From behind the counter at their Uptown Oakland wine bar Punchdown (1737 Broadway, Oakland), husband-wife team D.C. Looney and Lisa Costa preach the gospel of natural, sustainable and biodynamic wines. If you're interested in affordable flights—hailing from California to Georgia—without the pretentious atmosphere, this welcoming spot is for you. Savor a glass and bites in the lofty space lined with reclaimed woods or strike up a lively conversation with the owners from the elegant oak bar (it was made from old wine casks).
What natural wine varietals are you loving?
D.C. Looney: We call them øø (zero-zero). Nothing added, nothing taken away—just raw, fermented grapes. I’m most excited about Furlani Macerato sparkling from the Dolomites in Italy. It’s unfiltered, cloudy and glows bright-pink in the glass.
Lisa Costa: I keep going back to the rich and refreshing Litrozzo Bianco from Le Coste, made from grapes grown on the slopes of a volcanic lake in Italy.
Favorite food and wine pairings?
DL: A red with bone marrow makes me very happy.
Where can we find you on a weeknight?
DL: Monday nights at Ordinaire Wine (3354 Grand Ave, Oakland). The food is cooked by chef Kosuke Tada, and the wine selection is vast and really natty—an experience to write home about for sure.
What’s the next up-and-coming wine region?
DL: Some of the most interesting stuff comes from off the beaten path in Europe. Georgia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic are all on the list right now and definitely worth the adventure.
LC: I’m amazed at the interest generated in Georgian wines in just the past few years. They have opened up a whole range of varietals, practices and terroir for wine drinkers to explore.