About the Blog

After moving to San Francisco in 2006, I developed a strong interest in all things wine related: taking day trips to Sonoma, geeking out with the staff at local wine stores, and discovering small producers and odd-ball varietals. I found that the easiest way to learn about wine was to (ahem) drink a lot of it, and attend different tasting events in the city. After some prodding from friends, I decided to put together a weekly list of events that I would attend if I had all the time in the world. And thus the blog was born.

Over time, I started dabbling in social media, and found that Twitter and Facebook added additional channels for reaching Bay Area wine fans. These tools have allowed to meet a great group of consumers and industry professionals. I’ve learned a lot from these interactions, and would encourage you to join the Twitter and Facebook feed.

Twitter: @SFWineBlog
Facebook: SF Wine Blog Facebook Page

Here are a few things I plan to cover through the Blog, Twitter feed and Facebook page:

Wine Events: Each week, I’ll create a list of wine tastings, classes, and dinners open to the public. The goal is not to list all the events in the Bay Area, but to create a curated list of a few weekly highlights.
Wine Bars: Local watering holes and restaurants with fun wine lists, whether or not they officially call themselves a “wine bar.”
Wine Stores: Where to go to stock up on everyday wines, and where to go to dig up that special bottle.
Wine News: Developments in the wine world, and how they may impact consumers.

I’ve decided to stay away from doing wine reviews. There are enough professional reviewers, point systems, and blogs focused on whether a wine has “hints of cassis” or “smokey caramel notes.” I don’t see the point of adding to the noise.

That being said, I do have preferences, and those preferences will likely come through in the events and wines I choose to highlight. I really believe wine is all about personal taste, so in the interest of full disclosure, I’ve laid out my “Taste Profile” on a separate page so you know where I’m coming from.

Finally, one disclaimer: I am not a “wine pro” and do not hold myself out to be an expert. I like learning about wine, and continue to do so.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you’ll drop in again soon! Cheers!

– John

NOTE: Derek Mims previously contributed to this blog. He is planning to start his own blog, and I’ll be sure to announce his new site when it is launched. In the mean time, you can find his articles by doing a search for his name (Derek’s posts include a byline).