The Bay Space was one of many first locations within the U.S. to have a “pure wine scene.” That tradition is due to a few components: The now-iconic wine store Winery Gate opened in Millbrae in 1998, and the legendary pure wine bar Terroir—the primary on the West Coast—opened in 2007. (It closed in 2022.) San Francisco has additionally lengthy had a sturdy wonderful eating tradition, and it has been residence to many influential wine professionals.
Oakland is a phenomenal microcosm of the entire Bay. It’s an enormous metropolis of pleasant individuals who prefer to know their neighbors—and it’s a wonderful place to drink wine (or sake or cider). Town has a wealthy wine historical past due to its proximity to areas like Sonoma, Napa and the Sierra Foothills, and there’s a clientele that, in my expertise as a wine skilled, is guided by curiosity. Consequently, the choices are broad and the bartenders are sharp. At most native wine bars, you may get a terrific glass for a good value, or you’ll be able to drink the entire bottle there for simply $10 or $15 greater than retail.
If you wish to do what I’ll name The Full Oakland, I’ve compiled the important institutions to go to. I’ve ordered them as a steered strolling path, factoring within the hours that the companies are open and their choices. The overall strolling distance is just 6.6 miles. You can begin at midday and hit all of them, in case you’re feeling thirsty and bold.
As a disclosure: I’ve labored at or performed enterprise not directly with nearly all of those bars. I hope that makes you are feeling that I’m further certified, slightly than compromised, to share a number of the better of this pure wine bar capital.
