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Spinning Spanish Wine Into Magic at Finca

Juniper & Ivy alums chef Joe Bower and sommelier Dan Valerino chat about building a neighborhood restaurant and wine list with soul

By Jackie Bryant November 20, 2025

NEIGHBORHOOD GUIDES Know the Neighborhood Where to eat, where to drink, and what it's like to live there. EXPLORE THE GUIDES

On this week’s Happy Half Hour, co-hosts Troy Johnson and Jackie Bryant sit down with Joe Bower and Dan Valerino, the duo behind Finca, one of North Park’s buzziest and newest restaurants. The pair met during their Juniper & Ivy days and reunited to open a spot that blends the warmth of Spanish wine culture with California’s seasonal bounty and upscale tapas culture. They dive into vermouth, sherry, and what it means to build a neighborhood restaurant and wine list with soul while reminiscing about the grind that shaped them.

About Jackie Bryant

Jackie is a long-time freelance journalist covering cannabis, food/restaurants, travel, labor, wine, spirits, arts & culture, design, and other topics. Her work has been selected twice for Best American Travel Writing, and she has won a variety of national and local awards for her writing and reporting.

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