Josiah Baldivino on Opening Oakland Retail Wine Shop Bay Grape

What's it like to open a wine shop? Josiah Baldivino stopped by SommChat on Twitter to dish about Bay Grape, the recently-opened Oakland spot he co-owns with wife, fellow wine pro Stevie Stacionis.

In the beginning:

Off to a good start:

More than just retail:

Global and local:

Non-douchey, always a plus:

Someone should make "Tami Frapatto is the jam on a hot day" into a song.

Local picks time; favorite this tweet!

The making of Bay Grape:

The glamor of starting a small business:

Napa earthquake relief for the Matthiasson's:

Retail wine ethos:

Unexpected pleasures of business ownership: