Golden Gate National Park

Part of the Golden Gate National Parks

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"From above, the rippled fog layer laps against the shores of the foothills like a voluminous cotton ocean." -Eric Cheng

Wine Director

Gillian Ballance

Gillian Ballance has spent 15 years in the fine dining and hospitality industry with previous positions in well-known Bay Area, Santa Barbara and New York City restaurants.

Ms. Ballance comes to the lodge after serving as a wine consultant for the Pacific-Union Club in San Francisco and Bottega Restaurant in Napa Valley. Formerly the PlumpJack Group's wine director between 2004 and 2009, she received Food & Wine Magazine's "Best New Restaurant Wine List 2005" for the newly opened Jack Falstaff restaurant.

Prior to her move to the Bay Area, Ms. Ballance was the opening wine and beverage director at Bacara Resort in Santa Barbara. There she created and oversaw the beverage program, including maintaining the 20,000-bottle wine cellar for Miro Restaurant.

Ms. Ballance came to Santa Barbara from New York City, where she worked at Picholine, Cello Restaurant and Windows on the World. She also has acted as a guest judge for several wine competitions and conducted wine seminars and lectures. She has completed the Advanced Sommelier level of the Court of Master Sommeliers examination program and is a candidate for the Master Sommelier diploma. She received her Higher Certificate of Distinction as well as her Diploma in Wines & Spirits from the British Wine and Spirits Education Trust. Ms. Ballance has a BFA from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University and grew up in Tulsa, Okla.

 

Murray Circle at Cavallo Point – the Lodge at the Golden Gate
601 Murray Circle | Fort Baker | Sausalito, California 94965
Phone: 415.339.4750 | online reservations