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<a href="https://www.sprucesf.com/">Spruce</a> in San Francisco: A Gastronomic Delight with Exquisite Ambiance

Hey there foodie friends! Today, I wanted to share my recent dining experience at Spruce in San Francisco. Nestled in the vibrant Presidio Heights, this upscale dining destination perfectly blends sophisticated flavors with an inviting atmosphere. So, grab a seat and let&#39;s dive into a memorable culinary journey!

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1. Food: (4/5) A Culinary Symphony of Flavors

The menu at Spruce is a tantalizing showcase of seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Whether you opt for the tasting menu or the bar menu, prepare to have your taste buds dance with joy! From the first bite to the last, every dish is meticulously crafted with precision and creativity. The use of bold flavors and elegant plating truly reflects the culinary mastery of Spruce&#39;s team. The caviar service is ridiculous how good it is to enjoy and perhaps pair some champagne.

Remember, while the tasting menu might seem like a splurge, Spruce&rsquo;s bar menu offers a more casual and affordable way to experience their culinary expertise. Whatever you choose, don&#39;t forget to save room for dessert as Spruce is renowned for its innovative sweet creations. Beignets are terrific.

2. Service: (5/5) Elevating Hospitality to an Art Form

Spruce&#39;s approach to hospitality is simply exceptional. From the moment you step through the door, you are greeted by warm and knowledgeable staff who treat you like a longtime friend. Their passion for hospitality shines through every interaction, offering personalized recommendations and attending to your every need with impeccable service. It&#39;s clear that creating a memorable dining experience is at the forefront of Spruce&#39;s philosophy. The sommeliers are top notch, in fact they 3 or more on the floor at any time. Everyone is very knowledgeable, it&rsquo;s clear they do an amazing job of training.

3. Wine List: (4/5) A Sophisticated Journey for Wine Enthusiasts

Calling all wine aficionados! Spruce&#39;s wine program is a true gem. Their thoughtfully curated wine list boasts an impressive selection of both classic and lesser-known wines from around the world. The list is not small by any means, in fact might be too big for one to manage on their own. Thank goodness we have an <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/corkrules-wine-confidence/id1631528589">app</a> for that. With great attention to detail, the wine program at Spruce offers a depth that caters to every palate and budget. As mentioned above their sommeliers are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate. They&#39;re more than happy to guide you through the menu, suggesting perfect pairings that complement your culinary journey.

<a href="https://www.corkrules.com/spruce/episodes/447">CorkRules Podcast Episode #275</a>

4. Vibe (5/5): Elegance and Warmth Collide

Spruce sets the stage for a memorable dining experience with its beautifully designed dining room and inviting bar area. The dining room exudes sophistication with its cozy fireplace, elegant chandeliers, and plush seating. It&#39;s the perfect setting for a special date night or celebrating a milestone. On the other hand, the bar area offers a more vibrant and livelier atmosphere, making it ideal for casual get-togethers with friends or enjoying a pre-dinner cocktail. No matter where you choose to sit, Spruce guarantees a warm and welcoming ambiance that adds to the overall dining experience.

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Spruce in San Francisco is a culinary haven that deserves a spot on every food lover&#39;s list. With its exceptional menu, stellar service, impressive wine program, and inviting atmosphere, Spruce is a must-visit destination that will undoubtedly leave you wanting to return for more. So, gather your friends, make a reservation, and prepare for a gastronomic journey that will delight your senses and create lasting memories. Cheers to good food, great company, and unforgettable experiences!

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Hey there foodie friends! Today, I wanted to share my recent dining experience at Spruce in San Francisco. Nestled in the vibrant Presidio Heights, this upscale dining destination perfectly blends sophisticated flavors with an inviting atmosphere. So, grab a seat and let's dive into a memorable culinary journey!

Spruce in San Francisco: A Gastronomic Delight with Exquisite Ambiance

Wines from grapes grown in higher altitude areas with cooler climate has become quite the trend recently. This specific growing environment gives intense flavor but elegance and freshness to the final wines. To highlight and champion these conditions more and more winemakers are starting to use alto as a marketing and labelling term to show their grapes were grown in high altitude vineyards.

