Episode Doing Business in the Bayview: Pt 2

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Gratta Wines, Fox & Lion Bread and Shipyard Trust for the Arts Hunters Point Shipyard

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“We’re about connecting art, food, wine and manufacturing”

This episode was first broadcast on KCSF in 2015 as part of our hour long show format and includes three interviews from Bayview community leaders. Welcome to Part Two of Doing Business in the Bayview neighborhood of San Francisco. This second show is focused on the importance of the emerging artisanal food and beverage startups in the Bayview, as well as the economic and cultural significance of the long-standing artist colony in the Bayview and Hunters Point communities.

Barbara Gratta of Gratta Wines

Barbara’s interest in wine making started as a hobby in 1997. At the time, Barbara had relocated from Florida and was working as a PTA in a Skilled Nursing Facility. She was developing a palette for California wines but it was when a colleagues husband tossed a challenge at Barbara, “So what kind of Italian are you…. you’ve never made wine?” that she started on her winemaker journey.

Barbara began making wine in the basement of whatever San Francisco address she resided in bringing home those first tubs of crushed fruit in the trunk of her Toyota Camry. In those days she made only Zinfandel but when Barbara and her partner bought a house with a garage, she soon branched out and made Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Camry was replaced by a rented truck in order to bring back the tons of whole fruit which is sorted and crushed in the garage.

Now that she was producing 3 wines and had increased the amount of wines she was producing, the idea of a garage blend was born! The Garage Blend continues to be a customer favorite and is a bit different each year depending on the fruit and the wine we produce. Barbara has also added Sangiovese and Dolcetto to the wine list recognizing her Italian roots in these varietals.

In 2015 Gratta Wines opened their tasting room in the Bayview neighborhood where Barbara and her partner reside and produce the wine. It’s quickly became a local gathering spot for friends and neighbors to meet up and catch up. The rustic atmosphere where local artists show their work is both welcoming and cozy, inviting one to settle in with a friend and a glass of wine to while away the time. You can order online

Marti McKee, Shipyard Trust for the Arts Hunters Point Shipyard

Marti is an artist working in drawing and printmaking. After a long stint away from making art, high school to late 30's, Marti began a process of expressing herself through figurative drawing and printmaking. She has been an artist at Pier 70’s Noonan Building since 1997. She currently makes etchings, monotypes, linocuts and collographs - almost exclusively figurative work. She has been in many local group exhibitions and my work has been accepted into juried exhibitions nationally and throughout California. Marti has been an San Francisco Open Studios participant for more than 20 years. Visit Marti’s Virtual Gallery

Xan DeVoss of Fox & Lion Bread

Xan is an artisanal master Baker and co-founder of Butchertown Gourmet. Fox and Lion Bread is an artisan bakery in the Bayview Hunters-Point neighborhood in San Francisco. We focus on organic and sustainable ingredients, sourdough breads, and a great environment. You can find gourmet sandwiches, savory pies, soups, pastry, and fair trade coffee at the retail bakery. We make various breads during the week including our famous 4-grain sourdough, traditional rye, bagels, and challah. Fox and Lion also has pizza on Fridays, slices during the day and full pies at night.

Videos

To find out more about Marti McKee’s art at the Hunters Point Shipyard Artists Colony check out this video:

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