I was an odd kid (if you've just started following the shop, you can read this post from our first year for confirmation). And so I'm not entirely surprised my first child is peculiar in her way too. She's five and a half now, but just this week she started a curious role play routine which involves her reenacting milestones from her infancy. Pretend I'm a still a baby who can't walk yet, she'll propose, and thenslump down on her knees to the size of a backpack. She'll slowly rise up on wobbly legs, fake-toddling toward me, her facial expressions shifting from bewilderment to determination.

The charade has occasional variations. She'll sometimes say: Owl.. as she takes her "first steps" toward me with trusting arms reaching and balancing. She knows from a few years of storytelling that OWL was her first word, a reference to her white noise machine in her room. The really absurd thing in all of this is that the first time she did it I accepted my role in the act completely. I took my place immediately, ridiculously holding my breath, our eyes locked and lit up, anticipating her crashing finale and somehow truly and actually overwhelmed by what was happening. My arms outstretched to receive her. Proud of her. Proud of us.

I'm thinking of our not so little shop this morning and how far we've come from our first steps. And I'm thinking of all who will take their first steps in this weekend - or in the next few months. I wonder how many of you reading this have known us for years or since the beginning and can recall the earliest routines from our infancy, I wonder how many of you can remember our first interactions, our first words. 

Come join us tonight and this weekend for one of our favorite routines. We've got Thursday night Flights tonight from 5-9 and guest winemakers this weekend...

SATURDAY 6/17: French Flights with special guest Paul Duroussay, pouring wines made by his friends and family in France - and other selections from his excellent Pierreclos Imports portfolio.
2021 Domaine Dujardin Bouzeron Aligoté
2021 Cave Cluzel Roussanne
2020 Leo & Paul Arbois Ploussard 
2021 Domaine des Margots Bourgogne Rouge Pinot Noir
Flights from 2-6 and wines by the glass until 9pm.

SUNDAY 6/18: TERAH WINE CO. Special Tasting w/ Winemaker Terah Bajjalieh, pouring a flight of her wines from 2-5pm! A sommelier and winemaker, Terah studied enology and viticulture in both Spain and France. She completed 13 harvests in five countries, including France, Australia, Argentina, Willamette Valley, Sierra Foothills, Sonoma and Napa. Come taste some delicious and dynamic wines from her current lineup - sustainable and organic offerings made with great care and minimal intervention … bright and balanced and, above all, very delicious. Flights of TERAH Wines: Vermentino, Rose, Sangiovese and Barbera from 2-5 and wines by the glass all day until close!


With arms outstretched,

Daniel

Humans are about sixty percent water, and wine is around eighty-five percent water. When you drink water, or wine, you make more of yourself. Skin holds our liquid selves in place, while wine is usually contained in glass bottles. On its way to becoming wine, grape juice may be held in a surprising variety of vessels, and this, to me, is just one of the endlessly intriguing aspects of the winemaking process.

While tasting Burgundy at our staff meeting this week - and yes, one should always taste Burgundy at staff meetings - we discussed the effects of oak aging on the flavors and aromas of wine. This topic is never as simple as it seems. Wood is porous, and the oxygen it allows into the wine, and the gasses it lets out, can change the wine without leaving noticeable woodlike flavors. The effects of a wooden vessel vary depending on its size, age, shape, and how the staves are toasted or treated. American Oak and French Oak, though the same species, grow differently, breathe differently, and impart different flavors, and it’s not uncommon for producers to be insistent on wood sourced from a particular forest to best contain and develop their wines. A related and fascinating aside: a key element of the unparalleled excellence of Stradivarius violins is the consistency and density of the spruce and maple trees which grew during the Little Ice Age, a period of widespread cooling between 1300 and 1850.

Winemakers have also traditionally utilized Acacia, Cherry, Pine, Chestnut, and occasionally in California, Redwood, to ferment and hold their wine, though many prefer no wood at all, opting instead for steel or cement tanks, often lined with enamel or glass. Many use ceramic vessels - some large enough to hide a person - and still others use plastic or fiberglass. Daniel and I once tasted wine fermented in a cow stomach, an uncommon practice I cannot recommend. This is all to say, there are many ways to hold one’s wine, and the effects of this variety are fascinating to compare. As always, here at Oakland Yard, we’ll be sharing our knowledge of the wines we pour, along with our conjectures and theories about what makes it taste the way it does. Come join us for a glass or tasting flight this week. The best container is yourself.

TONIGHT - THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS: ALL ITALIAN reds and whites
2020 Villata Vite Colte Arneis
2021 Agnanum Sabbia Vulcanica Falanghina
2019 Taschlerhof Kerner
2020 Grifalco Gricos Aglianico
2021 Ampeleia Un Litro
2020 Ayunta Nerello Mascalese
Tasting flights $15 from 5-9pm and wines by the glass until 9pm

SATURDAY JUNE 10th: AUSTRIAN TASTING FLIGHTS
2021 Hirsch Zöbing Riesling
2020 Nikolaihof Hefeabzug Grüner Veltliner
2018 Prieler Ried Johanneshöhe Blaufränkisch
2021 Kolfok All Universe Together
Flights $20 from 2-6 and wines by the glass from around the globe until 9pm

Cheers,
Max

I’ve been in the Bay Area for over 11 years now. And though I spent most of my life near the 2 and 5 freeway interchange in Los Angeles, I found myself missing the old Brooklyn neighborhood where I lived before moving back to CA. At the little shop where Max hired me and where he would later hire Glenny, who is now my wife. And it’s no surprise to me that last night I was reminiscing, because Wednesday nights there were always a particular delight, a weekly routine of food and drink and free music.

The evening sequence started at the wine shop where we worked on Smith Street and then walking a bottle over to Lucali on Henry. Lucali Pizza was always busy, but this was before Jay-Z and Beyoncé made it their (eventually not so) secret weeknight date spot - and before things got next level crazy and the neighborhood pizzaiolo would achieve celebrity status. Back then, when it was just 'regular busy', the crew there would always take care of the neighborhood folks. They would tease my California accent and my recognizable voice - when I'd call from the shop or from the apartment on Sackett to inquire about the wait, Alex there would say Is this Daaaniel? ... I got you, hon, get on down here.

From there, with happy hearts and full bellies we’d walk over the BQE at Summit bridge and descend into Red Hook for the weekly variety show that was Roots & Ruckus at Jalopy Theater. Old-time music all night... gritty folk and bluegrass, clanky swing trios, gypsy jazz and the like. Feral Foster, Wiilly Gantrim, and Jesse Carolina and the Hot Mess. Sometimes traveling acts coming through like the Petrovic Blasting Company or seasoned stalwarts, like Stephane Wrembel thrilling us on guitar, the ghost of Django Reinhardt among us. And one singular moment remains: Jessie Carolina belting the blues and transitioning to a sweet and slow standard, "Moonglow". Bartenders and a few musicians, a couple lovers and friends, and some new guests in the audience with cocktailed courage, stepping out of the reclaimed church pews and slow dancing in the aisle. And me sitting there, next to my then-friend, Glenny, stealing a glance at her, wondering if we might be something more someday.