Decoding the wine label: Alto

Brut is a word often seen on labels for different kinds of sparkling wine. As you may have discovered when drinking these wines, it indicates that the wine is dry, meaning there is no perceived sweetness in the wine. But how about Extra Brut or Dry, what do they mean and are they the same as Brut?

Decoding the wine label: Brut

Semi-sweet Riesling, a type of wine falling out of style. It’s a shame, since these wines are perfect to pair with flavorful cuisines like Asian or Mexican, or simply drink as they come under the summer sun. The higher level of sugar left in the wine also means that the alcoholic fermentation was stopped before finishing, providing a wine with lower alcohol level and therefor easier grabbing a second glass of.

Decoding the wine label: Spätlese

Have you ever heard the word Xinomavro? Most have not. It is however a word on many sommeliers’ lips today, as it happens to be considered the grape variety with the highest quality in Greece, and one that is trending at the moment. The fact that Greece have been making wine for a long time comes as no surprise, but they have never exported an amount to make sure wine lovers around the globe tried it. With the growing wine tourism many have discovered these wines and are serving them in wine bars and restaurants in many countries today.

Decoding the wine label: Xinomavro

Chianti Classico, Valpolicella Classico, Soave Classico… Why do all these Italian wine regions have the Classico addendum and what does it mean? What is the difference for wines labeled as Classico?

Classico is a wine term in Italy seen on a few wine labels and it indicates that the wine’s from the historic center of the region, the heart. Using Chianti and Chianti Classico and their Sangiovese-based red wines as an example, Chianti is a rather large wine district within the Tuscany region. Chianti Classico is located withing Chianti as the central part and the one that originally existed. Back then this smaller region was actually called Chianti, but as the region grew the quality of the wine plummeted and the well-known characteristics of these red wines were watered down. The reputation took a hit and sales diminished. Eventually this led to the creation of Chianti Classico, which would be drawn from the original Chianti borders to recover the typicity of these wines. Today the quality of both Chianti and Chianti Classico have risen a lot due to modern techniques and knowledge about pruning, planting and temperature control in the winery.

Decoding the wine label: Classico

In the rarefied world of fine wine, where bottles can command prices equivalent to luxury cars, authenticity is everything. Laurent Ponsot's gripping memoir "FBI: Fake Bottle Investigation" reads more like a high-stakes thriller than a traditional wine book, chronicling his relentless pursuit of one of the wine world's most infamous counterfeiters, Rudy Kurniawan.

From Burgundy's Vineyards to the FBI's Most Wanted: A Winemaker's Quest for Justice

Chablis – one of the more popular styles of wine today and a region known by many. Most are familiar with the word Chablis and the light, fresh white wine with a touch of minerality it brings. Even though it’s a renowned wine, few knows what it really is.

Decoding the wine label: Chablis

Many grape varieties around the world of wine have names local to the region or country they’re grown in, even though they’re exactly the same. The most famous example would be Syrah in France where the same grape is named Shiraz in Australia. Another variety with two names is Pinot Grigio, or Pinot Gris.

Decoding the wine label: Pinot Grigio

Have you ever seen the term sur lie on a wine label? It’s not a grape and not a wine region, but a winemaking method used to give certain styles of white wine a rounder texture and a more complex flavor profile.

Decoding the wine label: Sur lie

Urban Farmer Portland

Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas bring a little country to the city with a wine list review from the Urban Farmer, a modern steakhouse in Portland, Oregon.

Wine List Review of Urban Farmer, Portland

Grace Hood

Urban Farmer

Urban Farmer

RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!&nbsp;

A podcast where, in each episode,&nbsp;we will review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier. Hello Grace,&nbsp;it&rsquo;s great to have you!

GH: Hey Robert happy to be here as always. &nbsp;

RT: Before we jump in, let&rsquo;s talk about CorkRules. We created CorkRules to demystify wine lists because we know from experience, that sometimes when we get that list handed to us, well&hellip; it can be intimidating, and even a little daunting.

