Newly open in Pacific Heights is VERVE WINE, a West Coast location of a Tribeca (New York) wine shop from Master Sommelier Dustin Wilson (Eleven Madison Park, RN74, and you may have seen him in Somm), wine merchant Derrick Mize, and sommelier Eric Railsback. Look for 500 labels from small producers, natural/non-manipulated wines, and New Californian and old-world wines too, plus access to their larger online inventory of 3,000 labels, which you can have shipped directly to your home. The experience is designed to appeal to all levels of wine drinkers, from beginner to cork dork. Open Mon-Sat 11am-9pm and Sun 12pm-6pm. 2358 Fillmore St. at Washington.
Coming up on Sunday July 15th is WINeFare: Women in Natural Wine Fair from The Vinguard, celebrating the many contributions women have made to the natural wine movement. Take a look at the lineup (including Donkey & Goat, Minimo, and Floraison Selections). There is also a charitable component to the event, with most of the proceeds benefiting the women and children of Soufra, a documentary film that follows the journey of Palestinian women from a Lebanese refugee camp who went on to start a catering business and food truck in Beirut. There will be a screening of the film at 12pm before the tasting begins for attendees who wish to purchase a ticket to the film. Any donations of more than $40 also get the cookbook, Soufra: Recipes from a Refugee Food Truck. The wine tasting is 2pm-5pm.
Ticket purchases and donations are tax deductible for this event. Tasting only: $30; tasting and film screening: $40; tasting, film and Soufra cookbook: $75. The Great Northern, 119 Utah St. at 15th St.
And up in Napa on Saturday July 28th is Bâtonnage, a daylong forum from founder Stevie Stacionis of Oakland’s Bay Grape wine shop, designed to open up the conversation surrounding women and wine, whether you’re a wine professional, consumer, and/or wine industry supporter. There’s an incredible lineup of participants, panels, and more, so check it out.