THIS SUNDAY JUNE 4th, URELIO'S Pizza will be here from 1-5 pm (or until sold out!). Former Chez Panisse cook, Sam Cicarreli, brings his roving pizza oven to our lot for an afternoon of pizza and wine. Oyster bar and outdoor beer and wine bar too! Scoops and sweet treats from De La Creamery and LIVE JAZZ from Samuél Gonzalez Trio! I can't promise Jay or Bae will be there, or that you'll find true love. But anything is possible. And I can promise everything else from my favorite routine. Next-level wood-fired pizza. Excellent wine and FREE MUSIC. Pizzas sold individually from Urelio's truck and Shuckbuudy Oyster Bar - and wine and beer by the glass from us at our outdoor bar. Event will be in the back lot. Enter through OAKLAND YARD. All are welcome! See you there!!!

FLIGHTS TONIGHT: Southern French whites and reds...
2021 Domaine de la Patience Vin Rouge
2021 Domaine de Sulauze "Cochon"
2021 Domaine Rimbert Cousin Oscar 
2021 Vincent & Alexandre Cluzel Roussanne
2021 Domaine La Cabotte Cotes Du Rhone Blanc
2021 Canorgue Viognier 
Flights $15 from 5-9 and wines by the glass until close

SATURDAY FLIGHTS: California Rosé
Pink delights from  Broc Cellars, B. Kosuge, Horse & Plow, and Phantome Cellars
Flights $15 from 2-6 and wines by the glass until close


We got you, get on down here....

Daniel

At Oakland Yard, we collect wine from all over the world to provide pleasurable refreshment and ideal food pairings for our loyal east bay community. The story always begins with the vines - often planted and maintained by bygone generations - and requires sunlight, water, and a microscopic, unicellular fungus called yeast to finish the task. Once bottled, labeled, and packed, the wine is shipped to temperature controlled warehouses in places like Benicia, or American Canyon, where it rests quietly waiting to be called into service. The drivers who complete the transfer awake before dawn and brave the streets to disperse the goods, and they are as indispensable to our project as the winemakers, importers, and salespeople. Indeed, we see some of them several times a week and have developed valued relationships from these daily interactions. We used to assume the deliverymen didn’t pay much attention to our selections, but a few years back, Danny, one of our favorite drivers, since retired, came into the shop scratching his head. He had an Oakland Yard invoice for a case of Stella Rosa blackberry wine, and he said “Hey Max and Daniel, you didn’t order any Stella Rosa, did you? That doesn’t seem like you.” We chuckled and said, “You’re right Danny, thanks - that must be a mistake.”

If it’s the confected flavors of Stella Rosa you seek, you may find them at Walmart or BevMo, but we’re not opposed to combining fruit and wine for next-level refreshment, as long as the fruit is carefully sourced and organically farmed, and the wine is made simply and honestly, without chemicals and undue manipulation. These are key criteria for winemaker Samatha Sheehan’s line of Mommenpop aperitifs. Drunk as a spritzer with sparkling water, or used to spice up a Martini or gin & tonic, Mommenpop is a bittersweet, low-alcohol treat that screams summertime, and we’re flush with three flavors for the upcoming season. If you haven’t tried them - or if you have, and thirst for more - come by Oakland Yard this evening, where the charming and talented Jared Murray will mix Mommenpop tasting flights of Blood Orange, Seville Orange, and Ruby Grapefruit spritzes from 5 until 9pm.

TONIGHT: Thursday Night Flights - MOMMENPOP APERITIF citrus spritz tasting with special guest Jared Murray. $15 flights of 3 flavors from 5 to 9pm, and wines by the glass until 9.

And this SATURDAY 5/27: CALIFORNIA TASTING FLIGHTS featuring:
2022 Haarmeyer SRV Chenin Blanc
2021 Fres.Co Sonoma Fumé Blanc
2022 Jolie-Laide Glou d’Etat Red Wine
2022 Camp North Coast Zinfandel
$18 flights from 2-6 and wines by the glass all day until 9pm

Cheers,
Max

I’m writing you from the Eastern Sierras. I’m on my annual trip with my father and my brothers. Some of you know about that trip already. 

We’ll be up before the sun and will fish through the weekend and tell tales and laugh and feast and catch up on life. At the end of it all there may be some cheeky awarding of a cup for the best fisherman. There is still some debate about what makes one most worthy of that honor (whether catching the most fish or the biggest fish etc). In the end there is never any actual contesting or anything of the sort.

This morning I had a different memory return to me. I was at a school carnival with a couple classmates, Jeff Gleason and Tony Ligon. We were in fifth grade. There was the game where you have to knock all the milk cans off the platform in three tries. Jeff threw first and his pitch sailed just a hair over the top of the pyramid of stacked bottles. Tony threw next, accurately and with all this might, and cleared everything off but one bottle. I had the last pitch: a singular task, but a small target. And though I can rarely get a crumpled paper ball into a large wastebasket these days, I was able to send a perfect strike on that day and dispatch the last milk bottle. Tony and I spent the next hour disagreeing on whose feat was more challenging, and who was more deserving of the ridiculous stuffed prize. When we couldn’t convince the other of our merit, Antonio suggested we give it to Jeff, and we did. Jeff ended up giving it to a little kid who had lost a game nearby. 

I try to do and to be my best generally, though I miss the target often. Close friends will also tell you that I can also be more competitive than I like to admit. And while the etymology of my name suggests I may not naturally look to peers for judgment, I will also concede, happily, to honorable and more sage souls from time to time. 


OAKLAND YARD made it to the final round for voting in Oakland Magazine's "Best of Oakland". Thank you for the nomination and for all who voted to get us through to the final round! We humbly ask you to consider voting for OAKLAND YARD for BEST WINE SHOP! HERE is the link to VOTE!  Click on FOOD & DRINK from Main Menu and then Best Wine Shop from menu list on left side when redirected. And THANK YOU again for the nomination!

We've got a fun weekend and flights ahead.... Roll in and join the good times. Surround yourself with friendly folks and drink and be merry. Know that I'll be raising a glass from afar. All are in good hands with our warm and welcoming crew pouring Thursday Night Flights TONIGHT... GREEK REDS and AUSTRIAN WHITES! Tacos Oscar is OPEN next door - tacos welcome here with flights or glasses anytime!:). Flights $15 from 5-9 and wines by the glass until close. 

And.. SATURDAY FLIGHTS: Wines Of OREGON
2022 Breane Day 'Vin de Days' Blanc
2022 Ovum 'Big Salt' White
2017 Twill 'Stormy Morning Vineyard' Syrah 
2021 Maison Noir 'In Sheep's Clothing' Cabernet Sauvignon
Flights from 2-6 and wines by the glass all day until 9pm


Cheers,

Daniel
 

Aside from public school, and later, shooting pool, my most consistent activity as a youngster was the cello lesson. School and pool I managed on my own, but these music lessons required the presence of a parent, or ‘home teacher’ as they were sometimes called by practitioners of the Suzuki method, a system of musical education designed to build character and empathy over technical ability. Suzuki students often begin playing at age 5 or 6, listening and echoing musical phrases as one would a new language, so a ‘home teacher’ is necessary to guide practice sessions between lessons, to help maintain whatever focus is manageable at that age, and to operate the record player.

