Photo Credit: Jessica Monroy for Drew Altizer Photography
In the past six months, upper Fillmore Street has gotten a facelift. The Snug brought cocktails and brunch, while Rothy’s stepped up the area’s shoe game with tech-friendly sustainable flats. This week, another spot opened. Allow me to introduce you to your new favorite wine shop, Verve Wine. In between Washington and Clay, Verve Wine is a posh space from master sommelier Dustin Wilson. You may recognize his name—he was one of four students profiled in the 2012 documentary film Somm. Wilson passed the exam and went on to work in New York’s Eleven Madison Park before opening an outpost of Verve in Tribeca.
Photo Credit: Jessica Monroy for Drew Altizer Photography
However, while filming the movie, Wilson worked at the now-closed RN74, and San Francisco holds a special place in his heart. He always knew he wanted to open a Verve Wine outpost in the city and his dream has finally come to fruition. “I have a connection with San Francisco because I worked here. I lived out here a few years ago when I was studying for my Master Sommelier test,” Wilson told Haute Living at an opening event earlier this week. “I love the city; I love the community, and, I think it has a thriving wine scene.”
Photo Credit: Jessica Monroy for Drew Altizer Photography
Wilson wanted the shop to be a neighborhood place and purposely avoided scouting locations downtown. “We knew we wanted a smaller footprint, a smaller space. So looking around at different parts of the city, Pac Heights is exciting, and it’s a great walking area. There’s a lot of other cool, fun shops in this community,” Wilson explained. “We kind of looked at a handful of spots around town and we kept landing back in that area. It’s so walkable, it’s so friendly, and I think the vibe that we were looking for is well suited in that neighborhood.”
Photo Credit: Jessica Monroy for Drew Altizer Photography
The boutique is small but stunning. Displayed in custom racks that run from floor to ceiling the wine is arranged by region—France, Italy, Spain—and type, like bubbles and rosé. In the center of the space is a gorgeous rose gold marble table surrounded by soft black leather chairs. Wilson and his partners Derrick Mize and Eric Railsback (who will run the day-to-day operations at Verve Wine) plan on hosting educational events, winemaker visits, and themed parties. The friends and family fiesta earlier this week featured a taco truck and wines that paired with each type of taco. There’s also a wine club that features four wines per month and a monthly release soriee in the shop.
Photo Credit: Jessica Monroy for Drew Altizer Photography
Wilson and co. have stocked Verve with 500 labels of wine—mostly from small, lesser-known producers. He likes varietals that are made traditionally from winemakers who have a respect and appreciation for the land. The bottle should reflect a sense of place. There are plenty of new and old world options, from lush Rieslings to smooth Pinots. The team has a nearby warehouse that holds Verve Wine’s entire inventory. iPads at the store allow customers to browse the complete collection and a temperature-controlled truck will deliver the bottles to your doorstep. If it sounds pretty cool, that’s because it is—Verve Wine is a must visit for local oenophiles.
