Wine, picnic, and flowers on the last undeveloped hilltop in North East Los Angeles. It was a perfect start to what we hope becomes a regular series. Along with my collaborators, Wine Importer Roni Grinach and Fruit Tree Arborist, Joanna Glovinsky, we invited 12 of the best local winemakers (and wild foraged cider!) for a tasting event with a breathtaking view.

Highly Likely Cafe and Monroe Place sold salads and sandwiches and we picnicked until the sun went down.  Peads and Barnetts were selling abundant bouquets of protea and banksia, and making lots of mothers very happy.

Winemakers included Wavy Wines, Caleb Leisure, R.Oneillatta, Bomba Wines, Etteilla, Vin de California, Vinovore, Jumbo Time Wines, Fiky Fiky, Llewelyn Wines, Bardos and Jus Jus

Our Hosts:

Julia Sherman runs Salad for President, an evolving publishing project that draws a meaningful connection between food, art and everyday obsessions. Sherman, and her writing, have been featured in Vogue, The New York Times, T Mag, Domino, Art in America, Food & Wine, and Bon Appétit, amongst others. Sherman is the author of two cookbooks, Salad for President: A Cookbook Inspired by Artists and Arty Parties: An Entertaining Cookbook. Sherman is also the founder and creator of Jus Jus Verjus, and she lives in Los Angeles with her family.

Fruitstitute is an L.A. based fruit tree care and education service. Founded by local fruit tree specialist Joanna Glovinsky, Fruitstitute is the only home orchard service in L.A county, providing seasonal pruning, maintenance, tree planting & education to backyard growers. Fruitstitute takes the art of growing fruit out of the orchard and into the backyard.

Roni Selects is an importer and distributor of natural wine made by a community of savants connected by a common joie de vivre. The company was founded in 2017 by Roni Ginach, former wine director of Michael’s Santa Monica. When Tony Coturri, California’s grandfather of natural wine, needed a hand with his Los Angeles distribution, he asked Roni to help him out. From there, Roni Selects grew organically until it finally found its form as a home and platform for producers working at the radical margins and origins.