Though she was not at all fond of the goateed, small-minded, conservative patriot who ran our Suzuki school in East Rochester, my mother was a devoted and excellent home teacher, attending lessons every week and driving us to Saturday group rehearsals for nearly a decade, because I enjoyed playing, and because she believed in the power of music to enrich our lives. It was a little like going to church, but less onerous; dressing presentably and trying to be somewhere on time, enmeshing our lives with families from other backgrounds, kids from other schools, with social structure and a common goal. I made good friends there, and my mother and I enjoyed our shared community, despite its questionable leadership.

We children grew up and scattered, and I’ve seen few of these old friends in recent years, but my mom has maintained friendships with a number of the ‘Suzuki mothers’ and though child development is no longer the uniting force, their relationships have deepened over the decades and provide a model for me of the continuing friendship and nurturing community that make life bearable, if not delightful. Thank you, Mom, and thanks to all of the mothers, and fathers, and adults of all stripes, who take the time to engage with children, and to do the work necessary to build a supportive community - Oakland Yard salutes you!!!

TONIGHT - THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS:
LOIRE SAUVIGNON BLANCS and MENDOZA MALBECS
2021 Delobel Angle Droit Touraine Sauvignon Blanc
2021 Les Deux Moulins Sauvignon Blanc
2021 Domaine Adèle Rouzé Quincy
2018 Familia Furlotti Malbec
2021 Reunion Malbec
2018 Hinojosa Malbec
Red or White Flights $15 from 5-9pm and wines by the glass until 9pm

***SPARKLING SATURDAY 5/13***
LINDSAY ANSLEY & ADELINE JEWELRY POP-UP with BUBBLY FLIGHTS
The Diver Days of Youth Sparkling Wine
Domaine Ligier Crémant du Jura
Filipa Pato 3B Sparkling Rosé
$15 Sparkling wine flights & local, handmade jewelry for sale from 2-6pm ... And wines by the glass from around the globe until 9pm!

Cheers,
Max

I was out for dinner with a small group a while back. After being seated the server asked if we wanted a round of drinks to start. Most happily ordered a selection from the well-curated drink list while others went with some classic. One member of the group I didn't know so well asked the server if they could make some drink no one had ever heard of. Then he waived off that whim and suggested another challenge: Surprise me..., he proposed. More than one in our group rolled their eyes.

Our drinks arrived. An Abeja, a Spagliato, a martini, a manhattan. The mystery drink was placed on the table last: a creamy, cloudy concoction in an ornate glass topped with a suspiciously abundant amount of fruit garnish and a tiny paper umbrella. The guy studied the drink for several seconds. "Is this a piña colada?", he asked. "Yes. Surprise!", the server whispered, with a small, sly smile and she moved on to a nearby table.

Minutes later he would confess to us: "Well, I guess I was surprised, actually. And, it's pretty damn good...".

It's been a week of little surprises around here. Strange rainy skies in May. Playoff upsets. Little ones with sleep regressions. And some pleasant surprises too. Welcome news from a friend. A new niece on the way. A nice visit from my in-laws. And surprises small and grand continue at the shop in the weeks ahead! We have ADELINE Jewelry Pop Up SATURDAY MAY 13th! Oakland native, Lindsay Ansley, will be here with some new pieces for sale from her stunning collection - and we'll have Sparkling flights and wines by the glass. SUNDAY JUNE 4th, URELIO'S Pizza will be here from 12-4pm or until sold out. Former Chez Panisse cook, Sam Cicarreli, brings his roving pizza oven to our lot for an afternoon of pizza and wine. More details and surprises to come!

But first... 
SATURDAY 5/6: LIFT COLLECTIVE Fundraiser from 2-6pm! Lift Collective a community-centered, multi-channel platform advocating equity and inclusion in the wine industry. BIPOC produced wines and Tasting Flights featuring selections from Bodkin, McBride Sisters, Camins2Dreams, and Domaine du Pourra. Flights $20 from 2-6, with proceeds going to the Lift Collective. 
 
Cheers,

Daniel

P.S. We made it to the final round for voting in Oakland Magazine's "Best of Oakland". VOTE for OAKLAND YARD for BEST WINE SHOP! HERE is the link to VOTE!  Click on FOOD & DRINK from Main Menu and then Best Wine Shop from menu list on left side when redirected. And THANK YOU for the nomination!!!

Oakland spring is in full swing, and little buds now dot the many vines to the north, the east, and south of us. Winemakers are bottling and releasing the whites and rosés picked last year, and our shelves are full of new arrivals. New in a sense, but a newness we know, a familiar part of our earthly cycle, with labels, regions, and grape varieties we’ve seen and tasted before.

These bottlings are fresh editions of previous pleasures, like versions of original songs covered by beloved musicians, or carefully executed batches of mac and cheese, each preparation slightly different but providing a particular satisfaction we remember and look forward to. As the many translations of the Tao Te Ching together bring its meaning to life, Syrah from Paso will taste different from Syrah grown in the Rhone, and will vary as well from one winemaker and vintage to the next, but they’ll share key qualities of the variety, and reveal its facets from alternate angles.

These constant variations are what keep us fascinated by wine, and food, and nature, and art. The wonder of a new enjoyment bound by a familiar form; the reimagining of a Jazz standard; a perfectly poached egg with the first tender asparagus; the blooming rose that never gets old; and the freshly painted face of Oakland Yard. May the cycle continue, with renditions derived from previous iterations, issuing ever-current editions and inspired interpretations to delight us anew this spring!

TONIGHT - THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS: ALL FRENCH reds and whites
2020 Domaine de la Fessardière Muscadet
2021 Jean-Jacques Auchère Sancerre
2021 Domaine Goisot Bourgogne Aligoté
2021 Domaine de la Patience Rouge
2020 La Grange de Piaugier Côtes-du-Rhône
2020 Domaine de Majas Côtes Catalanes Rouge
Red or White Flights $15 from 5-9pm and wines by the glass until 9pm

SATURDAY 4/29: NEWLY ARRIVED CALIFORNIA FLIGHTS
2022 Populis Sauvignon Blanc
2022 Broc Cellars Love Rosé
2022 Las Jaras Glou Glou
NV Pierce Ranch Cosecheiro Touriga
Flights $18 from 2-6 and wines by the glass from around the globe until 9pm

Cheers,
Max

The other day someone called the shop to arrange for a birthday gift delivery. They were calling from the east coast, but after I inquired about their 323 area code we discovered we were not only from the same part of town but that they once lived on Yosemite Way, a literal stone's throw from my folks' home. I had a similar moment of disbelief after chatting with Sam at States coffee across the street a while back, discovering that our fathers grew up just a few blocks from each other in East L.A. Small world, some would say.
 
