Walking into a local wine shop can often be a little daunting. When you consider the vast selection available these days from every corner of the world, it can easily feel overwhelming to narrow down the right choice. Fortunately, some of the top wine shops in the country have excelled in guiding their customers—whether novices or full-fledged enthusiasts—to just the wine they’re searching for. And sometimes, with an open mind and a little trust in your local wine director, you may discover something new and unexpected, something you’ll absolutely love.
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This month, we’re spotlighting a sommelier duo, Master Sommelier Rebecca Fineman and her husband and business partner, Advanced Sommelier Chris Gaither, of Ungrafted in San Francisco’s historic Dogpatch neighborhood. Both a bottle shop and restaurant and wine bar, Ungrafted had been a longtime dream of the vinous couple, who first met at a Court of Master Sommeliers exam in 2012. Today, they continue to share their love of wine, their commitment to service, and a high-energy 3-year-old, who keeps them plenty busy. At Ungrafted, guests will find a friendly, knowledgeable staff of sommeliers to help guide them with their selections, whether taking a bottle away to enjoy at home or popping the cork on-site with friends to enjoy alongside a few house-made nibbles. (Note: You can also discover something new from their well-appointed beer, sake, cider, and vermouth offerings.)
Ungrafted offers a wide selection of wines to buy off the shelf.
Ungrafted is both a wine bar and restaurant, but also has a wide selection of wines available to … [+]UNGRAFTED
“People come to Ungrafted to have some familiar styles of wine and to be exposed to new things. We take pride in having our guests trust us to show them something unique that we think they will like. We see it as part of our responsibility to serve them in this way,” says Fineman, who is always encouraging guests to step a little outside their comfort zones.
“We think drinking the same wine all of the time can be a bit boring,” says Gaither. “Don’t let life get you down—try something new and spice it up!”
2016 Moric Hidden Treasures NR1 Furmint, Tokaj, Hungary, $35
Tokaj, located in northeastern Hungary, is legendary for the production of lusciously sweet styles of wine, primarily from the Furmint grape. Many people are not aware that this famous region also produces seriously lauded dry wines.
Sommelier Chris Gaither chooses from Ungrafted’s well-appointed selection of wines.
Sommelier Chris Gaither and his wife, Rebecca Fineman have spent countless hours curating a … [+]UNGRAFTED
“Moric Hidden Treasures is a really delicious wine,” says Fineman. “Roland Velich of Moric seeks out ‘undiscovered’ winemakers from neighboring regions who are working with indigenous grapes. He aims to team up with them to have a bit of fun and give them a larger platform for exposing the world to their wines. Thus, we have this fantastic bottling of Furmint, featuring Attila Homonna from the famous Tokaj region of Hungary. Bright, refreshing, with lovely texture while maintaining focus.”
2016 Lightwell Survey, Cabernet Franc, The Weird Ones Are Wolves, Shenandoah Valley, Virginia 2016, $40
With its breathtaking views, rolling pastures, and historic towns, the Shenandoah Valley is relished by travelers who often pass through the region without realizing it is a major wine appellation. Gaither hails from Atlanta and is excited to promote some of the cool producers popping up in the southeastern part of the country.
“Virginia? Did you read that right? Yes, indeed. Lightwell Survey is a project headed by sommeliers in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. These brothers are constantly on the hunt for new and exciting grapes and vineyards in their state to create wines of interest and depth. This Cabernet Franc delivers on all fronts. It’s slightly herbal, peppery, fruity and tart. It’s a real crowd-pleaser, especially when people learn that it sees only the smallest amount of sulfur at bottling,” says Gaither.
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