Coming Soon: Augie's French
Grossman's Featured in LA Times & This Week's "The Bucket List with Jenn Harris: Dumplings"
Memories Shared and New Memories Made at Willi's Wine Bar's 20th Anniversary Celebration
Willi's Wine Bar 20th Anniversary Contest Winners
Willi’s Wine Bar Announces 20th Anniversary Social Media Contest
We’re Hiring Managers, Front of House & Back of House Staff at All Stark Restaurants!
Taste the Rainbow!
Spring Menu Refresh
Bloody Mary Bonanza
March 22, 2022Mark Stark's Tips on Cooking the Perfect Steak
Mark Stark cooks up two of Willi’s Wine Bar’s most popular dishes!
Holiday Schedule for all Stark Reality Restaurants
Looking for the Ultimate Food & Wine Pairing?
Field Trip to Trombetta Family Wines
C’mon over! Walk-ins are Welcome
Bravas Celebrates Sonoma County 2019 Cider Week Spanish-Style!
We Can't Wait to See You!
Chef Mark Stark Leads Team of Sous Chefs to Victory!
Recreating Our Signature Wine List
Eagerly Waiting to Reopen
Willi’s Wine Bar: The Santa Rosa restaurant that would not die
Owners of Willi's Wine Bar in Santa Rosa reveal road to rebuilding
Monti's Named as Michelin Bib Gourmand for 2018
October 5, 2017Press Democrat 'Best Of' Names Monti's Best in Outdoor Dining
October 2018Stark Restaurants Win Multiple Categories in Press Democrat's Best 2018 Food and Drink
Stark Restaurants Win Multiple Categories in Press Democrat's Best 2017 Food and Drink
Stark Restaurants Win Bundle of Awards from North Bay Bohemian's Best of 2017
March 2017Bird & The Bottle, Bravas Bar de Tapas, and Willi's Wine Bar Featured on Sonoma Magazine's Best Outdoor Dining
March 2017Willi's Seafood Voted Best Seafood Restaurant in Press Democrat’s “Best of 2016”
2016Willi’s Wine Bar’s: Best Al Fresco Dining Spots in Sonoma County
July 05, 2016Bravas Makes List of Michael Bauer’s Favorite Restaurants in Healdsburg
January 15, 2016Starks Steakhouse Voted Best Bar, Happy Hour and Server in Press Democrat’s “Best of 2016”
2016
Get in the backseat and let Jason Drive!
Jason Baumgarten loves it when regular Willi’s Wine Bar customers ask him to “drive.” This means they want him to guide them through the many delicious choices on the menu AND choose wines that pair perfectly.
Jason has worked at Willi’s Wine Bar for 10 years, and has gained a loyal following of customers who entrust him with their palates, and rely on him to create a fun dining experience.
He’s a good person to trust. Before coming to Willi’s Wine Bar, he worked as a “cellar rat” in Napa. He learned how wine is made from some of best, spending time at wineries like Domaine Chandon, Beringer, and Robert Mondavi. He then made a career transition into fine dining and learned early in his career to anticipate the needs of customers, and make memories.
“My introduction of food and wine pairing for people is to think of it like drinking coffee with cream and sugar,” says Jason. “You get this tannic black cup of coffee and you want to make it palatable. Some people like more cream, some like more sugar. I try to figure out where their palate wants to go.”
With the wide selection of wines on the menu at Willi’s, and the option to purchase a 2 oz. or a 5 oz. pour, Jason says it gives him a whole “tool chest” to create fun and interesting pairings for guests.
So what is Jason’s favorite food and wine pairing?
Goat cheese, beets and Pinot Noir.
“This was the first wine and food pairing that blew my mind.”
So what’s your favorite food and wine pairing? Please share in the comments below.
