If there’s one thing we don’t need more of in San Francisco, it is public tastings of California wine. Nearly every varietal has got one at this point and some varietals (ahem – you know who you are) have up to five different tastings dedicated to them. That’s not to mention those tastings dedicated to a whole genre of California wines, such as those made by small producers or those made in the style of a certain area of France.
No, what we really need more of in San Francisco are tastings of wines from other places.
Which is why I was particularly interested to find out about something called The French Wine Affaire. Held at Fort Mason this coming Sunday, this event purports to be a showcase of the many wines of France, covering nearly every major wine region.
Put on by the French Wine Society, this is one of the first such events of its kind. Over 150 wines will be poured, accompanied by hors d’hoeuvres and French cheeses.
Some of the producers whose wines will be on offer include:
Chateau Beaucastel
Vincent Girardin
William Faiveley
Charles Heidsick
Marc Kreidenweiss
Pierre Morey
Louis Latour
Domaine Weinbach
I’m always urging my readers to educate themselves about some of the better wines of the world, and such tastings are a perfect way to do so without breaking the bank. Not to mention the fact that at such tastings the folks pouring the wines often know something about them as well, increasing the opportunity to learn.
I have heard from the event organizers that they expect to sell out within the next 48 hours, so if you’re interested I recommend getting tickets ASAP.
The French Wine Affaire
Sunday, March 4th, 2007 – 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Fort Mason, Convention Center
Buchanan St and Marina Blvd, San Francisco
Tickers are $55 for French Wine Society members and $65 for non-members, and can be purchased online.
Parking at Fort Mason is always variable. Now that the lot is paid, there tends to be more, but usually I avoid it and park on nearby city streets, which isn’t always easy.
As for all public tastings, I recommend a good night’s sleep, eating a good lunch beforehand, dark clothes, and the intelligence to spit instead of swallow.
