All fourteen of the PlumpJack business enterprises thrive on the unique philosophy of the company's "core ideology," designed to initiate the roguish spirit of Shakespeare's Sir John Falstaff (Henry IV), dubbed Plump Jack by Queen Elizabeth-hence the company name. Closer to home, San Francisco composer and philanthropist, Gordon Getty, wrote an opera he called "Plump Jack." The fun-loving and irreverent spirit of PlumpJack clearly excited the sensibilities of Gordon's close friend and business associate, Gavin Newsom.

PlumpJack was founded by Gavin Newsom, whose personality is revealed in response to an expression of concern upon his first appointment to San Francisco's Board of Supervisors in 1997. When asked if he was likely to "generate controversy" he replied, "If I don't, I'm not doing my job." A self-described fiscal moderate, when it comes to business decisions, Newsom exults in setting high goals for himself and his staff. Just a few of his exuberant demands for PlumpJack are to "out-innovate the competition," make the company an "excellence machine," and "live life out loud." To ensure fulfillment of his mission he makes a point of investing in "hot talent"-people who, whether they are sweeping floors, making wine, or designing interior spaces, are creating "magical moments" for PlumpJack customers.

These ideologies are carried out and implemented in the day-to-day operations of the fourteen businesses under the PlumpJack Group umbrella and guide the management team and the staff to constantly strive for excellence, value, accessibility and nothing less than heroic customer service.

A key marker of success for the company is their ability to invest a portion of PlumpJack's profits back into the community. Committed to numerous environmental, charitable, social and civic causes, PlumpJack often challenges their businesses to raise funds and promote many worthy organizations in the community.

The design firm of Leavitt-Weaver has captured Shakespeare's times and Falstaff's spirit in a number of ways. The jaunty shield that serves as the PlumpJack insignia, the muted earthen greens and taupes that hark back to earlier centuries, and their lavish use of metals create a superb combination of form, function and style. Since the company's inception, the management has insisted that the carefully selected wine lists at all of the properties be accessible to a broad spectrum of buyers-novices and sophisticates alike-and all bottles are priced close to retail.

PlumpJack Wines on Fillmore, the inaugural PlumpJack business founded in 1992 in the historic Cow Hollow district of San Francisco, added a second location across town in Noe Valley in 2001. Acquiring a liquor store in operation since prohibition, as well as a neighborhood institution, the PlumpJack and Leavitt-Weaver partnership carefully revived the space, blending nostalgic elements and retaining many of the store's features. Using a color palette inspired from the arts and crafts period, as seen on many of the City's landmark Victorians, they strived to keep the ambiance and energy of the neighborhood. Continuing the exceptional wine pricing and selection has ensured a new segment of loyal PlumpJack followers.

Their Fillmore Street restaurant, Balboa Cafe, is a major presence in the area. Jose Lemus, executive chef at Balboa Cafe, has created enticing dishes for the gourmet palate and has elaborated the Balboa's traditional menu with a few elegant additions, wisely leaving long-time favorites like the Balboa Burger on the menu.

The interior of the venerable Balboa Cafe, which first opened its doors in 1913, has maintained the feel and look of the original décor of the past eight decades. If the Balboa's long, handsome mahogany bar in San Francisco, with its traditional brass foot rail could talk, one can only imagine the tales it would tell about the legions of "beautiful women and thirsty men" who have lingered there late into the evening.

With the restaurant and the wine shop thriving, PlumpJack affixed its sword and shield to the Squaw Valley Inn on Lake Tahoe's north shore. Originally built to house the 1960 Winter Olympic delegation, the 61-room inn is now a masterpiece of comfort, design and exceptional service.

Among Leavitt-Weaver's signature design elements for the world of PlumpJack is the dramatic wood, copper and brass bar in the lounge. A copper cauldron mounted in the center of a large, square pedestal, filled with crafted metal pieces, serves as the fireplace. More than simply a decorative touch, this centerpiece creates warmth that permeates the atmosphere throughout. The playful array of copper-forged wall coverings accentuates the Inn's original stone and glass structure.

Guest services are sophisticated and personalized, and with the beauty of its décor and amenities on the scale of a grand hotel, the Inn's clientele of vacationers, business travelers and wedding parties will want for nothing. Floor to ceiling windows of the 6,000 square foot, two-story conference facility frame the majestic scenery of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

The next acquisition was a century-old Napa Valley vineyard property, renowned for producing Cabernets of exceptional quality, on Oakville Cross Road. A panoramic view of the Mayacamas and Vaca Mountains enhances the mischief and wit of the Leavitt-Weaver-designed PlumpJack Winery tasting room and its surrounding 50 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon grapevines. The inaugural release of their 1995 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon created quite a stir among the wine community, and prompted Robert Parker, Jr. to assign a rating of 95+ points. That was just the beginning; if the 1995 Reserve created a commotion, the announcement of 1997 Reserve bottling with a screw cap closure-the first luxury producer to do so-turned the wine industry upside down in June, 2000. With current production of Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve Chardonnay, Merlot and Syrah nearing capacity at 10,000 cases, this boutique winery has already exceeded the high expectations of its owners. 

