Restaurant Wine, Issue 108 (July/Aug. 2005)

Making Wine More Accessible

Operation Profile
When this young woman took over the wine program at this prestigious San Francisco dining establishment, she was intent on making wine more accessible to customers. And she certainly has.

Among the more effective things she introduced: more modestly priced wines to the wine list, lower average prices for wines by the glass, a much more interesting wine list, and extremely personalized wine pairings with the restaurant’s multi-course menus. It’s the tale of a labor of love and of a successful work-in-progress.

Special Report
The Tannats of Uruguay. A brief look at the Uruguayan wine industry, one of the most interesting emerging corners of the wine world, where the general wine styles are closer to those of France, northern Italy, and Austria than to those of California. And where the unusual, robust red variety excels.

Wine List Concept
This wine country restaurant presents California wines and their counterparts from other states and countries in a simple, effective manner that customers embrace.

Wine Recommendations:
161 wines from around the world are recommended this issue, from 11 countries.

Highlights include top Uruguayan Tannats (and Tannat blends); exceptional Chardonnays from California and Oregon; outstanding 2002 Cabernet-based California wines; remarkable 2003 Pinot Noirs from California; delicious 2003 Zinfandels; great value Australian Shirazs; amazing 2003 Beaujolais from France; excellent 2003 northern Italian white and red wines; new white wine release from New Zealand; and superb reds from Spain.