She writes primarily about California wine, though her beat also includes beer, spirits, drinking culture, cults and, occasionally, doughnuts. In her regular Drink Up column, she reviews Bay Area bars. She leads the editorial team for The Press, the Chronicle’s digital guide to visiting wine country. Her weekly email newsletter, Drinking with Esther, includes a reading digest, product reviews and a behind-the-scenes look into the world of wine.
In 2018, the California Newspaper Publishers Association awarded Esther first place in Feature Writing for her story on a winery born from a California cult, and first place in Agricultural Reporting for her examination of Napa Valley's future. The Association of Food Journalists recognized Esther's work as the Best Writing on Beer, Wine or Spirits in 2017 for her profile of farmer Chuy Ordaz. Her work on the 2017 wine country wildfires was vital to the Chronicle earning the Scripps Howard award. She has twice been a finalist in the Louis Roederer International Wine Writers' Awards.
When she’s not writing about wine, Esther is often speaking about it. She gives seminars, presentations and classes to consumer groups and corporate clients.
In this episode we mention…
San Francisco Chronicle
Helen Keplinger, winemaker
Paolo Lucchesi, former food editor at The SF Chronicle
Federal Wines in Boston run by Len Rothenberg
L’Espalier
Round Pond Estate
Bodega Rolland
Smith College
Jon Bonné, wine writer and former wine editor at the SF Chronicle
Esther’s interview with Randall Grahm on selling Bonny Doon
The lost civilization of California Wine by Esther Mobely
Seavey Vineyards & Jim Duane Interview on Cru
Champagne Pierre Peters
Josh Phelps Interview on Cru
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