Dashe Cellars: Urban Winery
Where there is good food, there is good wine. I can honestly say that about Oakland, a City that doesn’t get enough recognition for its urban wineries. Our perfectly moderate temperature in Oakland doesn’t allow for the growing of grapes here, but grapes can be harvested from some of the best vineyards within 100 miles distance and then transported here to produce some fine wine.
One of the oldest winemakers in Oakland and my favorite is Dashe Cellars, which is celebrating 20 years. A good friend of mine and a long time supporter of Dashe introduced me to their single vineyard wines about ten years ago. Dashe specializes in Zinfandels.
The owners, Michael and Anne Dashe started their winemaking venture in 2006 with the production of a Dry Creek Zinfandel and has carried on a successful Oakland business to be proud of.
I was lucky enough to be a plus one to attend the 20 year anniversary party at the Dashe Cellars in Jack London Square last weekend, an evening of food and wine. The highlights were drinking wine, meeting many of the Dashe team members, drinking wine, eating BBQ, and drinking wine.
Me and a Jeroboam aka Double Magnum
My favorite wine of the evening was the Dashe Cellars’ 2007 Zinfandel Florence Vineyard from Dry Creek Valley. It had intense fruity flavors and was very smooth. It’s hard to believe the first grapes planted on this vineyard by Jack Florence was in 2002.
I counted at least a dozen wineries in Oakland. The City of Oakland offers an urban wine trail map to visit many of them. Enjoy!
