I am both bereft and thankful this week, thinking of my wife, Julia, and my father, Jim, of companions closeby and family far afield. I’ve been warmly welcomed back to Oakland, enjoying dinners among friends old and new, catching up with customers, and tasting wines freshly on the market. Our teachers, students, and parents are occupied with returning to class, and we all feel the summer wrapping itself up, as we remember and restart the routines that got us through last fall, or decide instead to lead with a different foot. Recent years have taught us to expect the unexpected, so turning points may come with trepidation.

For me, the end of August brings two important anniversaries: that of my marriage, sixteen years ago, and that of my father’s birth in 1940. I will celebrate these events differently this year, without the presence of said key celebrants, but with all the love and joy they’ve given me, and that I carry, armor-like, with confidence and gratitude. With these two dear ones in mind, I’ll go about my August business, hoping to share some of their buoyancy and strength with my east bay chosen family. May we all have people in our lives like Julia and Jim, to bring smiles to our faces, support us when we’re discouraged, and call us on our cockamamie bullshit, so that we may move boldly and happily forward!

Tonight: THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS - Three Albariños and Three Barberas. Taste three of the same varietal and find which is, as Goldilocks might say, just right.
2022 Sete Cepas Albariño
2022 Berryessa Gap Albariño
2021 Anselmo Mendes Alvarinho Contacto
2021 Ercole Barbera del Monferrato
2020 Berryessa Gap Barbera
2021 Oddero Barbera d’Alba Superiore
Tasting flights $15 from 5-9pm and wines by the glass until 9pm

This SATURDAY 8/19: CALIFORNIA tasting flights
2020 Côte West Sauvignon Blanc
2022 Margins Clarksburg Chenin Blanc
2022 Tessier Soul Love
2022 Broc Cellars Got Grapes Red
Flights $18 from 2-6 and wines by the glass until 9pm.

THIS SUNDAY, AUGUST 20th, URELIO'S Pizza returns! 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. Pizzas sold individually from Urelio's truck from 1-5 pm (or until sold out!). Oysters from Shuckbuddy Oyster Bar. 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!!!

Cheers,
Max