San Francisco: new winery under Golden Gate Bridge

The first urban winery inside a US national park is about to open in San Francisco.

Daryl Groom, formerly the senior red winemaker at Penfolds in Australia and Geyser Peak in Sonoma, is poised to launch Foggy Bridge winery in the Presidio, the former military base near the Golden Gate Bridge.

Though there are currently custom crush facilities in San Francisco, there has never been a true working winery. Foggy Bridge, which is expected to produce 8,000 cases, will focus on the classic regions within California.

The winery will produce Cabernet from Napa, a Chardonnay, Pinot Noir from Santa Maria, and a Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc.

‘We want visitors to have a real winery experience,’ Groom said. ‘Wine, food and education in the heart of San Francisco. We also hope to incorporate international wines into our portfolio.’

In addition to a tasting room in a converted 1920s airplane hanger, Foggy Bridge will house the Left Bank Brasserie with chef Roland Passot, who currently runs La Folie, also in San Francisco.

Written by Michael Cervin