Food and Wine

Matt Dees is The Hilt’s winemaker. (Courtesy photo)

On the Vine: The ‘electric acidity’ of Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay

The Hilt creates delicious wine from Santa Barbara County vineyards

Matt Dees is The Hilt’s winemaker. (Courtesy photo)
Early during shelter-in-place, Lookout in the Castro offered margarita mixes in buckets, from the balcony. (Courtesy Chris Hastings/Lookout)

Last Call with Saul: The virtues and perils of at-home drinking

To-go cocktails helping some bars as they struggle to survive during ongoing uncertainty

Early during shelter-in-place, Lookout in the Castro offered margarita mixes in buckets, from the balcony. (Courtesy Chris Hastings/Lookout)
From left, Aaron and Jesse Inman, who are siblings, head up Lucky Rock Wine Co. (Courtesy photo)

Lucky Rock speaks to a new generation

Brothers Aaron and Jesse Inman have a modern take on the wine business

From left, Aaron and Jesse Inman, who are siblings, head up Lucky Rock Wine Co. (Courtesy photo)
Eateries in The City, including 1428 Haight Patio & Crepery, are open for what seems to pass as outdoor dining. (Saul Sugarman/Special to S.F. Examiner)

Last Call with Saul: Feeling alone in a pandemic

People must make their own decisions about risks of gathering outdoors

Eateries in The City, including 1428 Haight Patio & Crepery, are open for what seems to pass as outdoor dining. (Saul Sugarman/Special to S.F. Examiner)
Vintner Jeff Cole says Sullivan Rutherford is an ideal place to grow cabernet sauvignon. (Courtesy photo)

Sullivan Rutherford re-emerges as an elite Napa Valley wine estate

Steeped in Napa Valley history, Sullivan Rutherford Estate helped establish the area…

Vintner Jeff Cole says Sullivan Rutherford is an ideal place to grow cabernet sauvignon. (Courtesy photo)
Bay Area bartender Erik Proctor says San Francisco’s LGBTQ community recently has “come a long way” in terms of accepting diversity. (Saul Sugarman/Special to S.F. Examiner)

Last Call with Saul: Catching up with mixologist Erik Proctor

The Mix bartender says SF could be doing more to help during pandemic

Bay Area bartender Erik Proctor says San Francisco’s LGBTQ community recently has “come a long way” in terms of accepting diversity. (Saul Sugarman/Special to S.F. Examiner)
South Africa produces much of the world’s white wine, including versatile chenin blanc. (Lyle Norton/Special to S.F. Examiner)

South African Chenin Blanc captivates as an alternative white wine

Country’s Coastal Region a primary source of the varietal into the future

South Africa produces much of the world’s white wine, including versatile chenin blanc. (Lyle Norton/Special to S.F. Examiner)
Saul contemplates a “Medieval Times” show during his visit to the picturesque winery Castello di Amorosa in Calistoga. (Courtesy photo)

To taste or not to taste: Winery visit during a pandemic

A pleasant cheat day at Castello di Amorosa in Napa Valley

Saul contemplates a “Medieval Times” show during his visit to the picturesque winery Castello di Amorosa in Calistoga. (Courtesy photo)
Tracey and Mitch Hawkins of Hawk and Horse Vineyards pose with a Scottish Highlands cow. (Courtesy Rocco Ceselin)

Biodynamic Hawk and Horse Vineyards serves up a trio of fine vintages

Bordeaux-style wines come from Lake County

Tracey and Mitch Hawkins of Hawk and Horse Vineyards pose with a Scottish Highlands cow. (Courtesy Rocco Ceselin)
People were out and about, not social distancing, during SF Pride last week. (Saul Sugarman/Special to S.F. Examiner)

Coronavirus does not take holidays off, but mistakes happen

I seemingly forgot the potential severity of being around strangers

People were out and about, not social distancing, during SF Pride last week. (Saul Sugarman/Special to S.F. Examiner)
Jessie Ware, finding success with her podcast “Table Manners,” enjoyed returning to music with her new solo album. (Courtesy Carlijn Jacobs)

Jessie Ware asks ‘What’s Your Pleasure?’

Pop singer has fun making music, talking about food

Jessie Ware, finding success with her podcast “Table Manners,” enjoyed returning to music with her new solo album. (Courtesy Carlijn Jacobs)
Winemaker Isabel Galindo led a tour of Las Moradas de San Martin in Spain. (Courtesy photo)

Winemaker Isabel Galindo showcases garnacha from Madrid

Las Moradas de San Martin began making fine wine in 1999

Winemaker Isabel Galindo led a tour of Las Moradas de San Martin in Spain. (Courtesy photo)
Trapiche Winemaker Daniel Pi (Courtesy photo)

Malbec finds a home in Argentina

The roots of malbec are the Bordeaux region in southwest France where it is among the “big six” permitted red grapes.

Trapiche Winemaker Daniel Pi (Courtesy photo)
A mural by Nicole Hayden graces the exterior of Moby Dick. (Courtesy Topher Olson)

Keeping spirits up in a time of international crisis

Since beginning this column, I’ve joked a lot about how much my…

A mural by Nicole Hayden graces the exterior of Moby Dick. (Courtesy Topher Olson)
Aunt Charlie’s Lounge is a one-of-a-kind Tenderloin dive with great community spirit. (Courtesy Marissa Patrice Leitman)

Bar patrons answer call to save Aunt Charlie’s

Fans of Tenderloin drag queen haven and neighborhood spot quickly donate

Aunt Charlie’s Lounge is a one-of-a-kind Tenderloin dive with great community spirit. (Courtesy Marissa Patrice Leitman)
Nicole Hitchcock, head winemaker at J Vineyards, sings praises of Sonoma County soil for grape growing. (Courtesy photo)

On The Vine: J Vineyards celebrates the marriage of wine and cheese

Russian River Valley vintner, chef present, promote pleasant pairings

Nicole Hitchcock, head winemaker at J Vineyards, sings praises of Sonoma County soil for grape growing. (Courtesy photo)
The Stud, The City’s historic gay bar at Ninth and Harrison streets, is another casuality of the coronavirus pandemic. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

When should bars reopen?

San Francisco residents weigh in

The Stud, The City’s historic gay bar at Ninth and Harrison streets, is another casuality of the coronavirus pandemic. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
Glera grapes provide the basis for the notable prosecco from Northern Italy vineyards near Valdobbiadene and Conegliano. (Courtesy photo)

Fine prosecco from Northern Italy

Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG sets high standards for sparklers

Glera grapes provide the basis for the notable prosecco from Northern Italy vineyards near Valdobbiadene and Conegliano. (Courtesy photo)
“The biggest hurdle is our rent. As long as our landlord continues to work with us, that will make all the difference,” said Lisa Merrall, owner of Fireside. (Saul Sugarman/Special to S.F. Examiner)

What four Bay Area bar owners say about the future amid COVID-19

Bartenders share their thoughts on the outlook for their venues in the months ahead.

“The biggest hurdle is our rent. As long as our landlord continues to work with us, that will make all the difference,” said Lisa Merrall, owner of Fireside. (Saul Sugarman/Special to S.F. Examiner)
H.P. Mendoza’s San Francisco-set “Fruit Fly” closes CAAMFest Online: Heritage at Home on May 22. (Courtesy CAAMFest)

Jam-packed Asian Pacific American Heritage Month goes online

Share culture in books, food, films, fine art, music, panels

H.P. Mendoza’s San Francisco-set “Fruit Fly” closes CAAMFest Online: Heritage at Home on May 22. (Courtesy CAAMFest)