Wine Country Comes to Town

Yesterday I had the opportunity to head to the third annual Urban Wine Experience at Jack London Square. The collection of East Bay Vintners is a perfect example of the drive that has expanded “Wine Country” far beyond the vineyards and into the city. Wine can be made anywhere, as long as the winemaker has access to a macro bin and a truck. This has allowed more people turn a simple hobby into a small career. For some, like Jeff Cohen of JC Cellars and Mike Dashe of Dashe Cellars, it has been an interesting progression from the west cellar at Rosenblum to rave reviews in wine magazines and a new winery in Oakland. Fortunately, these small wineries have the opportunity to join forces and showcase their goods at this tasting.

The meadow at Jack London Square was a perfect place to hold the event. It was a warm afternoon, but the cool breeze from the bay allowed us to taste in comfort. The wineries were separated in small tents, and each winery was paired with a local restaurant. Some of my favorite local restaurants serving food that paired beautiful with the wine, like a fig risotto from Bellanico, and a spectacular gnocchi with ox tail from Patrick David’s catering. The crowd was lively, although it was a little crowded. To be perfectly honest, it drives me mad when pourers go into a bit too much detail about wine when there are people waiting for a pour. The warm weather drew me towards the Roses, Pinots, and whites, but I also got the opportunity to taste some Petite Verdot, a bunch of Rhones, and some interesting blends.

My favorite winery from yesterday was a pretty easy pick. Although it came down to JC Cellars and Prospect 772, I had to go with the relatively new Prospect 772 winery. I was truly blown away at the precision of their blends. Their three wines, The Brat, The Brawler, and The Baby Doll, are cleverly named, well balanced and a good buy. The Baby Doll was wonderful on a day like yesterday, a delicate Rose of Grenache that comes alive with flavors of grapefruit and berries. This wine was soft and gentle on the palate, and the light citrus and delicate acidity made you want to take another drink. Another intriguing blend was The Brawler. This big, bold Syrah and the light touch of Viognier add life and complexity to the richness of baking spices and black fruit.

I think that any time tasting is brought to the city, it enhances the experience for the wine connoisseur. It brings the romanticism to them, the complexity and the opportunity to search and discover to a small patch of grass near the Port of Oakland. The other wineries there were intriguing, and I plan on taking the short drive to explore them more. It’s nice to just have to drive down the block to taste, as opposed to making the trek up to Sonoma or Napa.