Chocolate and Wine Cruise on SF Bay: July 19th Off White Edition

Join us July 19th, 2025 for the Chocolate & Wine CRUISE on San Francisco Bay onboard a luxury yacht, where you will taste wines and chocolates. Where your favorite off white outfit too!

The day’s adventure takes place onboard a luxury yacht, where you will taste wines from a local winemaker, along with samples from a curated selection of local chocolate, toffee,  and wine.

Walk among the various artisans and experience their latest creations. Explore and luxuriate on the yacht, and enjoy it all during the 2 1/2-hour cruise on the San Francisco Bay.

Then take home some of that great food and wine you’ve discovered and purchased onboard for continued enjoyment.

EXCLUSIVE: The Chocolate & Wine Cruise is Limited to only a 100 attendees

GET TICKETS HERE.

1:00-3:30pm (yacht sets off at 1pm SHARP).

Must be over 21 years of age.

 

WATCH THE VIDEO!

 

READ THIS INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO USE YOUR ADVANCE TICKET

1. Purchase Advance Tickets

2. Your purchased ticket or tickets are reserved for you. Please bring your ticket confirmation sheet with you to Will Call for the Cruise, with a Photo ID.

3. If you purchase more than one ticket, all attendees must be present in order to receive the tickets, which are under your name only.

4. Each ticket purchased is good for the day of the event only.

5. Due to the limited capacity for this event, No refunds available within 7 days of the event (or after Advance Ticket sales are completed, if sold out earlier)

6. For faster check in, bring your confirmation printout (with scanner bar code on it)

2 Luxury Book Gifts for Food and Wine lovers

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Great Wines for the Mothers in Your Life

Every season has its own time for wines, and has wines that are good matches for the time. For example, wine connoisseur and entrepreneur Stephanie Franklin observes that Spring is a season that invites a delightful transition in the world of wines, marked by a shift towards lighter, refreshing options that perfectly complement the blossoming surroundings. During this time you can even plan ahead and select the perfect wine to gift for Mother’s Day, anniversaries or birthdays – a bottle as exceptional and timeless as the mothers being celebrated. Opting for a sparkling wine, light rosé with its delicate hues, or flavorful pinot grigio accompanied by nuanced flavors can embody the grace and femininity associated with motherhood. A carefully chosen bottle accompanied by a heartfelt note makes for a memorable and cherished gift, expressing gratitude and love in a truly refined manner.

The best gifts for moms mean a lot to Franklin as she lost her mother a few years ago. That was the moment she decided to move on from her job in AdTech and launch a wine company she always dreamed of, Fly Wines. Fly Wines’ recently launched international wine collection presents selections to wine lovers looking to provide their palette with new and exciting tastes, regardless of their level of wine experience or expertise.

As a Black female in the industry, Stephanie knows how minority-owned wineries — both female and black alike — are not just changing the flavor profile of the wines, but are also influencing the industry’s future direction, making it more representative of society’s diverse fabric.

Some unique wines recommended by Stephanie and Fly Wines include:

  • Patara Beyaz (Dry White Wine) by Likya : A crisp, unoaked Patara Beyaz with citrus and floral notes pairs well with a variety of dishes.
  • Grechetto by Goretti: As an aperitif, excellent with many dishes, fish and white meat. Deep and elegant with fruit notes, in parti- cular, on the nose, are notes of pineapple, banana, yellow peach, scotch broom flowers and almonds
  • Merlot by Mosole: Soft and approachable, Merlot offers flavors of plum, cherry, and vanilla, making it a versatile choice for many dishes.
  • Cabernet Sauvignon by Fortino: Aged for over three years in French oak barrels. This wine is dark velvet in color, with rich, bold aromas of blackberries and cherries. There are delicate hints of cloves, a pinch of black pepper, and smokey oak flavors that allow it to pair deliciously with beef dishes, from charred cheeseburgers to well-marinated ribeye steaks.

Of course, if you like them then you can absolutely drink or gift these wines at any time of year and for any reason.

3 Red Wines for More than the High Holidays

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How to Pick Out a Good Australian Wine – What to Look For & Avoid



Sometimes we can’t be an expert in everything, especially wines from different regions, but if you’re confused about what makes a good Australian wine, wine experts Jane Lopes and Jonathan Ross have 3 great tips for you to try. They are authors of the book How to Drink Australian An Essential Modern Wine Book .

Jane Lopes and Jonathan Ross: There’s never been a more exciting time to drink Australian wine. The country most known for cheap critter wines and bold shiraz is actually the country to go to for quality wines in just about every style and price-point. Australia has reached an amazing confluence of generational knowledge, old-vine material, and a spirit of innovation that, combined, is creating some of the world’s greatest wines.

So how to you pick out a good bottle?

