Here’s the final installment of our Wine Blitz Picks – wines we’re excited to have in stock for our spring sale. This weekend, we’re all about putting a little spritz in your summer! All of these wines have a little bit of natural effervescence making them all no-brainers for refreshing summer wines.

2010 Bengoetxe Getariako Txakolina  -  $17.99; Blitz Price  -  $14.39

Txakoli (say ‘chok-o-lee’) is the go-to wine for the people of Basque country Spain. With a long tradition, this style of wine has been made and drunk in copious amounts since the mid-1800s. It’s always light, crisp, refreshing, and bottled just before fermentation finishes resulting in a little bit of residual carbon-dioxide in the wine. The Basque people drink it by the gallon and with anything from local fresh fish to meat; and you should too! Bengoetxe is one of the only organic Txakoli producers in Basque country and is known for holding their wines back before release. The result is a slightly richer style of Txakoli with just a hint of effervescence. Crisp, tart lime flavors and a salty minerality make this very mouth-watering.

2012 Ameztoi Rubentis  -  $21.99; Blitz Price  -  $17.59

Ameztoi is one of the best Txakoli producers in the area, with a picturesque location that overlooks the Bay of Biscay. They’re also one of the few Txakoli producers dedicated to staying traditional while other less-reputable wineries around them falsify the typical spritzy-ness of Txakoli by artificially adding CO2. They’ve experimented in bottling a rosé Txakoli, and we have to say it’s one of our favorite rosés every year! Light raspberry aromas and followed by flavors of tart blood orange, minerals, sea salt, and bracing acidity. We certainly understand why the Basque people drink this stuff by the gallon.

2011 Casebianche La Matta  -  $19.99; Blitz Price  -  $15.99

Casebianche is a newer winery in Campania, Italy; it was founded by Betty and Pasquale Mitrano in 2000. They’re dedicated to organic viticulture, naturally made wines, and have produced some great terroir-driven wines from their small vineyard. This Spumante Integrale, is bottled unfiltered and unfined just before fermentation ends, trapping some residual CO2. Made from Fiano, typical to Campania, it has aromas of fresh pear, quince, and Meyer lemon. Just lightly bubbly, it’s medium-bodied with a dry-finish and flavors reminiscent of a tart, dry, cider. It’s very limited – grab some while you can!

Beat the crowds! Place an order via e-mail or give us a call at 415-241-9760 by Sunday to order your case. You can choose 12 bottles of your fave vino or mix and match! 

ROOTS: a solo exhibition by Laura Parker
April 13 through May 30, 2013
Opening Friday April 5, 6-9 pm

Laura is a San Francisco-based conceptual artist whose work often focuses on agriculture, the environment and social structure. As an interdisciplinary artist she works in drawing, painting, artists books, and installation. Her 2001 work, “How far are you from the farm? A mile or a generation?” invited library patrons to fill a wall with memories and experiences of the land. Parker’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including at Copia Center for Food, Wine & the Arts; Triton Museum of Art; Sonoma County Museum; Falkirk Cultural Center; San Francisco Public Library’s Jewett Gallery; Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum in Cologne, Germany; MR Gallerie and the Chateau de Nieuil, France.

Here’s what Laura has to say about her upcoming exhibit in our 18 Reasons space:

Tom Willey, who farms 80 acres in Madera, leaned across his dinner table and extended his open palm toward me. He said, “If my hand were filled with soil, there would be more microorganisms here there than the number of people on this planet.” The diversity of microbes associated with plant roots is enormous, in the order of tens of thousands of species. Yes, I knew there were a lot of microorganisms but somehow this image presented the information in a very different context to me.

Since that time I have been fascinated with the hidden world of the soil, from seeing if my senses could detect the transference from soil to plant and vice verse to imagining the hidden world of that landscape. Like most people, when I think of landscape I think of trees, plants and sky. But what of the world below—the one I can’t see? Everything we see is dependent on what we do not see: the soil, the roots, and the microorganisms. Our world, and that includes us, could not exist without the soil. We walk on it, we eat it, we build with it, we breathe it.

