KIWI POP-UP Good news for those already missing the Kiwi frenzy surrounding
the America’s Cup festivities this summer. The New Zealand–based pop-up restau-
rant Waiheke Island Yacht Club along the Embarcadero in San Francisco will be open
through December. This industrial-chic warehouse-style restaurant, with chef Hayden
McMillan at the helm, became the go-to spot before, after and during the races. Besides
McMillan’s inventive dishes, the establish-
ment also features NZ’s award-winning Moa
Beer on tap and in bottles. And these bottles
are seriously sized — 330, 375 and 750 mil-
liliters up to 1.5 liter magnums. The glass is
thicker and heavier than most beer bottles’ so
all the bottle-fermentation and conditioning
can take place inside. The finished product is
sealed with either a crown cap or a cork and
muselet. waihekeislandyachtclub.com M. T. VINTNER SERIES SOUTH Looking for a wine-
related getaway? Instead of driving north, head
over the Golden Gate Bridge and through the
new Devil’s Slide bypass tunnel to enjoy the
Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay’s vintner series.
It features two great ways to enjoy California
wines: Sip samples of wines on Friday and
Saturday nights in the Eno Wine Bar tasting
room for a tasting fee of $25 to $40 per per-
son. Or dine and imbibe at the resort’s recently
renovated signature Navio restaurant; monthly
four-course vintner’s dinners, priced at $125
per person, will feature Fogarty Winery on Oc-
tober 25, Beauregard Vineyards on November
22 and Duckhorn Vineyards on December 13.
ritzcarlton.com MIMI TO WLE
KEEP IT CORKED Sneak a sip without
opening the bottle. The Coravin System sends a thin, hollow needle through
the foil and cork to pressurize the bottle
with argon (a naturally occurring gas),
then lets wine flow through the needle
and into your glass. This method preserves the remaining wine for years as
the cork reseals itself. coravin.com M. T.
Charge It
Now through December 2013, Harvest Inn in St. Helena is offering the
use of a 240-volt electric car charger as part of an eco-friendly travel
package. The “Recharge your Batteries” travel package includes two
60-minute onsite spa treatments, organic juices at the start of the
day, a tour and tasting at nearby Hall Winery (which also has a charging station) and a $100 gift card for use at the Culinary Institute of
America. Package starts at $559 per night. harvestinn.com M. T.
