On Saturday we attended the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition public tasting, the culmination of the largest competition of American wines in the world. The tasting was held at the Fort Mason Center Festival Pavillion.  The stunning backdrop of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and the bay contributed to the ambience that made this a rare opportunity to sample the finest wines in the country. The estimated attendance was more than 6000, and with hundreds of wines to tasteIt was the ultimate tasting experience. Along with the excellent wines there was a plethora of gourmet delicacies provided by artisan food vendors.

Although we have attended many wine events, this one far surpassed anything that we've ever experienced. We found the atmosphere to be quite comfortable. Even with 6000 people in attendance it wasn't crowded, hectic or overwhelming.  it had the feeling of a very large gathering of friends. There was a liveliness in the air that promoted a feeling of congeniality and friendliness. The diverse crowd was made up of connoisseurs, people with a true appreciation for fine wines.

We tasted wines that were truly amazing, and rightfully deserving of the awards they had won. Our favorites included a shiraz, several chardonnays and a very memorable gevurztraminer. Many of the wines came from family-owned vineyards so the passion exhibited by the winemakers was like that of proud parents.

Due to overwhelming public demand, admission to the public tasting is limited, and the event consistently sells out beforehand each year. Advanced purchase is encouraged and available at www.winejudging.com. 

Hope to see you there next year!

On Saturday we attended the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition public tasting, the culmination of the largest competition of American wines in the world. The tasting was held at the Fort Mason Center Festival Pavillion.  The stunning backdrop of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and the bay contributed to the ambience that made this a rare opportunity to sample the finest wines in the country. The estimated attendance was more than 6000, and with hundreds of wines to tasteIt was the ultimate tasting experience. Along with the excellent wines there was a plethora of gourmet delicacies provided by artisan food vendors.

Although we have attended many wine events, this one far surpassed anything that we've ever experienced. We found the atmosphere to be quite comfortable. Even with 6000 people in attendance it wasn't crowded, hectic or overwhelming.  it had the feeling of a very large gathering of friends. There was a liveliness in the air that promoted a feeling of congeniality and friendliness. The diverse crowd was made up of connoisseurs, people with a true appreciation for fine wines.

We tasted wines that were truly amazing, and rightfully deserving of the awards they had won. Our favorites included a shiraz, several chardonnays and a very memorable gevurztraminer. Many of the wines came from family-owned vineyards so the passion exhibited by the winemakers was like that of proud parents.

Due to overwhelming public demand, admission to the public tasting is limited, and the event consistently sells out beforehand each year. Advanced purchase is encouraged and available at www.winejudging.com. 

Hope to see you there next year!

San Francisco remains one of the world’s favorite cities and it is also one of ours. With so many choices of activities - from dining to entertainment to museums,and the list goes on – our biggest dilemma is where to start our adventure once we enter the city. Although we usually favor boutique hotels, a recent visit to the city found us at the Grand Hyatt on Stockton so that we could use Union Square as our launching pad.  This outdoor plaza surrounded by trendy boutiques, hotels, street vendors and fine restaurants, makes for a great people-watching spot. The ice skating rink, a real treat for Californians, was filled with many skaters, from novice to expert level. The open-air tour buses passed quite frequently, as did the cable cars, filled with excited tourists from around the globe. It is possible to stand at any spot on the square and hear several languages being spoken, or engage in conversation with someone from another country.

Although the area is known for fine dining, it also a great area to “eat on the cheap”.  There are even sidewalk hot dog vendors. On this trip we chose to focus on affordable dining and enjoyed a great lunch at Hubert Keller’s (of Fleur De Lys fame) Burger Bar on the sixth floor of Macy’s; hands down the best turkey burger we’ve ever eaten. The view of Union Square from its window is worth a visit in itself.

Shopping on Union Square is legendary, and it never hurts to look.  And window shopping certainly never hurt anybody’s wallet. Choices abound and include Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Barney’s as well as designer shops like Prada, Gucci and Mont Blanc. All were still running exceptional after-Christmas sales so there were many great deals to be had.  Service is one of the most enjoyable aspects of shopping there. At Neiman Marcus we were assisted by a delightful French lady named Josiane, who offered several recommendations for our upcoming trip to Paris.

San Francisco is an international city and the blending of many cultures makes its energy electrifying.  We are fortunate to live in the area and will continue to be frequent visitors to our favorite city.