Did you know that some roots of native perennial grasses can provide up to 80% of the organic matter that regenerates rich prairie soil? And that some of these grasses develop roots reaching 12 to 15 feet deep?

We hope you’ll join us to dig into some of these marvels at Laura’s show.

Salty Ginger Sundae, Divis contest winner!

We’ve spent about three years working towards this moment, so today is all about celebrating the long, winding path that brought us here. And what better way to do so than by treating ourselves to the newest additions to our Divis menu: the winners of our Divis Sandwich and Sundae contest!

The Giuseppe: Fra’ Mani salami and mortadella, provolone, lettuce, red onion, tomato, dijon mustard, pepperoncini, and lemon aioli on an Acme Rustic Baguette (congrats to Joseph Slattery!)

Opening is so sweet!

The Salty Ginger: Ginger ice cream, ginger snaps, sea salt, chocolate fudge, and whipped cream (congrats to Zoe Byl!)

Now that the construction is complete, it’s time to start the important work of building relationships with our guests. Our 60 Divis staff members are eager to meet and feed you. Plus, a bunch of our passionate food makers are joining us to give out tastes of their cheese, jams and more: check out the Divis events on our calendar here.

See you soon! And now more than ever, please let us know how we can better serve you.

P.S. You’ve gotta check out this video of neighborhood pup Trotter on his first visit to the store!

We’re only 48 days away from the launch of San Francisco’s first Food & Farm Film Fest! We’re showing some incredible films (like this one), have lined up our favorite restaurants (Delfina, are you ready for your closeup?) to provide food pairings, and have found inspiring food and agriculture nonprofits to partner with, like the Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT).

We reached our Kickstarter goal this week, raising $3,000 to help launch the fest. Thank you to all our supporters! Now we’re moving on to selling tickets, which will get you access to the full festival program or individual movie screenings. We’re showing documentaries, narrative films, and even our favorite animated food movie.

The festival pass is just $95, and includes the Friday, March 29th opening screening and after party at Four Barrel coffee with bites from Jardiniere, Wise Sons, Pica Pica and more.  Or choose to buy a ticket for an individual screening: $15 gets you a movie paired with a tasty bite from a local chef (our Creamery team will be scooping maple ice cream for all ticket holders at Betting the Farm on Sunday 3/31)!

Please help us spread the word, and make sure to get your tickets early. And if you want to be more involved with the fun, we’d also love to have you as a volunteer. Thanks!

Come find our table on Saturday, January 19th to test your knowledge of all things artisanal. We’ll challenge you to trivia about what it means for makers of chocolate, coffee, charcuterie, beer and other foods to produce in a socially and environmentally responsible way (while aiming for maximum tastiness).

We will be giving away great prizes like a copy of Bi-Rite’s Eat Good Food, Good Food Awards t-shirts and 18 Reason’s memberships to whoever can answer trivia stumpers about how Good Food is produced. Find us near the Beer & Spirits Garden!

Here are some teasers to get you warmed up for the kind of questions we’ll be asking:

Q. Fill in the blank: All chocolate entries for a Good Food Award must be made from _____ to bar or _____to bar.

A. Bean, Liquor

Q. What type of resource conservation must Good Food Award Finalist breweries practice?

A. Water

Arriba Juntos staff with last year's gift collection

-toys (for kids 12 and under)
-books
-sports equipment (e.g. basketballs and soccer balls)
-art supplies

You can drop off these goodies in the barrel at the entrance of the Market from December 17^th to December 20^th, 9AM to 9PM. On the 19^th from 4 to 7pm, I’ll be accepting donations in front of the store – swap a toy for some hot cider, Christmas cookies and a high-five!

We’re lucky to have so many great neighbors and we’re hoping to create a happier holiday for families in need. With your help, we’ll make it a bit easier on Santa and his elves this year.

Excited? Have questions? Email me!

La Posada 2011

Come by the Market today from 4-7 to taste our roasted BN Ranch Heritage Turkey, along with favorite side dishes on our Thanksgiving Menu (including several veggie-friendly), available for pre-order now. And don’t forget the Creamery’s famous Pumpkin Bundt Cake and pies!