If you say that phrase (Small world...) around my mother, there’s a 90% probability that her rejoinder will be: ...but I wouldn’t want to paint it. A phrase and perspective she inherited from her father, and perhaps he from his. Last weekend the large wall in front of our shop was tagged. I was deflated by the disregard and inconvenience of it all, and the mediocrity of the signature somehow made it worse. But I spent a few hours on a quiet Monday repainting the mural, and managed to find some peace in all of it. I have a mind that races nowhere fast and painting has a very calming, almost meditative effect on my brain. A couple hours passed in an instant. Someone honked. A shop regular driving past, offering thumbs up. And a handful of nice neighbors throughout the day offered sympathy and encouragement. Too bad... or Looking good!, they all would say. 

I got enough cheer from that to consider all the crazy connections, and such things that can make our world feel slightly smaller. And I thought about everyone who has been a part of the shop for the past several years, and the many who have left their own unique signatures, their personal and more meaningful tags. Someone who first suggested we offer wines by the glass. Some who requested more vermouth offerings, or more wines from Greece. Or another: more wines from women or BIPOC producers. There was a generous baker years ago who would surprise everyone with a cake on any given Sunday. Regulars past and present who might bring a fresh baguette to share with strangers. Staff putting on a new favorite album. All those and all of you who bring warmth and energy to this space. These graceful signatures that you leave. These indelible marks that say you were here. That you are here.


TONIGHT: Thursday Night Flights... Unusual Varieties Tasting! You know Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot and Cabernet. But what about Liatiko? Gros Manseng? Plavac Mali? Come try some new and dynamic varieties, each with their own unique signature. White & Red Flights $15 from 5-9 and wines by the glass until close!

SATURDAY 4/22: How do you like them Apples? ... Cider and Co-ferments Tasting FLIGHTS. Apple & grape co-ferments from Ashanta Wines and Etteilla Wines (2021 Ashanta Virga Morada, 2021 Etteilla Le Chaos) and a dry Basque cider from Arratzain. ALSO.... PROVECHO Returns! This Saturday, April 22nd from 2-6pm: Locally sourced, seasonal and intentional dishes from chef Eder Ramirez. Oaxaqueño flavor paired with curated flights and wines by the glass from OAKLAND YARD. Bites and FLIGHTS from 2-6 and wines by the glass until 9pm.

SUNDAY 4/23: Daruma Kiosk POP UP at OAKLAND YARD! Cal-Japanese inspired Takoyaki & Izakaya food from @darumakisok! Food Pop Up from 1-6pm. Wines by the glass all day until close and special Sequoia SAKE off-menu Sunday only!


See you,

Daniel

There are so many of them that it’s sometimes hard for me to believe. I suppose it’s not surprising that I have an unusual number of them if they all have the same basic identity, life force, and purpose; the same style in which they shine. They are independent and action oriented, and because of their fire, they are spontaneous, enthusiastic, inspired, self-expressive, and intuitive. Born under the sun sign of the vernal equinox here in the Northern Hemisphere, they carry the intensity, warmth, and light of the changing spring. You guessed it: they are my Aries friends. But who knew there would be such multitudes?

There is Daniel, whom many of you know as the other face of Oakland Yard; kind-hearted and mischievous, quick witted and circumspect, sometimes to a fault. I would trust him with my life, but only when I’m sure he’s paying attention. And my good friend Matt, egoless, reliable and generous; with love and enthusiasm, he has been there for me over many years with bear hugs and listening ears. And there is Tea, the tender Texan; equal parts intellect and emotion, they always make me feel heard and seen, and they smoke some mean pork ribs. Chad is a joker with a heart of gold; he is sharp and resilient, and he fancifully skims the seeming surface while delving deeply to reveal life’s secrets. Lore is a lovable misanthrope, a wise man whose inner child is never far off; more comfortable among the animals and vines, but understanding of the value of true friendship. And dear Suzanne, the quiet observer, who sees from angles others never dreamt, deftly eliciting hidden humor and nuance with her singular combination of elegance and edge.

Lastly, and most significantly, there is Julia, my partner in life for whom I am most grateful. I could write volumes of her charms and quirks, the qualities that have made our life together truly easy living; the ram who’s lit the fire that has both driven and warmed me for the last twenty years. Perhaps they have little in common aside from the fact that their parents must have gotten cozy one day in early July, but they delight and sustain me like the springtime into which they were born. Here’s to our allies in Aries! And to all of our friends who give us the meaning and worth we need to grab life by the horns!

Come lift a glass with us at Oakland Yard this week to those who inspire you most.
TONIGHT - THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS: French Reds and Whites from the Languedoc, Bordeaux, Beaujolais, Burgundy, and the Rhone and Loire river valleys. Flights $15 from 5 to 9pm and wines by the glass from around the globe.

And this SATURDAY April 15th from 2 to 6pm: EASTERN EUROPEAN FLIGHTS with wines from the Republic of Georgia, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Bosnia. Tasting flights $20 from 2 to 6pm and wines by the glass until 9pm.

In celebration,

Max

My younger daughter turns 3 next week. Simone was born the week after 40 million fellow Californians were ordered to shelter in place, March 2020. News had reached us that hospitals in New York were not allowing partners in for labor and delivery and we were dreading that our local hospitals would follow suit and that my wife would be sent in alone. 

As a 'pandemic baby', Simone's birthday will always bring up powerful memories and emotions. The isolation, the fear and uncertainty, the odd quiet of the streets. I can readily access the memory of that March, her older sister seeing us suddenly wearing strange masks, washing hands obsessively, wiping down packages from the mail. Seeing us often teary-eyed. Maybe hugging more frequently, and longer. I can still see the confusion in her eyes passing another abandoned playground. How I'd eventually alter my routes around town to avoid the sighting of taped-off swings and slides, to ease her disappointment and pleading. I can remember, three years ago nearly to the day, weeping silently over a video I'd come back to many times, the tiny iPhone screen and a dark grainy video of a street in Sienna where neighbors sang from their windows in unison, their voices joining in the dark, in harmony. 

Though these memories will always resonate with her particular birthday, each year also evinces a profound gratitude for life, for health, for growth and resilience. A marker of how far we've come from those early days. The shop being so frequently full of life again, and being able to welcome crowds - folks laughing and drinking and connecting in familiar ways again - brings us immeasurable delight. We've been thrilled to have the bar open all year and to have new events and tastings and pop ups happening weekly here. Though we were looking forward to a grand gathering next weekend, we are sad to announce that the Calçotada is cancelled. The intense rain and stormy weather all month has presented challenges to coordinating and has impacted the growing and harvesting conditions at the farm we have been working with for the leeks. In short, this unfortunately has been the wrong March for this endeavor. We know this is disappointing to many who were looking forward to the party, and thank you for your understanding. Full refunds will be issued to all who purchased tickets. We promise there will be future opportunities to gather and celebrate with friends, family, and neighbors again in the months ahead. The storms will subside and there will be light and sun and new joy arriving soon. We'll all be together for the delivery. There will be singing. 

