San Francisco Bay Archives - On The Wine Road

How He Built This: San Francisco Wine School

I’ve taken the trip to the San Francisco Wine School a number of times in the past to expand my wine knowledge while enjoying a selection of fine varietals. Heading into “the city” is something I enjoy.

Since I’ve been impressed with the classes and tastings I have attended at the San Francisco Wine School I thought you might find it an appealing option as well. They offer so many workshops, programs and events there’s bound to be one that appeals to you. So I sat down with co-owner, Master Sommelier and Certified Wine Educator David Glancy a couple of weeks ago for this interview, and it gave me the chance to ask…what led him to opening the school.

From the January 2022 class featuring Australian Shiraz

The different Shiraz wines we tasted. And yes, they were fantastic!

When you see this banner on Grand Ave in S. San Francisco, you’ve found the school

San Francisco Bay

Sojourn to Saratoga, CA

This is one of the most unusual podcasts I’ve offered yet. Prompted by an invitation I spent 3 days exploring the village and area of Saratoga, California in San Francisco’s South Bay. This historic community is situated next to San Jose, Cupertino and Los Gatos in the Santa Cruz mountains south of Silicon Valley. From wineries and restaurants, to Japanese gardens, stables and a mysterious house, the area has a lot to offer. This is your invitation to ride along as my wife Meredith and I experience Saratoga.

The Village of Saratoga on Sunday morning

Our suite at the Saratoga Oaks Lodge

Winter Berries at Hakone Estate and Gardens

Plum Flower at Hakone Estate and Gardens

With Shozo Kagoshima at Hakone Estate and Gardens

The Lower House overlooking the Dry Garden at Hakone

In the Cooper-Garrod Tasting Room

Winemaker Bill Cooper of Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards

Horseback riding at Garrod Farms

The many rooftops of the peculiar Winchester Mystery House as seen from an outdoor balcony

One of the staircases that go nowhere in the Winchester Mystery House

One of the original cabernet vines planted at Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello Estate overlooking the South Bay

In the tasting room at Ridge Vineyards before our Estate Tasting

Enjoying a wonderful dinner at Hero Ranch Kitchen. Look at those redwood tree plates!

San Francisco Bay, Wineries

Donkey And Goat, Berkeley’s Urban Winery

This year’s Wine Expo in Sonoma County featured a seminar on Pét Nat, or Pétillant Naturel. It’s an ancient method of making a sparkling wine with a single fermentation. It predates the more common methode champeniose that is used in Champagne and sparkling wine. On the panel was natural wine producer Jared Brandt of Donkey And Goat. He intrigued me. There’s been a natural wine movement in recent years but Jared and his wife Tracey have been at it for over 2 decades. They rarely filter their wine and add as little sulfur as possible. He explains the reasoning behind that and their process as he shares their story.

Distilled Liquor, San Francisco Bay

Frisco Liquor, An America take on Pisco

This is the story of Frisco Liquor, an American take on Pisco. I received word that a guy in San Francisco was releasing a new liquor which is essentially a white brandy fashioned after the South American grape liquor Pisco. He’s cleverly calling it Frisco (pronounced Freesco). How Charlie O’Connell came to craft this idea stems from his travels to Singapore, Argentina and Chile. He credits a leather-skinned gaucho with a dusty old flask as the genesis of his inspiration. Click below to hear his tale.

San Francisco Bay, Wineries

Urban Wineries of San Francisco

There is so much to do when you visit San Francisco you may not consider the fact that there are wineries and tasting rooms in the bay area. In this podcast I’ll focus on Treasure Island Wines and Winery SF (part of the Winemakers Studio group) on Treasure Island, and Bluxome Street Winery in San Francisco. Their offerings are on par with the wines you’ll find in wine country to the north as they all source their grapes from Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino and Napa counties. Listen in as I talk with those in the bay area.