Weekend Wine Expedition Stop 1; South In San Francisco

We’re back from our weekend wine expedition… a little tired, but with smiles on our faces. This week I’ll be highlighting the stops on our trip in chronological order. So let’s start with Stop #1…Friday involved several meetings, and shockingly enough the venue for one of those meetings was… a wine bar. I know, it’s crazy…

We were in the SOMA area of San Francisco, not far from AT&T Park (where the San Francisco Giants play). Lo and behold, we parked the WineExpedition motor home and there was South.

South is a restaurant/wine bar that promises the best of food and wine from from Australia and New Zealand (the name South is referencing to the Southern Hemisphere…. get it?)

Food was not in our plans, but certainly an afternoon glass of wine can always be accommodated. The vibe inside was cool… smart, modern decor, plenty of room and plenty of light. A very friendly manager suggested we try a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc called Manu.

The official language of New Zealand is Maori, and the Maori word for bird is ‘Manu’ (I’m not sure what the Maori word for duck is). I say that because Manu is is a partnership between New Zealand wine folk Steve and Caroline Bird and California’s David and Michelle Duckhorn (of Duckhorn, Decoy, Paraduxx, Goldeneye and Migration fame). And while I could keep making bird references, it would probably be best if I just discuss the wine.

It was a sunny day in San Francisco, and the wine was nice and cold. The nose was full of fresh tropical aromas and the palate was too: pineapples and passion fruit with a tinge of herbal notes. A nice, light, fresh wine, it was a good reminder that New Zealanders know a thing or two about Sauvignon Blanc.

I promised the manager that we’d return to South to check out the food side of things. They also have periodic events that feature Aussie and New Zealand special tastings as well as visits from prominent wine makers. A must visit if you find yourself in the San Fran area.

It was a great way to start our weekend… Check in tomorrow for a report on Stop #2…