Bud break began yesterday in some Chardonnay vineyards in the Carneros AVA of Napa Valley, which means grape vines throughout the Northern Hemisphere will be reawakening over the next couple of months. Bud break is when the first tender buds of the new growing season emerge from dormant winter vines. The ground has warmed and softened enough to allow the osmotic motion of water, carrying organic acids, hormones, minerals and sugars, up from the root system. The liquid first ‘bleeds’ through the cuts of recent winter pruning - sometimes over a gallon from a single vine - and then the buds begin to swell and form shoots, which will grow leaves and begin again the process of photosynthesis.

Oakland Yard is also reemerging from a dormancy of sorts this week, by ending a season of cautious abeyance, raising the curtain on our wintermission, and resuming the flow of vital liquids anew. Throughout February, we’ve been offering wine by the glass, and bottle, at our outdoor tables, but beginning today, our tasting bar will reopen for indoor seating as well, effectively doubling our capacity and undoubtedly livening up the joint. We will continue to require proof of vaccination for tasting and indoor drinking, and ask that you remain masked while moving about the store and bar area. And we hope to resume tasting flights very soon, but for now, we’re offering at least six wines by the glass - something for everyone, ranging in style from pure elegance to intriguingly natty - with the addition of frequent ‘off-the-menu’ options. Our tasting bar is open Monday through Thursday from 12 noon until 8pm and Fridays and Saturdays from noon til 9. We’ve enlisted a few new Yardies to share the work of reopening indoors, and we hope you’ll come by and introduce yourselves to the exceedingly kind and helpful new members of our team: Caleb, Erica and Kathleen.

This spring, more than ever, may we grow and flourish together,

Max