Skip to main content
Photo of Jess
Wine reporter
Jess Lander
Jess Lander joined the food and wine team at The San Francisco Chronicle as wine reporter in 2022. Based in Napa Valley, Jess has extensively covered California wine country for numerous national and international publications since 2014. In 2021, Jess published "The Essential Napa Valley Cookbook," a project that raised more than $100,000 for Napa Valley restaurant workers impacted by the pandemic and fires. Jess hails from Boston, where she studied journalism at Emerson College and started out as a sports reporter before making the switch to wine.

Stories By Jess Lander

  • Wine, Beer & Spirits August 23, 2022
    Bay Area wineries need oak barrels right now. But thousands are missing
    Bay Area wineries need oak barrels right now. But thousands are missing As California’s 2022 grape harvest gets under way, many Bay Area wineries are still waiting on their new oak barrels. By Jess Lander
  • Wine, Beer & Spirits August 17, 2022
    Why one ordinary vineyard may threaten the future of Napa’s wine industry
    Why one ordinary vineyard may threaten the future of Napa’s wine industry An ordinary vineyard in American Canyon is at the center of a heated political debate, with some worried that its fate could jeopardize the future of Napa’s wine industry. By Jess Lander
  • Food August 16, 2022
    South African musician alleges racial profiling at Napa Valley restaurant
    South African musician alleges racial profiling at Napa Valley restaurant Jonathan Butler, a Grammy Award-nominated musician, claims that he was discriminated against by a manager at a Napa Valley restaurant, Goose & Gander. The restaurant has apologized and placed the manager on leave. By Jess Lander
  • Wine, Beer & Spirits August 11, 2022
    One of Sonoma’s most highly regarded wineries just unveiled a fancy French chateau
    One of Sonoma’s most highly regarded wineries just unveiled a fancy French chateau Vérité Winery in Healdsburg unveils a grand chateau on its estate, a physical embodiment of the winery’s blending of France with Sonoma. By Jess Lander
  • Wine, Beer & Spirits August 8, 2022
    This Sonoma drinks company appeared to be the next big thing. Here’s why it’s shutting down.
    This Sonoma drinks company appeared to be the next big thing. Here’s why it’s shutting down. Sonoma aperitif brand Haus will cease operations after wine conglomerate Constellation Brands suddenly pulled out of the company’s fundraising campaign. By Jess Lander
  • Wine, Beer & Spirits August 5, 2022
    There’s a new ultra-expensive wine tasting experience in Wine Country, plus 8 other developments
    There’s a new ultra-expensive wine tasting experience in Wine Country, plus 8 other developments New openings in Napa and Sonoma Wine Country include an ethereal, kaleidoscope-inspired wine tasting and the North Bay expansion of popular barbecue joint Everett & Jones. By Jess Lander
  • Restaurants August 5, 2022
    Where to eat on your road trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles
    Where to eat on your road trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles A guide to the best restaurants to stop at for food on the road between San Francisco and Los Angeles, taking Highway 1 or I-5. By Caleb Pershan, Soleil Ho, Jess Lander, Cesar Hernandez, Mario Cortez, Janelle Bitker
  • Restaurants August 3, 2022
    How to eat your way through Sebastopol
    How to eat your way through Sebastopol This quirky, laid-back destination in Wine Country is getting incredibly hip. Get ready for Roman-style pizza, lemongrass fried chicken and more. Jess Lander
  • Food August 3, 2022
    Napa’s restaurants immortalized by famous sketch artist in new exhibition
    Napa’s restaurants immortalized by famous sketch artist in new exhibition Artist John Donohue’s collection of more than 70 illustrations of Napa restaurants will be on display at the Napa Valley Museum through Oct. 2. By Jess Lander
  • Wine, Beer & Spirits July 28, 2022
    A French conglomerate has purchased a prized coastal vineyard. Here’s why it may be a good thing
    A French conglomerate has purchased a prized coastal vineyard. Here’s why it may be a good thing Platt Vineyard, located on the Sonoma Coast, has sold to AXA Millésimes. By Jess Lander
  • Wine, Beer & Spirits July 27, 2022
    Napa’s most historic wineries are staging a comeback. Will multimillion-dollar rebrands work?
    Napa’s most historic wineries are staging a comeback. Will multimillion-dollar rebrands work? As Napa Valley gets flashier, the region’s most famous wineries — such as Heitz Cellar and Robert Mondavi — are fighting to stay relevant. By Jess Lander
  • Wine, Beer & Spirits July 27, 2022
    Napa’s vineyard workers are retiring — and the next generation doesn’t want their jobs
    Napa’s vineyard workers are retiring — and the next generation doesn’t want their jobs Vineyard work is not attracting younger generations. That’s exacerbating a labor shortage in the Napa wine industry, which is generally opposed to mechanization. By Jess Lander
  • Wine, Beer & Spirits July 26, 2022
    Napa’s ‘Disneyland’ wineries: Are they actually worth the trip?
    Napa’s ‘Disneyland’ wineries: Are they actually worth the trip? What are Napa Valley's most popular wineries, and are they worth visiting? Castello di Amorosa, Del Dotto, Hall and Raymond are kitschy fun for some but cringeworthy for others. Esther Mobley, Jess Lander, Cesar Hernandez
  • Wine, Beer & Spirits July 26, 2022
    ‘That’s how people die in wildfires’: How Wine Country’s fancy new resorts could increase fire risk
    ‘That’s how people die in wildfires’: How Wine Country’s fancy new resorts could increase fire risk Visitor demand in Wine Country is high, but environmental experts warn that the arrival of new resorts could increase the risk of wildfires. By Jess Lander
  • Wine, Beer & Spirits July 20, 2022
    Robert Mondavi just hired one of Napa’s most well-respected winemakers
    Robert Mondavi just hired one of Napa’s most well-respected winemakers Napa’s Robert Mondavi Winery has hired a new winemaker to aid in its multi-year transformation. By Jess Lander
  • Wine, Beer & Spirits July 20, 2022
    The 12 best canned wines and more for summer camping
    The 12 best canned wines and more for summer camping Chronicle wine writers Jess Lander and Esther Mobley name their 12 favorite canned drinks from Bay Area producers, from spritzy rosés to a cucumber gin cocktail to a guava cider. By Jess Lander and Esther Mobley
  • Food July 20, 2022
    7 tips for serving a fancy tasting menu while camping
    7 tips for serving a fancy tasting menu while camping Yes, you can elevate your camping cooking game this summer. It just requires a lot of planning. By Jess Lander
  • Food July 15, 2022
    One of Oprah’s favorite baked goods is coming to the East Bay
    One of Oprah’s favorite baked goods is coming to the East Bay Napa’s acclaimed Model Bakery will open its largest location in Walnut Creek later this year. By Jess Lander
  • Wine, Beer & Spirits July 14, 2022
    Your next wine vacation should be to Mexico's Valle de Guadalupe
    Your next wine vacation should be to Mexico's Valle de Guadalupe Mexico's Valle de Guadalupe is one of the most exciting, burgeoning wine regions in the world. Jess Lander has tips on how to plan a visit.   Jess Lander
  • Wine, Beer & Spirits July 1, 2022
    ‘Three Little Pigs’-themed cocktail bar opens in Sebastopol, plus 9 other Wine Country developments
    ‘Three Little Pigs’-themed cocktail bar opens in Sebastopol, plus 9 other Wine Country developments New developments in Napa and Sonoma include new wine tasting experiences, a refreshed luxury campground and a nostalgia-inducing cocktail bar. By Jess Lander