Last year came and went, then I blinked once or twice, and now it’s February. There was nothing to do in January; it was a sort of leap month of running in place, or treading water. Rodent predictions aside, winter appears to be waning in northern California. In the British Isles, this is the season of Imbolc, or Saint Brigid’s Day, a festival with pagan roots celebrating the Gaelic goddess, Brigid, a three-fold deity associated with wisdom, poetry, healing, protection, blacksmithing and domesticated animals. Saint Brigid’s Day signals the beginning of spring and is a time for divination, and looking to the future. On 40th and Webster Streets, at this time of year, I’ve come to expect the sudden, startling explosions that rip through the air like a mess of machine guns, shaking the ground, while neighbors emerge, wide-eyed from their homes. It’s just the fellows at ADS Temescal Auto Care marking the lunar new year with what sounds to be enough firecrackers to blow a hole in their front lot.

Here at Oakland Yard, we’ve looked deeply into our wine glasses, and we foresee in the elixir a day free of masking, a day of sharing and closeness. It’s not here yet - just a prediction - but solidly based on scientific models, in conjunction with our vinous divination. In this cautious but hopeful spirit, we will happily resume serving wine today - alfresco only - by the glass or by the bottle, for you to enjoy at our sidewalk tables in front of the shop. Please bring your smile and proof of vaccination to place orders at our tasting bar, or to taste glass options, before finding your spot on the sunny side of 40th Street.

WINES BY THE GLASS at OUTDOOR TABLES this week ... EVERY DAY from 12 NOON until 8PM:

2021 UNICO ZELO SPARKLING ‘SEA FOAM’ $12
VERMENTINO, FIANO // RIVERLAND,AUSTRALIA

2020 TXOMIN ETXANIZ TXAKOLINA $12
HONDURABBI ZURI // BASQUE COUNTRY, SPAIN

2019 DOMAINE DE MAJAS BLANC $10
VERMENTINO, MACABEU, CARIGNAN BLANC // CÔTES CATALANES, FRANCE

2020 DOMAINE PHILIPPE TESSIER CHEVERNY ROSÉ $12
PINOT NOIR, GAMAY // LOIRE VALLEY, FRANCE

2020 ERCOLE BARBERA DEL MONFERRATO $8
BARBERA // PIEDMONT, ITALY

2019 CHÂTEAU DE MONTMIRAIL VACQUEYRAS $11
GRENACHE, SYRAH, MOURVÈDRE // RHÔNE VALLEY, FRANCE

Next week’s forecast includes highs in the seventies and, for better and for worse, no rain in sight, so grab your bae, your boo, your beau, or your buddy, and come on down for a taste of what we’ve all been missing: togetherness.

Cheers,
Max