Our aim is to help prepare you to navigate that list, find those hidden gems, or value wines or that special bottle that will take your dining experience over the top.

RT:&nbsp;So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list. Today Grace and I will be talking about the award-winning wine list at The Urban Farmer in downtown Portland. Can&rsquo;t wait to hear your thoughts. &nbsp;

GH: Thanks, Robert! Yeah, this place looks right up our alley! They have a nice international selection, as well as obviously a killer pacific northwest list, when in Rome and all haha &nbsp;&nbsp;

RT: Sounds great. Should we dive right in with some sparkling?

GH: Twist my arm why don&rsquo;t ya, ha-ha for bubbles, I would do either the 2018 King Estate Brut Cuvee, or the 2019 Brut Rose from the Famous Argyle Winery

RT: Oregon sparkling &ndash; sounds heavenly. Alright, where would you steer us when it comes to the whites? &nbsp;&nbsp;

GH: Well, it wouldn&rsquo;t be Oregon without some reisling. I&rsquo;m loving the look of this 2019 Wichmann Vineyard from Triseatuem. They also have a 2021 White Blend from Division Winery called Musical Chairs which sounds like a super fun option.

RT: Ha-ha love a whimsically named wine. How are their selections looking for Oregon chardonnay?

GH: Absolutely delicious obviously! They have one of my favorite wineries, Domaine Drouin, on the list. I would grab their 2020 Arthur Chardonnay. Another great option would be the 2019 Toil from Figgins Winery.

RT: Hope you&rsquo;re not toiling away too hard on this list ha-ha I kid I kid. Now with Oregon being known for pinot noir, they must have some killer rose.

GH: They sure do Robert. For Oregon Rose, I would do either the 2021 Teutonic Rose, or the 2021 Acid Freak from Libertine.

RT: I can taste the salinity from here ha-ha thanks for that Grace. Alright we&rsquo;ve come to your favorite, haven&rsquo;t we? Willamette Valley pinot?

GH: &nbsp;You know me too well Robert! My top choices for Oregon pinot from the Urban Farmer list would be the 2015 Backbone from King Estate, or the 2014 Grace Vineyard from Domaine Serene (no relation unfortunately ha-ha), you could also do the 2016 Chapter 24 which is exclusive to Urban Garmer so that would be a really special bottle to try.

RT: Of course, your name would be a pinot noir vineyard in the Willamette Valley ha-ha only fitting. Love those choices, Grace. Now how about it we&rsquo;re wanting something a little more lush and juicy?

GH: Ahhh I see where you&rsquo;re heads at. I&rsquo;m loving the look of this 2017 Merlot from the Historic Leonetti Cellars, or this 2016 Tempranillo from Abacela Cellars in Southern Oregon.

RT: Southern Oregon? Wow, I didn&rsquo;t even know they grew wine outside of the Willamette Valley. Love learning something new from all the CorkRules sommeliers.

GH: That&rsquo;s what we&rsquo;re here for Robert! To educate and entertain

RT: You certainly do both of those things in spades grace ha-ha alright now how about we finish it off with something big and bold?

GH: You got it Robert. I would go with either the 2017 Col Solare from the Yakima Valley, or the 2016 Reserve from Leonetti

RT: Love the sound of those Grace - thank you so much for helping us navigate the wine list at Urban Farmer. &nbsp;To our audience, thank you all for joining us here on CorkRules.&nbsp; If you would like us to review one of your favorite restaurants, please send us email to: <a href="mailto:Info@corkrules.Com">Info@CorkRules.Com</a> or visit our web website where we have a request form available and we will do our best to get it in the queue as quickly as possible.

We are looking forward to being with you on another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime, please check out our website for other episodes of your favorite restaurant wine lists. Follow us on social media @CorkRules and @wineswithgrace

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

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Thank you.

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End

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CorkRules application allows you to discover wines at your favorite restaurants, learn with friends and be confident with price transparency. Order wine with confidence at restaurants and retailers. Get personalized recommendations. #DrinkWhatYouLove

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