Have you ordered your turkey yet? We have five fresh turkey options available for pre-order–check them out on page nine of our Holiday Guide!

We’re here to help, 9 am – 9 pm every day (call us at 415-241-9760).

And while you still have a couple weeks to plot your course, check out our authoritative guide to making your bird and side dishes shine!

Only a week left to make your Wine Blitz list! The first of our two Holiday Wine Blitz Sales officially kicks off next Thursday, November 8th, at which point we’ll take 20% off 12 or more bottles of wine mix-and-match with free delivery in San Francisco. 

We’re so excited about Blitz season that we’re giving wine away! That’s right, free wine. You loyal newsletter readers have a chance to get in on the Wine Blitz action a little early while snagging a bottle of vino on us. 

Here’s how it works: If you come in from Monday, November 5th through Wednesday, November 7th to shop for the Wine Blitz by buying 12 bottles or more and mention the word “Brockway” to anyone on our wine team, we’ll send you home with a free bottle of our 18th Street Zinfandel, crafted for us by Berkeley-based winemaker Chris Brockway. It’s like you’re a secret agent with a secret code for wine! 

Wine Blitz Preview Tasting is this Friday, November 2nd from 6PM – 8PM at 18 Reasons. We’ll be pouring some of our favorites, the perfect chance to taste before you shop. In the meantime, here are some Rhone Valley reds that we’re excited to offer at Blitz price:

2011 Eric Texier Lindigène Sulfureux Yelen  -  $16.99; Blitz Pricing  -  $13.59

Eric Texier has quickly become one of the most well regarded producers in the Rhone Valley. Perhaps it’s because he does not come from a long line of winemakers, like so many other well-known producers, yet makes wine like it’s in his blood. Instead, Eric left life as a nuclear engineer to pursue winemaking in a little-known area of the Rhone called Brézème. He’s credited with helping to revamp the reputation of this forgotten corner of the Rhone. He does not own any vineyards, but works exclusively with a small handful of growers in the area farming using only organic and biodynamic practices. This bottling is his ode to Syrah, one of the primary Rhone varietals. It’s made with carbonic maceration, a technique that brings out more bright fruit characters, and is completely unsulfured. Bright blackberry and currant aromas are followed by flavors of tart black fruit, black pepper, and a light smokey minerality. It’s medium bodied with an assertive acidity that’s sure to stand up to a variety of dishes.

Perfect Pairing: Winter squash and chickpea tagine

2010 Domaine du Joncier ‘Le Classique’ Lirac  -  $22.99; Blitz Pricing  -  $18.39

Unlike Eric Texier, Marine Roussel did grow up in a winemaking family, but chose to pursue an interest in graphics before feeling a pull back to her family’s domaine in 1989. She works her family’s small plot in Lirac, a small appellation in the Southern Rhone neighboring Tavel and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Actually, her terraced vineyards on the right bank of the Rhone directly mirror those of Châteauneuf on the other side. She even has the same galet roulés, or large round rocks that cover clay soils underneath. These are important both in Châteauneuf and for Marine in Lirac, since the rocks help to temper the intense daytime heat while also storing it and keeping the vines warmer during cool nights. Marine’s ‘Le Classique’ bottling is a blend of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Cinsault, and Carignan that is a stunning comparison to Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Dark black cherry and smoky aromas lead to a rich and dense palate of blackberry, cassis, and slate-like minerality. Drinkable now or in a few years!

Perfect Pairing: Duck confit with braised butter beans

2010 Domaine Faury Saint-Joseph  -  $29.99; Blitz Pricing  -  $23.99
Philippe Faury and his son Lionel have a small 11 hectare vineyard in Saint-Joseph. They’ve slowly been converting their family’s old peach and cherry orchards over to grape vines since the 1970s. Today, they’re well known for producing remarkable Syrah from this portion of the Northern Rhone. Like many other regions in the Rhone Valley, grape farming is only possible through terracing. The terracing not only makes steep slopes more manageable but it helps with even sun exposure to ensure even ripening of the grapes. The Faurys use many traditional techniques and are meticulous in their respect for the grapes. They use only used oak barrels and often age their wines in larger barriques and demi-muids (600-liters). This bottling has subtle floral and dark fruit aromas with flavors of blackberry, earthy mushrooms, and a long elegant finish.

