the dispensers up front, with barely a moment to choose a crazy ball or some candy before mom could catch us. My older brother was sly and seasoned and back at her side in 30 seconds flat.
I only had enough for the economy gumballs, the pre-war red white and blue marbles that brought no child joy, ever. They went from rock hard to a sudden flavorless sludge. They were mostly just something to avoid swallowing. I turned the knob when I saw mom approaching the checkout and we were out the door before I could discreetly load them into my pocket. Our Dodge Ram van exited the lot and my palms were already filthy with sticky patriotic stains. I couldn't hide these any longer. I decided my only play was to put them in my mouth. All of them.
This was not a sound decision. The explosive release of sugar and saliva was rough for my little mouth. Gum was supposed to be fun. After a few painful silent gulps I abandoned the plan. But seven year olds generally don't have exit strategies. I couldn't spit this out easily, the windows of our van had latches that only allowed the glass to push out from the bottom a couple inches. So I pretended to slink into a nap, with my face flush to the side at the corner of the frame, with my mouth just hanging open, meeting the air and letting gravity win... my tongue lazily shoveling the mess into the wind.
Daniel Matthew. My full name was used in serious situations. This turned out to be one of them. Daniel Matthew meant this would not be my day. When we got home my folks discovered the sensational streams of my colorful coagulated gum and salivary goo caked and glued, radiating across the side of the van, like ribbons of demon bile.
It was a hideous spectacle. But kind of beautiful.
TONIGHT... Thursday Night Flights! German Whites and California Reds in the lineup this evening. Your choice for $12. Flights from 4-8pm.
SATURDAY: Wines of Spain (and Paella!) Tasting Flights of Xarel-lo, Albarino, Txakolina Rosé, and Garnacha... and our friend and neighbor, Rob, has offered to make his famous Paella! Flights from 2-6 (and free paella samples while it lasts)!
SUNDAY: Rosé Flights! New arrivals from around the world. The sun will be out and we'll have some spring in our step. Get on down to OAKLAND YARD and taste some new pink delights from 2-6pm!
See you soon,
Daniel