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