  1. Be willing to try something new. There are world-class wines made from the most popular and frequently consumed grapes: chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, and merlot. But, when grown at scale to achieve easy prices, they fall short almost everywhere.  If you venture further afield to try, say, an Australian nero d’avola, grenache or riesling, there’s a better chance that you’ll find something made and selected with care, rather than something manufactured to meet the demand of the market.
  2. Look for a region on the bottle. There are plenty of great Australian wines that say ‘South Eastern Australia’ on the back (a catch-all appellation for the wine regions of South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, and Queensland) – take, for example, Penfolds Grange: Australia’s most prized and expensive wine! But often you can find wines made at an estate vineyard when there is a more specific wine region on the label: something like Heathcote, Barossa Valley, Yarra Valley, Beechworth, Tasmania, Margaret River, etc. The list is long!
  3. Find a wine shop you trust. This is the best piece of advice in all matters wine! Wine shops that spend lots of energy and time selecting bottles for you are going to come up with the best bottles. And small, independently owned wine shops will often be able to work with the smaller production wines that grocery stores and national chains won’t. So find your local wine merchant, and get to know them. They’ll get to know you – your pallet, your budget, your tastes – and will help you find the best bottle. 

ABOUT Jane Lopes and Jonathan Ross

Jane Lopes is a sommelier, author, and importer, having worked at New York’s Eleven Madison Park, Nashville’s The Catbird Seat, Chicago’s The Violet Hour, and most recently as the wine director at Melbourne’s Attica, before passing the prestigious master sommelier exam in 2018. Lopes published her first book, Vignette: Stories of Life and Wine in 100 Bottles, in 2019. In 2020, Lopes co-founded Legend, an Australian wine imports company, with husband Jonathan Ross, to help bring the great wines they’d experienced in Australia to the US. She is now based in Nashville. She is the co-author of How To Drink Australian: An Essential Modern Wine Book (Murdoch Books / September 2023 / $60).

Jonathan Ross is a sommelier and wine importer whose career in restaurants has included posts at New York’s Eleven Madison Park, Oceana and Anthos, and as the beverage director for Australia’s Rockpool Dining Group. Ross passed the prestigious master sommelier exam in 2017, has curated wine offerings for Qantas Airlines, and founded the boutique wine label Micro Wines. In 2020, Ross returned to the US, eager to spread the word of the world-class wine he’d worked with in Australia, and co-founded Legend Imports in 2020 with his wife Jane Lopes. He is the co-author of How To Drink Australian: An Essential Modern Wine Book (Murdoch Books / September 2023 / $60).

6 Most Common Things That People Get Wrong about Wine

Wine is a complex and nuanced beverage that has been enjoyed for centuries. However, despite its long history, there are still many misconceptions and misunderstandings about wine that persist today. Let’s take a look the six most common things that people get wrong about wine.

  1. Expensive wine is always better than cheap wine. This is one of the most persistent myths about wine, and it simply isn’t true. While some expensive wines may be of exceptional quality, there are also many excellent wines available at more affordable prices. The key to finding a great wine is to learn about different varietals, regions, and styles, and to taste as many different wines as possible.
  2. White wine should only be served chilled and red wine should only be served at room temperature. While it is true that white wine is typically served chilled and red wine is typically served at room temperature, this isn’t a hard and fast rule. In fact, many red wines can benefit from being served slightly chilled, especially in hot weather. Additionally, many white wines can be enjoyed at a slightly warmer temperature, which can bring out more complex flavors and aromas.
  3. You should only drink wine with a meal. While wine is often enjoyed with food, it is not necessary to always drink it with a meal. Wine can be enjoyed on its own, as an aperitif or a digestif, or as a companion to a variety of different activities, such as reading, relaxing, or socializing with friends.
  4. You should always swirl your wine before drinking it. While swirling your wine can help to release its aromas, it is not always necessary. In fact, many wines are best enjoyed without swirling them at all. The key is to find the right balance between aerating the wine and allowing it to express its full range of flavors and aromas.
  5. You should always hold your wine glass by the stem. While holding your wine glass by the stem is considered proper etiquette, it is not always necessary. In fact, many wine experts prefer to hold their glass by the bowl, as it allows them to better appreciate the wine’s color, aromas, and flavors.
  6. Only certain types of wine are suitable for aging. This is another common misconception about wine. While it is true that some wines are better suited to aging than others, many different types of wine can benefit from being aged. The key to aging wine successfully is to store it in the right conditions, which typically includes a cool, dark, and humid environment.

While there are many myths and misconceptions about wine, it is important to remember that the most important thing is to find a wine that you enjoy. By learning more about different varietals, regions, and styles, and by experimenting with different wines, you can discover the wonderful world of wine and find a wine that is perfect for you.