Five years ago this week, Oakland Yard received its first ten cases of Etz Gruner Veltliner. Our friend Jens was still welding our shelves, and we used the wine to weigh down the sinks for caulking, and to support the old KLHs for our first sound check. We were trying to get open by Thanksgiving but still had a half-built shop and several inspections to pass. It was an exciting time for Daniel, Glenny, Julia and I, the culmination of years of plotting and many meetings, the first of which were conversations over dinner, or kayaking in the Russian River, or relaxing in the hot tub under the redwoods - ahh, the days of wine and conjecture before the work began in earnest. What’s a CUP and why is it so expensive? How much electricity do you need to run an HVAC and a POS system? Why doesn’t the health department take Amex? We made it through those uncertain times, and thanks to you all, we’ve sold over a thousand liters of Etz since then, and loads of other wine from all over the world, and this has allowed us to truly establish our happy place, a beautiful room with good vibes and walls lined with our favorite libations, a space for all to decompress and to be our best selves together. This week, to mark our fifth anniversary, we’re gathering our friends, with food, drinks and music, and local artisans and vendors, for a blow-out barn-burner in our back lot THIS SATURDAY from noon to 5. There’ll be plenty of space to be joyous and safe, and we hope you’ll come to sip, snack, laugh, browse, boogie, and celebrate with us.

But it’s only Thursday, and you may already be feeling thirsty and inquisitive, a little stifled, wanting to get out of the house, show off your new funkadelic pants and get in the mix. For this, an Oakland Yard tasting flight is just the trick.

TONIGHT... Thursday Night Flights: FRENCH reds and SPANISH whites. Three Grenache-based reds from Vacqueyras, the Vaucluse, and the Languedoc-Roussillon, as well as Xarel-lo, Albarino, and Ribeiro.
$12 tasting flights from 5-9pm & wines by the glass until 9pm.

THIS SATURDAY 11/13: 12 noon until 5pm - The 5 Year Anniversary Celebration and Artisan Flea Market event is FREE! So spread the good word and bring all your favorite people.. Tasty treats from Tacos Sincero and Joodooboo! Vendors and artists include The Plant Queen, C.A. Vintage (jewelry), Caviar & Cigarettes Vintage (clothing), Alex Steele (clothing/accessories), Kitten Claw Vintage, Pablo Cristi (original artwork/prints) WestWind Succulents & PlantHouse (arrangements), The Leopard Lodge (jewelry), Pleinware Ceramics, and Flower & Forage (bouquets)! There will, of course, be bubbles... and plenty of wine - an outdoor beer and wine garden along with raffles and prizes and music and fun. See you there!

Cheers,
Max