New Urban Wineries! (and other beverages)

I like to start my "urban bike rides" in Berkeley on Fifth near Gilman. It's quiet, and no parking controls. Plus, I can taste at Donkey and Goat after the ride!

So...this weekend I discovered a new tasting room off fifth...the former home of Broc Cellars before Chris B. moved to Fifth Street a block away. Eno Cellars and a new project, Lusu, are sharing a tasting room and building out the winery space.

Until they are finished with the construcion, Eno Cellars is selling off library vintages. I really enjoyed his 2006 Las Madres Carneros Syrah. Plenty of black pepper, earthy red fruti, good acids. The alcohol didn't come out here, although the bottle said 14.6% or something like that. He also had an older 2005 Pinot with bracing acidity and pronounced forest floor character. Quite nice.
http://www.enowines.com/wines/ Picked up one bottle of the Syrah.

Lusu Cellars, from a young Portugese-American winemaker, featured a Sangiovese which I liked but needed more acidity. Interestingly enough, his El Dorado County Zinfandel was excellent in acidity, with bright brambly fruit and delicious character. I would buy this zin. Next visit for sure. http://www.lusucellars.com/pages/wines

Interesting that the winemaker's name is Texeira!

Also stopped at Campo Vida in Oakland. I really enjoy their Nero D'Avola from Mendocino County. Fantastic black and blue fruits with mouthwatering acidity and a great bitter note. Perfect pizza wine!
Finally, Linden Street Brewery's outstanding Black Lager. Refreshing and delicious

Hi Brian, I always read your posts with interest, even though I've been shockingly lax in getting off my duff and trying the places you visit. (It's not always easy to mark off a whole Saturday morning when you have a five year old.)

Since you're a fellow Arbois guy, I thought you might be interested (if you haven't already heard) about Vineyard Gate, which has a number of Arbois (admittedly many of the same as K&L). They also have quite a few orange wines (first time I ever saw Radikon or Cornelissen on the shelf). It's extremely convenient to the Millbrae BART/Caltrain station, which is handy.

Keep the reports coming!

Walt

The space Chris moved out of is also the space Edmunds St. John started in, and this year, 25 years later, we are back there. It's where our Rocks and Gravel is now produced. Nice to be back in the neighborhood.

The space Chris moved out of is also the space Edmunds St. John started in, and this year, 25 years later, we are back there. It's where our Rocks and Gravel is now produced. Nice to be back in the neighborhood.

I love that Camelia St. space. You can almost taste the history there.

Hi Brian, I always read your posts with interest, even though I've been shockingly lax in getting off my duff and trying the places you visit. (It's not always easy to mark off a whole Saturday morning when you have a five year old.)

Since you're a fellow Arbois guy, I thought you might be interested (if you haven't already heard) about Vineyard Gate, which has a number of Arbois (admittedly many of the same as K&L). They also have quite a few orange wines (first time I ever saw Radikon or Cornelissen on the shelf). It's extremely convenient to the Millbrae BART/Caltrain station, which is handy.

Keep the reports coming!

Walt

Cool shop, Walter!

On a related note, the Grand-Lake neighborhood in Oakland has a brand newish wine shop near the intersection with Mandana Parkway. http://www.yelp.com/biz/ordinaire-oakland
Looked very interesting.

Which brings out a more general question: Given the dominance of the "conventional" wine market by BevMo, Total, supermarkets, and even Costco, is the only legitimate niche for small shops "natural" wines? I remember when Kermit Lynch was almost it. Then Terroir opened in SOMA in San Francisco, and of course Arlequin in Hayes Valley. Now...Oakland has or will have three "artisinal" wine shops, two of which are in Grand Lake.

I have no "life", so I have plenty of time (but never enough money ) to explore.

I know what you're saying that Costco, BevMo will dominate on volume, but I think wine has more of a "long tail" than most products.

BevMo, for instance, has a riesling section, but the only Selbach wine they carry is the lowest end one, "Fish." Costco only has one or two rieslings. So there's plenty of room for a specialty merchant to carry the good stuff.

I read about that Ordinaire before it opened, but it had slipped off my radar. I'd love to try it out, especially wine on tap. Thanks for the reminder

The space Chris moved out of is also the space Edmunds St. John started in, and this year, 25 years later, we are back there. It's where our Rocks and Gravel is now produced. Nice to be back in the neighborhood.

Awesome, Steve!

I had heard that and should have mentioned it.

You are getting great distribution, too, I notice, of the Bone Jolly. I need to pick some up!

I know what you're saying that Costco, BevMo will dominate on volume, but I think wine has more of a "long tail" than most products.

BevMo, for instance, has a riesling section, but the only Selbach wine they carry is the lowest end one, "Fish." Costco only has one or two rieslings. So there's plenty of room for a specialty merchant to carry the good stuff.

I read about that Ordinaire before it opened, but it had slipped off my radar. I'd love to try it out, especially wine on tap. Thanks for the reminder

I need to try their selection. I had already sampled CampoVida wines, (plus I was dressed in cycling clothes, so.... ) so I didn't want any more wine that day, but...

The chocolates next door are always awesome !