The wine world has collided with The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco in the form of a new luxury tasting lounge in the hotel’s lobby. Enlisting the help of winemaker Jean-Charles Boisset, the Ritz’s JCB Tasting Lounge gives guests a stylish place to relax, sip some wine and nibble on appetizers from the Parallel 37 restaurant.
“The wine culture in San Francisco has long been a treasured tradition and one that any visitor to the city should explore. With the hotel collaborating with renowned winemaker Jean-Charles Boisset, guests are invited to discover the bounty of California’s wine country without having to leave the property,” says Bruce Gorelick, General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco.
With many rare wines on offer, the lounge’s design is meant to match the hotel’s sophisticated take on the Bay Area’s style. Bathed in rich purple and gold, the space features cheetah print carpets and accent pillows, fringed padded stool tops, curtain paneled walls and chandelier scones. The food pairings from Parallel 37’s Chef de Cuisine Michael Rotondo feature dishes like Crispy Liberty Farm Duck Fritter with Kumquat Relish and desserts like Nectarine and White Chocolate Bon Bons with Apricot and Chamomile. Or you can choose to go with Gorelick’s absolute favorite, the Flank Steak Steam Bun.
Not just a place to drink wine, the JCB Tasting Lounge also features a couture fashion boutique that was designed by Boisset and Joshua Rowland Interiors, Inc. (because shopping + wine = good decision-making). JCB-branded goodies range from custom-designed jewelry to perfumes, while items from Baccarat, Christofle, Bernardaud and Goyard are also on the roster.
The lounge is open every day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and can be used as a concierge service for booking excursions to JCB's vineyards, such as Raymond Vineyards and DeLoach Vineyards, as well as their lounges in St. Helena, Santa Rosa and Sonoma (and once it opens, Yountville). If you would rather stay in the hotel but still want a cool experience, you can reserve the lounge for private events of up to 14 people, having total access to the eight-person table, four-person bar and the two banquets.