Until then...TONIGHT - THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS: DOMESTIC REDS & WHITES

Broc Cellars Love Red (North Coast)
Portalupi Red Blend (Sonoma County) 
Pierce Cosecheiro Touriuga Nacional (Monterey)
Lieu Dit Melon (Santa Maria Valley)
Big Salt White (Dundee, Oregon)
Bodkin 'The Victor's Spoils" Sauvignon Blanc (Sonoma County)
Red or White Flights $15 from 5-9pm and wines by the glass until 9pm

SATURDAY 3/25 FLIGHTS: ALL WOMEN WINEMAKERS
2022 Brianne Day 'Vin de Days' Blanc
2021 Zoinos 'Epiloges' Debina 
2020 Oddero Barbera d'Alba Superiore
2020 Chatreau Falfas 'Les Demoiselles de Falfas' Cotes du Bourg Bordeaux
Flights $15 from 2-6 and wines by the glass from around the globe until 9pm

Looking forward,
Daniel

“Good living is an act of intelligence, by which we choose things that have an agreeable taste rather than those which do not.” - Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

Taste is a funny word with many related meanings. It is the sensation of flavor perceived by the tongue, nose, and brain, and it is also the action by which we ascertain said flavor. It can be used to describe a specific flavor; for example, I’ve heard one say, “Campari has a taste similar to earwax.” And while a taste may be a small sample of food or drink, it is also a brief experience conveying character, as in “a taste of what’s to come.” It can refer possessively to one’s likes and dislikes, or as an expression of one’s discernment or judgment, as in “good taste in literature.” Taste can also be a reflection of ethics or conformity, when, say, one’s comments or actions are deemed “in bad taste.”

The etymology is unclear, but our multifarious English word may be based on a blend of the Latin tangere ‘to touch’ and gustare ‘to taste,’ and its less literal meanings developed later, over time. According to linguist Carl Darling Buck, “The Hindus recognized six principal varieties of taste with sixty-three possible mixtures ... the Greeks eight .... These included the four that are now regarded as fundamental, namely 'sweet,' 'bitter,' 'acid,' 'salt.' ... The others were 'pungent' (Gk. drimys, Skt. katuka-), 'astringent' (Gk. stryphnos, Skt. kasaya-), and, for the Greeks, 'rough, harsh' (austeros), 'oily, greasy' (liparos), with the occasional addition of 'winy' (oinodes).”

On a trip to Brussels, Belgium, my mother asked a local grocer which coffee she would recommend, and the proprietor replied, “Ça dépend des goûts!” Indeed, “It depends on your tastes!” applies to so many choices we make, including which wine to buy. Because of our differing preferences, there is no ‘best’ wine we can all agree on. This is why our tasting bar is an indispensable part of the Oakland Yard experience: it is a place to explore and define one’s tastes, to become familiar with oneself. And it is a well-researched fact that women taste better than men, or said less ambiguously, that women tend to have a greater innate capacity to discern flavor, so it is no surprise that, given the opportunity, women often make excellent winemakers. We’re delighted to feature wines made by women in our Saturday tasting flights throughout the month of March, along with tasty bites from PROVECHO. But first...

TONIGHT - THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS: ALL FRENCH REDS & WHITES

2020 Henry Marionnet Domaine de la Charmoise Sauvignon Blanc 2017 Laballe Les Sables Fauves Landes Blanc
2021 Château la Canorgue Viognier
2021 Kevin Descombes Cuvée KéKé Beaujolais
2020 Domaine de la Graveirette Ju de Vie Rouge
2020 Domaine de Brin Vendemia Gaillac
Red or White Flights $15 from 5-9pm and wines by the glass until 9pm

SATURDAY 3/18 FLIGHTS: ALL WOMEN WINEMAKERS
2022 McBride Sisters Sauvignon Blanc (Winemakers: Robin and Andréa McBride)
2021 Anne Pichon Vermentino (Winemaker: Anne Pichon)
2020 Valérie Forgues Icône Rouge (Winemaker: Valérie Forgues)
2021 Terah Wine Co. Barbera (Winemaker: Terah Bajjalieh)
Flights $15 from 2-6 and wines by the glass from around the globe until 9pm

Tastefully,
Max

It was my junior year in college. A girl and I had exchanged glances here and there on campus the previous year and discovered we were both in the same sociology class that fall. One day after class she seemed to be lingering out front, and I took the opportunity to break the ice and introduce myself. She invited me to her friend's party that weekend and emphasized that "everyone there gets really dressed up". I would remember the details and directive differently and we would disagree for weeks and months after the events of that evening. I will concede the party was not on Halloween, but was a couple days before. And perhaps the word costume was never said, specifically. When I showed up at the party, the person who opened the door was decked out in a fabulous 1940s dress and donning a derby hat and so I didn't immediately realize that things were amiss. Until the door opened further and I noted nearly everyone inside was sporting vintage cocktail party attire. It was not a costume party, and my entrance was met with some confusion, whispers and snickers. A couple cheery laughs. Most there just wanted to know who invited the bashful pirate. 


Due to the forecast of several days of rain ahead, the March 12 CALÇOTADA will be postponed. So don't show up this Sunday in a barretina (though you will still be most welcome in our shop:) The NEW DATE IS NOW SUNDAY APRIL 2nd (same time and details). All tickets will be honored for the new date and full refunds given to anyone who can't make the new April 2nd Calçotada!
 

But for anyone needing some Spanish delights in your immediate future... get your castanyetes out and roll in TONIGHT for THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS: ALL SPANISH REDS & WHITES
2021 Sete 7 Cepas Albarino
2018 Josep Masachs Ulls de Mel Xarel-lo
2020 Vinos Tresbolillo Las Canicas Albarino Rias Baixas
2020 Vendrell Sere Montsant
2020  El Hato y el Garabato Cotexa Tinto
2020 Raul Perez Bierzo Ultreia St Jacques
Red or White Flights $15 from 5-9pm and wines by the glass until 9pm
 

WOMENS MONTH SATURDAY SERIES CONTINUES...
SATURDAY 3/11 FLIGHTS: ALL Women Winemakers - California Flights
2020 Loella PINOT GRIS (Winemaker: Megan Hughes)
2021 Terah Wine Co Muscat (Winemaker: Terah Bajjalieh)
2021 Ultraviolet Cabernet Sauvignon (Winemaker: Samantha Sheehan)
2021 Camins 2 Dreams Red (Winemakers: Tara Gomez and Mireia Taribó)
Flights $15 from 2-6 and wines by the glass from around the globe until 9pm

Cheers,

Daniel

At Oakland Yard, we’ve always made an effort to feature and promote products made by folks who are traditionally underrepresented in the wine industry, and this March - Women’s History Month in the USA - we’ll be bringing these efforts to the fore, with events and tastings focussing on women owned wineries and wines made by women. In my twenty years of professional wine buying, it has always been a challenge to gain access to wines made by women. In California, the percentage of women winemakers was only 10% in 2011, and just slightly higher at 14% by 2020, and the traditions and misconceptions of the industry in much of Europe still make it difficult for women to succeed in this still largely male dominated business.

