To whom do I have to thank for this memorable evening? Meet the genius behind your new favorite wine bar, Jeff Segal. Segal is exactly who you would want to own Heart. He's stubbled and flanneled with the face of an Abercrombie model; basically a Missionite you'd be jealous of even if you didn't know what an accomplished sommelier he was. Unpretentious, he could easily pass for a casual customer, but share a jar of pinot with him and it's obvious his love of vino is more of a passion than a hobby. Segal is a one-man band. He personally selects each of the rotating wine choices on his menu, writes the wine descriptions, works from 10 a.m. to close every night, and, oh yeah—he designed the table you'll drink at as well.

Segal said he wanted Heart to be "a place with really good, artisan, small-production, natural wines and local food, but also a place that didn't take wine too seriously." A place that he'd want to drink with his own friends—which explains why it's so easy to whittle away a bottle over conversation. Segal's philosophy takes shape with his wine descriptions. Reading more like twitter updates, he paints each glass in an intriguing and quirky way. A Sherry is described as "saltier than Evelyn Waugh," and a Champagne sits on the menu with a concise "Pinch us. Again." tagline. His snarky starkness is

Visit HEART
1270 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA