Our monthly wine gatherings, paired with distinctive experiences, seek to offer occasions for  Meetup groups to socialize over a new and different range of wine styles and flavors. We taste a variety of wines for the cost of a glass or flight of three wines at a high mark-up wine bar. AND THE TASTINGS ARE ALWAYS CLOSE TO BART WITH PARKING ALSO NEAR THE VENUE.

Schedule

2:30 - 3:30 The Smithsonian Magazine, as part of its national Free Museum Day program,  sponsored admission to the 75th Anniversary exhibit on the designing and building of the Golden Gate Bridge at the California Historical Society.  

3:45-5:00 p.m. Sampling of boutique wines offered by the new kid on the block, Naked Wines which supports winemakers by inviting wine drinkers to become investment angels at $40/month.  We conducted our September taste-off at a new restaurant inside the Metreon -Split Bread. Terrific nibbles to go with the wines.

This much talked-about resto offered hot spit roasted meats, fresh artisan baked breads, locally sourced produce for salads, house made pickles and spreads, and truly remarkable sandwiches. A deli it ain't (more like a sandwich bistro).  They laid out a showcase spread costing much more than we we paid

Find out more about Split Bread here:

Serious Eats: http://www.seriouseats.com/2012/08/first-look-split-bread-san-francisco.html

Yelp's live-in-primetime photos:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/yelp/sets/7215763153764549

And the wines--presented by Naked Wines: The clear standout was the more expensive Napa Cab crafted by noted local winemaker, Ken Deis.  All the wines--named mostly after the winemaker who crafted them--appealed, with even the lower scoring William Henry Sauvignon Blanc made from Mendocino grapes receiving a "Satisfactory." The South African Cab also scored well at half the price of the Deis. Ditto the Tempranillo from Spain.  

If you put in your $40 "angel" investment each month you can purchase most of the wines at half price, wines that are not available anywhere else.  The wines are already priced very reasonably so you stand to quickly make back your investment while supporting rising winemakers and scooping up varietals at super low prices.  Go to their website to learn more about this fascinating business model.

WINES TASTED                     retail/Angel price  SCORE

Rating system

5  (95+) LOVE IT!~EXTRAORDINARY Platinum Medal - An exceptional, ravishing wine that sets the standard against which other wines are judged

4 1/2 Stars   (92-94) SUPERB ~ REMARKABLE  Double Gold Medal

4 (90-92)  DELICIOUS ~ EXCELLENT Gold Medal- A complex, concentrated wine that balances lush fruit flavors with refinement

3 1/2 Stars (87-89) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ~ VERY GOOD Silver Medal

3  (85-87) LIKE IT~ GOOD  Bronze Medal - A pleasing wine with varietal distinctiveness

2 1/2 Stars (82-84) OK ~ SATISFACTORY

2 (80-82) NEUTRAL~ FAIR - A simple  quaffer for everyday drinking

1 1/2 Stars (77-79) DISAGREEABLE ~ MEDIOCRE

1  (75-77) DISLIKE IT ~ DEFICIENT -  An inferior, innocuous wine that borders on the flawed

RANKING: 1st, 2nd 3rd