I feel fortunate to have had many female mentors and colleagues in my wine education journey, and my understanding of the artistry, business, and enjoyment of wine would be incomplete without these teachers and voices. There are far too many to mention here, but I will take this opportunity to name a handful of women who have helped shape my conception of wine. In 2007, I was part of a team opening a restaurant in lower Manhattan, and the wine director was Lee Campbell, a Black woman sommelier who was already incredibly accomplished, and continues to do amazing work. Campbell instructed us with confidence and joy, and impressed upon me the importance of organic farming and minimal intervention in the cellar. Michele Pravda, my boss at Smith & Vine, was a master-class in running a wine shop - from encyclopedic knowledge to customer service to business integrity - and her excitement about wine was extremely contagious. I return perennially to the work of women writers, scholars, and scientists, like MFK Fisher, Carole Meredith, Jancis Robinson, and Karen MacNeil, to continue my learning. And I give thanks to the many female importers - Becky Wasserman, Denyse Louis, Jenny Lefcourt, Camille Riviere, Roni Ginach, Erin Sylvester, and Nadia Dmytriw, to name just a few - who’ve forged relationships with producers, providing us access to so many of our favorite wines.

Returning to the bay area from New York in 2014, my first full-time wine job was at Bi-Rite Market in the Mission, where I had the pleasure of working with a mostly female wine department, including Liz Rubin, Claire Hill, Rachel Gepner, and Sarah Lewington. These women knew their wines, worked harder than most men I know, and helped anchor me in the unfamiliar SF wine world. I’m very pleased to have the opportunity to welcome Liz Rubin, and her partner in wine, Pamela Busch, for a dyke/lesbian/non-binary/trans/queer wine bar pop up on Tuesday March 14th from 5pm-8pm at Oakland Yard. Liz and Pamela started the Somebody’s Sister Pop-Up series to create a safe space for other lesbian, gay, non-binary, trans, and queer people to come together and enjoy great natural wines. At the event, they’ll be pouring wines made by female winemakers, with a priority on spotlighting those from communities that have been historically underrepresented in the wine industry. Anyone is open to come, but everyone has to respect that this is a queer space. Stay tuned for details...

But first...TONIGHT - THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS: ITALIAN WHITES and CABERNET FRANCS
NV Tintero Bianco Secco
2020 Ercole Bianco Monferrato
2020 Flavia Alle Catarratto/Zibibbo
2020 Phantome Cabernet franc
2021 Bel Air Jour de Soif Bourgueil
2021 Sebastien David Hurluberlu
Red or White Flights $15 from 5-9pm and wines by the glass until 9pm

SATURDAY 3/4 FLIGHTS:
WINES MADE by ITALIAN WOMEN
2021 La Ghibellina Mainin Gavi
2021 Gorgi Tondi Grillo
2021 Occhipinti SP68 Rosso
2019 Villa Sant Anna Chianti Colli Senesi
Flights $15 from 2-6 and wines by the glass from around the globe until 9pm

Cheers,
Max

I went to blow my nose this morning and pulled what I assumed was a handkerchief from my jacket pocket only to discover tiny polka dot underwear. I also found hair clips, two types of lip balm, and several new bandaids in the other pocket. If one was to hold me by my ankles most days, a small avalanche would fall below (or above?): plastic rings, a rainbow of hair ties, small bags of goldfish, spinning tops, fruit leather, small rock collections...

As a parent of two little ones, I'm forced to anticipate sudden needs, surprises, accidents. I do my best to be prepared, albeit clumsily most of the time. My five year old seemed annoyed this morning, after getting herself fully dressed, and then spotting the rain outside, suddenly switching to a raincoat and boots while I stuffed a small umbrella in her bag. Who the heck is in charge of this weather?, she muttered, without a hint of humor. 

These transitional times of the year are peculiar for shops too, as we do our best to anticipate customers' needs - some eager for spring and looking for light, fresh reds or seeking out celebratory sparkling and Pet Nats for weekend parties. Others still taking comfort in wintery whites or full-bodied reds to accompany warm winter stews. 

This week's weather has been all over the place. Intense winds and massive temperature drops. And now more rain in the days ahead - but with a sunny Saturday perhaps?? While we can't control the wild weather, we'll do our best to continue to be prepared - with storm and party provisions, with seasonal and singular selections, with new delights and old favorites. Whatever the sky brings, we'll keep bringing it too, with more pop-ups and parties, more fun, food, and flights ahead! 

Starting TONIGHT (2/23) with THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS...
LOIRE WHITES & DOMESTIC REDS: 
2020 Le Fils de Gras Moutons Branger Muscadet
2021 Domaine Fouet Saumur Blanc
2021 Adele Rouze Quincy
2021 Groundwork Counoise
2020 Domaine Soupir Petite Sirah
2020 In Sheep's Clothing Cabernet Sauvignon
Red or White Flights $15 from 5-9pm and wines by the glass until 9pm

SATURDAY FLIGHTS 2/25: LAMBRUSCO FLIGHTS & PROVECHO!
Famiglia Carafoli L'Onesta Lambrusco di Sorbara
Lini910 Labrusca Lambrusco
Villa di Corlo Rolfshark Lambrusco
Flights $15 from 2-6 and wines by the glass from around the globe until 9pm

PROVECHO returns to OAKLAND YARD this Saturday 2/25 from 2-6pm! Locally sourced, seasonal and intentional dishes from chef Eder Ramirez. Oaxaqueño flavor paired with curated flights and wines by the glass from Oakland Yard.

TICKETS now on sale for OAKLAND YARD Catalan-style CALÇOTADA. Event is Sunday March 12th from 1 to 5pm, in our back parking lot, with music and merriment, fire-grilled leeks and romesco by chef Carlo Espinas, grilled spanish sausage and other delights by Crossman Meats, desserts by Sesame Tiny Bakery, and wine and beer from Oakland Yard. More info and TICKETS here: ONLINE SHOP

Cheers,

Daniel

Three years ago this month, I traveled to Spain for the first time, to meet Julia, who’d been working in Barçelona. We had many memorable adventures, and I left with an appreciation for the storied Spanish lifestyle, which centers gastronomy and family, and cares little for the proverbial rat-race. While walking from the Eixample to the Parc Guell, we passed through the Vila de Gràcia, where narrow, tree-lined streets of stone connect scores of public squares, alive at all hours with children playing and locals chatting and smoking. Gràcia feels like a small town within the city, perhaps because it was once a little village outside the city. In Roman times, Barcelona was a walled city, with barricades encircling what is now the Gothic Quarter.

Strolling through Gràcia that morning, we came upon an alleyway bustling with activity. Large, flat, sheet-metal grills were loaded with wood beside piles of large green onions, and men and women shouted, smiled and laughed as they lit fires and strung the leek-like onions together on a wire line for ease of flipping. They said to come back later for the calçotada, a traditional Catalan festival featuring the precocious winter vegetables they call calçots.