Keeping with the spirit of revival, the long-awaited restoration of the historical 1960's rock club, MatrixFillmore, was completed in late 2001. A complete departure for PlumpJack in style and look, the sleek, evocative MatrixFillmore was exactly what the neighborhood-and the city-needed. Invitingly warm with a glass façade, concrete log fireplace in the room's center, and plum velvet furniture and walls, MatrixFillmore captures the modern edge with a 61-inch plasma video screen and performance stage with state of the art sound system for live bands and DJ. Menus of classic and popular specialty cocktails include: a Peach Tea Mojito, Chocolate Chip Martini, Apple Cart, Sugar Magnolia and Mountain Cane Daiquiri.

Looking to extend the brand through a different segment of the retail market, PlumpJackSport was launched in Winter 2002 in The Village at Squaw Valley PlumpJackSport carries premier lines that reflect the tastes of its sophisticated clientele including: Rossignol, Salomon, Polo Ralph Lauren and MaxStudio to name just a few. Its immediate success prompted a second store, which opened at The Carneros Inn in 2007 featuring designer resort wear.

In January 2005, PlumpJack Group expanded their presence in the Napa Valley when they took over management of The Carneros Inn, a luxury resort in the Carneros region that offers 86 guest cottages and 24 private Homes, The Orchard fractional ownership units, The Town Square with includes a local Market and the area's first post office, award-winning spa, and three eateries, the guest only Hilltop Dining Room and The Boon Fly Café and FARM at The Carneros Inn which are both open to the public. The Inn is the first and only resort in the world-renowned Carneros wine region. As the management company for The Carneros Inn, PlumpJack Group is able to highlight their expertise in the food, wine and hospitality industries. Each of the private cottages at The Carneros Inn is furnished in a casually elegant style and nestled in a lush garden courtyard with private deck. The property also boasts terrace dining and an infinity pool overlooking the beautiful rolling hills and vineyards, an architecturally dramatic restaurant, bar and spa facilities, and most importantly, first-class service delivered with warmth and ease.

Perched high upon Napa's elusive Howell Mountain, among a dramatic hillside of Manzanita trees is CADE Winery, the latest addition to the PlumpJack family. The unique, state-of-the-art, LEED certified facility producing an exquisite Estate Cabernet as well as an enticing Sauvignon Blanc and a rich Cabernet Sauvignon from local artisanal grapes. CADE's first release is the 2006 CADE Sauvignon Blanc and CADE's first Cabernet Sauvignon will be available in spring 2008.


PLUMPJACK FACT SHEET

NAME
Plump Jack was Queen Elizabeth's name for the rotund Falstaff of Shakespeare's Henry IV. So delighted was she with this roguish character that she asked the Bard to write another play in which Jack would fall in love. Shakespeare answered her with "The Merry Wives of Windsor." Closer to home, San Francisco composer and philanthropist Gordon Getty wrote an opera he called "PlumpJack." The fun-loving and irreverent spirit of PlumpJack clearly excited the sensibilities of Gordon's close friend and business associate Gavin Newsom.

PRINCIPALS
Gavin Newsom is the founder of PlumpJack which includes the PlumpJack Group, PlumpJack Restaurants, PlumpJack Winery, PlumpJack Wines, PlumpJackSport Stores, MatrixFillmore and PlumpJack Resorts. Newsom is a fourth-generation San Franciscan and a vibrant contributor to the city's political agenda as San Francisco Mayor.

PHILOSOPHY
More than simple whimsy, the one-word takeover of its Shakespearean namesake can be taken to signal the owners' intent that its retail business ventures be united under the same guiding principles. Closer to Falstaff than Forbes, the PlumpJack philosophy enjoining all the business ventures is captured in the company's "core ideology" - a sense of being different, a purpose beyond profits. The management is deeply committed to social and global responsibility, delights in challenging traditional business methods, passionately believes that business can be fun, and demands an exceptional experience for each customer. "PlumpJack will compromise on almost anything, but not our core ideology, our values, our aesthetics, our idealism, or our sense of curiosity."

LOOK
LEAVITT/WEAVER, INC., designers for the restaurants, wine shops, inn, retail stores and winery, devised the jaunty PlumpJack insignia that is carried throughout on signage, wine labels, products and furnishings. Grasping the sense of history and theatrics infused throughout the PlumpJack business entities, Leavitt/Weaver produced an enchanting, medieval look for the interiors using copper, steel mesh and treated cement and surrounding them in muted greens and soft earthen tones, bronze sheens, and indirect lighting. Shakespeare could not have asked for a more pleasing marriage of substance and style.

Stanlee Gatti, who has created some of the most elegant and exclusive events in the country, designed MatrixFillmore for the PlumpJack Group. At MatrixFillmore, through the use of dark, dramatic colors, such as eggplant and chartreuse, in the rich velvet cushions and dark rich woods for the furniture, Gatti has created a space that is sexy and theatrical.

PLUMPJACK BEGINNINGS