Jess Lander

Napa

Wine Reporter at San Francisco Chronicle

Wine Reporter at @sfchronicle. Creator of The Essential Napa Valley Cookbook.

Articles

Small Napa wineries fear local government could deal another blow to their survival

1 month ago | sfchronicle.com | Jess Lander

Like many small Napa Valley wineries, Dalla Valle Vineyards, one of the region's most famous cult Cabernet producers, doesn't have a public tasting room. The local government prohibits it from hosting visitors at its estate. Without the ability to pour its wines for consumers, Dalla Valle has relied heavily on what winemaker Maya Dalla Valle and others refer to as "trade visits" with people in the industry, such as distributors, importers, restaurants and journalists.
Bay Area police: Reported intruder dies after struggle with resident

1 month ago | sacbee.com | Jess Lander

A reported intruder died Saturday morning after a struggle with a Martinez resident, police said. The incident took place at Hale Court in Martinez just before 5 a.m., the Martinez Police Department said in a statement. Officers responded to the residence after a report of someone yelling "intruder." Upon arrival, the resident told police that a man had entered his home without permission and attacked him. The resident said he knew the alleged intruder.
East Bay crews respond to downed plane

1 month ago | sacbee.com | Jess Lander

A plane went down Saturday outside of Brentwood, but no one was injured, according to Contra Costa County fire officials. The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District reported on X around noon that it responded to the scene of a downed aircraft near Camino Diablo and Vasco Road in Byron. No fire was reported. The two passengers were able to get out of the plane on their own, Joe Ottolini, fire prevention captain, told the Chronicle.
Trump seeks to eliminate two California national monuments

1 month ago | sfchronicle.com | Jess Lander

A week before leaving office, former President Joe Biden established two new California national monuments, including one near Mount Shasta. On Friday, President Donald Trump issued an executive order reversing Biden's proclamation. The Sáttítla National Monument and Chuckwalla National Monument cover nearly 850,000 acres of desert and mountainous land in California.
Oakland wine bar closing after eight 'wonderfully challenging' years

1 month ago | sfchronicle.com | Jess Lander

A neighborhood Oakland wine bar and restaurant announced it will close at the end of the month. Perle, known for its French-Mediterranean cuisine mash-up, helped pioneer the Bay Area trend of wine bars operating as full-scale restaurants. The restaurant opened in 2017 and brought a sophisticated dining experience to Oakland's otherwise casual Montclair Village.
The 11 most exciting Bay Area restaurants coming this spring

1 month ago | sfchronicle.com | Elena Kadvany |Mario A. Cortez |Jess Lander

Spring is shaping up to be an incredibly exciting season for the Bay Area food scene. The region is getting a major Korean food complex in Daly City and a huge food hall in Oakland. A buzzy seafood spot from out-of-state is opening its first Northern California restaurant. Several prominent local chefs are opening new ventures, from a fine-dining pair's Korean-Taiwanese restaurant to a café spinoff from a nationally acclaimed pizzeria.
Napa winery must shut down tasting room after 6-year legal battle

2 months ago | sfchronicle.com | Jess Lander

Six years into a contentious legal battle with Napa County, Hoopes Vineyard must immediately shut down its tasting room. On Thursday, a judge granted a preliminary injunction against Hoopes, which prohibits the small winery from selling and serving wine from its premises and hosting events. It also forces the winery to relocate its animal sanctuary, a popular attraction for visiting families, within two weeks.
Wine Country restaurant founder embezzled money, drank $250,000 worth of wine, lawsuit alleges

2 months ago | flipboard.com | Jess Lander

1 day agoWhether you're a regular in the Trader Joe's ~adult beverage~ section or have never stepped foot inside the wonderful walls filled with wines, beers, ciders, spirits, mixers, and more, the one thing you need to know is that it's magical. They have an essentially endless supply of sips that'll help you …
California wine faces blow from Trump tariffs, Canada

2 months ago | sfchronicle.com | Jess Lander

Canada, the U.S. wine industry's largest export market, has enacted 25% tariffs on American goods, including alcohol.
‘Any alcohol use’ can cause cancer, contentious federal study finds

Jan 14, 2025 | sfchronicle.com | Esther Mobley |Jess Lander

The report could influence the U.S. Dietary Guidelines. The California wine industry has accused its authors of bias and a lack of transparency.