Perfect Pairing: Grilled hanger steak with grilled wild mushrooms and onions

Transparency has been the foundation of Bi-Rite since the beginning, and it hinges on our ability to answer questions from our guests. It’s why we source direct, and work independently with hundreds of producers—so that we know the people who make the food, and there’s no middle man that’s a barrier between us and the information. So if we don’t have an answer, we know who to go to to get it. We want our guests to feel confident and comfortable and trust that what they’re buying at Bi-Rite is what they want.

We’ve been doing all we can to spread awareness around the big vote on November 6th–we want Californians to know that this is our opportunity to make a change at a state level that could go on to affect national policy as other California initiatives have. So we’ve organized two events that will happen in these last three weeks before the vote, and want to make sure you join us if you want to learn more about the complicated issue of GMO’s (or if you just think a scoop of non-GMO Caramel Apple Ice Cream sounds tasty!).

GMO Primer Discussion

This Sunday, October 21 from 1-3PM, 18 Reasons is hosting Dave Murphy, founder of Food Democracy Now! and Rebecca Spector, West Coast Director of the Center for Food Safety, for a conversation about GMOs and their affects on our health, environment, culture, and crop-diversity.  Oliveto Restaurant, 5655 College Avenue, Oakland (Right next to Rockridge Bart stop!); Register here: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/281022

Scoops for the Right to Know

We’ve partnered with Straus Family Creamery, true leaders in responsible dairy practices and champions of the campaign to require labeling of GMO foods, to spread the word about the vote on November 6th. Anne and Kris at the Creamery have come up with a special non-GMO ice cream flavor–Caramel Apple, so fall right now–which we’re scooping all the way through November 6th. The clincher is that the weekend before the vote, Saturday November 3rd and Sunday November 4th, we’re offering scoops of this flavor for just 37 cents!

The best thing about the upcoming vote is that it’s sparking conversation about what’s in our food, and our staff, guests and producers are all learning about the ins and outs of GMO’s together. Please share your thoughts in a comment!

Every other year, we partner with the other 18th Street food businesses to thank our neighbors for supporting us, and raise money for six local nonprofits.

As with our 2008 and 2010 block parties, 18th Street will be closed off between Dolores and Guerrero to make room for tasty street food (short rib tacos, kati rolls or salted caramel ice cream, anyone?) and a wine and beer garden. Music performances will happen throughout the day, along with a pie baking contest (this year, the judging will take place inside 18 Reasons)! We’re excited to be joined by newcomers to our neighborhood this year, including namu gaji, Izakaya Yuzuki, and Pot and Pantry.

As in the past, all proceeds from the event (including money raised through tickets sales, sponsorship and the pie baking contest) will go directly to a handful of neighborhood non-profits selected by the organizers. This year, the beneficiaries will be 826 Valencia, 18 Reasons, Nextcourse, Buen Dia Family School, Holy Family Day Home and The Women’s Building.

The pie baking contest is for non-professional bakers. Pies will be judged based on flavor and appearance in the following categories: fruit, chocolate, nut and other. Entrants will be chosen on a first come, first served basis, notified via email by September 15th; click here to enter the contest.

Advance food and beverage tickets will be for sale in the weeks before the block party here, at Delfina, Dolores Park Café, Fayes, and Tartine Bakery. A book of 10 costs $20. Click here to buy your tickets online.

Join our Party on Block 18 Facebook page to get updates on menu items and other announcements leading up to the big day.

If you’d like to volunteer that day, or have any questions for the organizers, please drop us a line.

We’re so grateful to the neighborhood that supports all of our businesses day in and day out, and hope that Party on Block 18 is a chance for everyone to come out and celebrate together the relationships that have been formed in our community. The first two block parties were great and we expect this one to be even better, hoping to raise even more money than ever before for the six amazing organizations in our neighborhood that will greatly benefit from
everyone’s help.

See you there!