Raise a toast to San Francisco's military past

A man looks out toward San Francisco Bay while tasting wine at the Riggers Loft Wine Company in Richmond, California. [Photo/Agencies]

This is one of the newest urban wineries and is set in the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Park in Richmond on the east side of the bay. The building was an actual boat-riggers loft in the former Kaiser Shipyard where real Rosies put together Liberty ships and Victory ships during World War II. In fact, the SS Red Oak Victory, last surviving World War II-era vessel of those built at the Kaiser Shipyard, is moored nearby. Riggers Loft has a collective tasting room that is home to R&B Cellars, Carica Wines, Irish Monkey Cellars and Far West Cider Company.

Set on the waterfront, this is a great place to visit around sunset. Hours are 4 pm to 9 pm Thursday and Friday, noon-9 pm Saturday and noon-6 pm Sunday. Food available and live music most Fridays and Saturdays.

Vino Godfather

About 25 miles northeast of San Francisco, in Vallejo, is the former Mare Island Naval Shipyard, which has a military history going back to 1852. During World War II it became a submarine port and later built and repaired nuclear subs. It was closed in 1996. You can get there by car or, more scenically, by ferry from the San Francisco Ferry Building. The Vino Godfather Tasting Room, housed in a former officer's mansion on the base opened about a year ago. The tasting room is open noon-6 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and weekends and noon-8 pm on Thursdays and Fridays. Live music Saturday afternoons.