San Francisco Chronicle Writeup – Carey Sweet

By Carey Sweet

Spoonful’s of mousse, rillettes on a cracker, salumi, cheese, a bit of fruit and pickle… The food pairings are simple at this new spot from industry veteran and former Viansa Winery owner Lloyd Davis, but you can count on pleasing variety. There’s great range in the wines, too, from vineyards across Sonoma Wine Country. That means a Carneros sparkling rosé, 2012 Alexander Valley Merlot, 2012 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel, 2012 Russian River Pinot Noir, a 2012 Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, and a 2012 Sonoma County red blend, all for a $40 fee.

The space is bright and cheerful, with colorful landscape paintings for sale, sleek wood paneling and a glittering glass case of bottles from floor to ceiling. And it’s friendly. You sit on a caramel leather chair at a glass table, and let your guide – often Davis himself – lead you through, explaining the appellations for each wine with a bonus primer on why food and wine work so well together.