Returning from the Parc Guell with excitement, we found the party in full swing. Jamaican ska music filled the air, tap dancers laid down tiles to trade foot-driven percussive accompaniment, and long, communal tables were full of twenty-somethings drinking beer, while Spaniards of all ages pulled charred onions from newspaper wrappers, peeled the burnt outer skins, dipped them in romesco sauce, and tipped their heads back for a sweet vegetable slider. Everyone else seemed to know each other well, and when the tables filled up, neighbors came with card tables from their homes to expand the party, and Julia and I found a seat in the crowd and enjoyed a beer and a grilled botifarra sausage sandwich. The calçots, we learned, were reserved for the locals. We found this understandable, and were delighted to be welcome at the celebration, despite the limited menu. We also vowed then to host a stateside calçotada with enough fresh California leeks to serve all comers, and the time is approaching.

Save the date for Oakland Yard’s first Catalan-style calçotada, Tickets go on sale this weekend! Event is Sunday March 12th from 1 to 5pm, in our back parking lot, with music and laughs, grilled leeks and romesco by chef Carlo Espinas, grilled sausage by Crossman Meats, desserts by Marykate McGoldrick’s Sesame Tiny Bakery, and wine and beer from Oakland Yard.

ALSO... once again, PROVECHO returns to OAKLAND YARD this Saturday February 18th from 2-6pm! Locally sourced, seasonal dishes from chef Eder Ramirez. Oaxaqueño flavor paired with curated flights and wines by the glass from Oakland Yard.

SUNDAY February 19th, from 2-6, French Laundry alum and pasta pirate, Tango will be at OAKLAND YARD with fresh pasta made that morning and hand delivered here to the shop! Chef Tango will be here in person to chat about the pastas and answer any culinary questions. He will have a small quantity of fresh pastas and sauces on hand to sell that day - but you can reserve yours and pre-order by clicking HERE! Pre-order cutoff is Saturday @5pm.
 

But first...TONIGHT - THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS
CALIFORNIA REDS and ITALIAN WHITES: Portalupi Lupi Red, Phantômé Cellars Cabernet Franc, Folk Tree Pinot Noir, Villata Arneis, Ercole Bianco, & I Pastini Locorotondo Bianco Antico
Flights $15 from 5-9pm and wines by the glass until 9pm

SATURDAY FLIGHTS 2/18: Les Vins de Savoie
2020 Domaine d’Ici La Altesse La Croisette
2020 Fabien Trosset Avalanche La Blanche
2020 Maison Angelot Bugey Gamay
2021 Domaine de Ardoisieres Silice Rouge Mondeuse
Flights $15 from 2-6 and wines by the glass from around the globe until 9pm
*Provecho Pop Up out front 2-6*

Salud!

Max

I've probably told some of you this story before, but I was texting with my older brother and this memory returned. 

I have a small army of siblings. Growing up, there was a consistent and somewhat fair "you snooze, you lose" acceptance in our house. One summer evening my brother and I were out playing Batman and Robin. I was around 6, Jeff 8. It wasn't terribly fun. Jeff was always Batman. But we got to wear capes, so life was good. The charade was mostly just running about in our nylon capes and homemade eye masks. I'd point at a tree or something and shout "there's one of those no good...!" and Jeff would throw some boomerang we'd fashioned earlier that day from glued popsicle sticks and I'd say "Nice SHOT, Batman!" And Jeff would say (in the calm, deep voice of Adam West): "Thanks, Robin". I'd have to improvise if he'd miss the target "Aw, he's a wily one!..." and scramble to retrieve his weapon. You get the idea.

Ignoring my mom's hollering that day, we finally came in and the kitchen smelled so sweet. Fresh pineapples were chopped earlier, now all devoured. We were bummed. The family was watching a movie so we quietly pouted on the kitchen floor. Then Jeff spotted discarded strips of the hard pineapple skins in a plastic bag. There still seemed to be so much yellow flesh exposed, we started licking and thought we'd struck gold. Still so sweet and sublime with everlasting flavor! So we kept licking away, giggling and snickering to ourselves (who needs those jerks!) as evening settled on Gotham. All was well until the screaming started.

In the way that seeing one's ex can open a wound, pain sometimes needs a visual. I looked up and there was blood in Jeff's mouth. That's when I too felt the sting. I looked down at the pineapple I was licking and it also was covered in wild, bright crimson streaks. Our super powers were no match for the hidden barbs and the aggressive enzymes and acid. The pain was intense. Like a million paper cuts on our tongues, doused with lemon juice. The Joker had the last laugh once again.

Best to come when you're called, sometimes.

TONIGHT at OAKLAND YARD: Thursday Night Flights! Three German Whites and Three Spanish Reds. Wines so good you'll want to lick the inside of the bottles. Come help us take these bottles down tonight. Same bat-time, same bat-channel. Flights, $15 from 5-9pm and wines by the glass until 9pm. 

ALSO!!! We're sending out the signal once again: PROVECHO returns to OAKLAND YARD on Saturday February 11th from 2-6pm! Locally sourced, seasonal and intentional dishes from chef Eder Ramirez. Oaxaqueño flavor paired with curated flights and wines by the glass from Oakland Yard. Best to come when you're called, trust me...

SATURDAY FLIGHTS: Wines of Austria 
2021 Bernhard Ott Am Berg Gruner Veltliner
2020 Umathum Sauvignon Blanc
2018 Prieler Johanneshohe Blaufrankisch 
NV Moric Hausmarke Rot
Flights $15 from 2-6 and wines by the glass from around the globe until 9pm!
*Provecho Pop Up out front 2-6*

Finally... mark your calendars: SUNDAY MARCH 12th we will be taking over the back lot for an all day party, welcoming spring, and bringing some Catalan spirit to 40th St. with our own Calçotada Festival! There will of course be fire-grilled calçots and salvitxada sauce to accompany the spring onions as well as grilled spanish sausages, wine, beer and cider, and other culinary treats available that day! Music and food and fun! Stay tuned for more details about pre-sale tickets in the days to come!!!


Cheers,

Daniel

Oakland transplants missing ‘seasonal’ weather are getting their fix this winter. First rain, then cold, now a bit more rain to come, and all welcome, but a little out of the ordinary. While we haven’t reached the coldest temperature in Oakland history (which was 25 °F, most recently on January 5, 1949), we have had some near freezing nights in the east bay these last couple of weeks, and the morning frost has put me in mind of New York, where it will drop to the single digits tomorrow. Bundle up, my eastern friends, you have some winter yet to come.

Here in Temescal, the trees are blossoming; first the acacias, heavy with fuzzy yellow spheres, then the stately magnolias, purple, pink and white, flowering with perfect posture. And now, right here on 40th Street, the cherry and plum trees have begun their dense and reckless explosion of pale pink blooms. We, too, are back in view and showing our colors. In the past week, I’ve seen neighbors more often and made new acquaintances. I’ve been out and about, even all the way across the bay to San Francisco! We’ve recovered from the holidays, weathered the winter, and learned to manage the pandemic, or at least our related fears, and now we’re getting on with our lives.

And Oakland is ready for our return, with tasty new food outlets on 40th Street and Telegraph Avenue and a series of pop-ups at Oakland Yard. OK’s Deli started serving their Asian-inflected, gourmet sandwiches last September, and the opening crowds have diminished enough to make a trip to OK’s more than worthwhile. Kitava had its grand opening two weeks ago, and is serving fresh, healthy fare at 40th and Opal Streets. Poppy’s Bagels on Telegraph is having their grand opening today! And right next to Poppy’s, Small Change Oyster Bar is working to get open as soon as possible. Pssst...keep an eye out for a Small Change oyster pop-up at Oakland Yard while they get their ducks in order. The future is mouthwatering. But first...

TONIGHT 2/2 - THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS: Domestic Whites & Italian Reds

2020 Loella Pinot Gris
2021 Phantômé Cellars Gruner Veltliner
2017 Red Newt Cellars Finger Lakes Dry Riesling
2021 Tenuta la Pergola Il Goccetto Brachetto
2020 Poderi Sanguineto IGT Toscana Sangiovese
2016 Terra d'Aligi Tatone Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Flights $15 from 5-9pm and wines by the glass from around the world until close!

SATURDAY 2/4 - PROVECHO at OAKLAND YARD from 2 to 6pm

Saturday Flights: Wines of Greece
2021 Zoinos Epiloges Debina
2020 Semeli Mantinia Moschofilero
2013 Vaeni Grande Reserve Xinomavro
2020 Thymiopoulos Young Vines Xinomavro
Flights $15 from 2-6pm and wines by the glass until 9pm *Bites from Provecho out front*

SUNDAY 2/5 - SPARKLING SUNDAY at OAKLAND YARD. Sparkling Flights and our first in a series of ARTISAN JEWELERS popping up here monthly. We are excited to host our first artist, Lindsay Knox of LADHA, who will be bringing a curated selection of offerings from her amazing collection - for sale here in the shop Sunday 2/5 from 2-6pm. Come have a glass and add some sparkle in the new year!

Cheers,
Max

There is a new member of our house here. His name is Cha Cha. Neither dog nor cat nor bird nor fish... and no, not that - my wife and I are certainly through after two. I'm not certain which of my daughters first knew or named him. An imaginary, amorphous entity… though his assigned traits and projected mischief suggested the size and character of some invisible Elf on a Shelf. As of this week he is now referred to (by them) as their "baby brother", and Cha Cha seems to have grown smaller. Last night my 5 year old daughter Ellery was tearing a toilet paper square "for his towel", and later wrapping him in a “toilet paper burrito". It's his faaavorite thing…, little Simone confirmed with an enthusiastic nod.  


We've got a new folks suddenly popping up here at the shop too - and we can assure you they are very real. While Cha Cha offers little more than some silly tricks and occasional laughter, the delights and treats offered here this weekend - and in the weeks ahead - are likely to exceed your imagination. If you stop into OAKLAND this SATURDAY the 28th, PROVECHO will be here out front from 2-6pm, serving locally sourced, seasonal and intentional dishes from chef Eder Ramirez. Oaxaqueño flavor paired with curated flights and wines by the glass! 

And on SUNDAY (Jan 29th) from 2-6, French Laundry alum and pasta pirate, Tango will be at OAKLAND YARD with fresh pasta made that morning and hand delivered here to the shop! Chef Tango will be here in person to chat about the pastas and answer any culinary questions. He will have a small quantity of fresh pastas and sauces on hand to sell that day - but you can reserve yours and pre-order by clicking HERE! Pre-order cutoff is Saturday @5pm.

And NEXT SUNDAY, February 5th...
SPARKLING SUNDAY at OAKLAND YARD. Sparkling Flights and our first in a series of artisan jewelers popping up here monthly. We are excited to host our first artist, Lindsay Knox of LADHA, who will be bringing a curated selection of offerings from her amazing collection - for sale here in the shop Sunday 2/5 from 2-6pm. Come have a glass and add some sparkle in the new year!

Finally (and first:)...
TONIGHT 1/26 - THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS: Dry Alsace Riesling & French Reds

2019 Ribeauville Riesling
2019 Kuentz Bas Riesling
2020 Domaine Wassler Riesling
2021 Pierre-Olivier Bonhomme Le Telquel
2021 Domaine Rimbert Cousin Oscar 
2020 Domaine la Cabotte Colline Cotes du Rhone Rouge
Flights $15 from 5-9pm and wines by the glass from around the world until close!

SATURDAY 1/28 - PROVECHO at OAKLAND YARD
Saturday Flights: Wines of Spain and Portugal 

2021 Sete 7 Cepas Albarino
2020  Domino Vinho Branco Colar 
2017 Dirk Niepoort Sempar Portalegre Tinto 
2020 Alvaro Palacios Camins del Priorat
Flights $15 from 2-6pm and wines by the glass until 9pm *Bites from Provecho out front*

Cheers,
Daniel

It feels, at last, we’ve come to rest, with an ocean of water back inside the earth, and a thick layer of snow on our peaks. Did we awaken in California or atop the mountains of Ararat? In any case, the skiers and farmers among us are delighted. The rain’s postponed some winter pruning in the vineyards, sent sheep to shelter, and in places carried soil and stones downward and away, but grapevines are happily dormant, with the crucial fragility of bud break still weeks away. Aquifers are flowing, surface salts dispersed, and reservoirs restored. Tablas Creek Vineyard reported this week ‘you could almost hear the cover crops growing’ between the rows, and I think I heard a collective sigh of relief in Oakland with the return of our brightest star, the sun.

Here at Oakland Yard, we’re emerging from a wet and welcome hibernation and embracing the sunny spirit of renewal. Back to the daily task of sipping and spitting with vendors, we’re busy securing new labels, and new vintages of some dear old favorites. We’ve also got a fresh lineup of wines by the glass this week, and we’re planning a series of food pop ups and outdoor parties, starting Saturday the 28th with PROVECHO serving tasty bites to go with our afternoon tasting flights. From our little spot on Fortieth Street, the future shines brightly with the promise of spring flowers, grilled leeks, unbridled laughter, wine with friends, dance parties, oysters on the half shell, and many other unknown pleasures, starting...

TONIGHT 1/19 - THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS: Natty Loire Whites and Langhe Nebbiolo

2021 Clos du Tue-Boeuf Vin Blanc
2021 Herve Villemade Bovin Blanc
2021 Agnes & Rene Mosse Magic of Juju Blanc
2020 Elvio Tintero Langhe Nebbiolo
2018 Bricco Maiolica Langhe Nebbiolo
2020 Luigi Scavino Azelia Langhe Nebbiolo
Flights $15 from 5-9pm and wines by the glass from around the world until close!

SATURDAY 1/21 - WHAT’S NEW IN CALIFORNIA FLIGHTS

2021 Ramble Heringer Vineyard Clarksburg Chenin Blanc
2021 Luuma Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
2021 Jolie Laide Glou D’Etat
2021 Broc Cellars Le Clairet The Perfect Red
Flights $15 from 2-6pm and wines by the glass until 9pm

Cheers,
Max