All aboard for this week's drinking tour.
Harvest Dinner at Wente Vineyards
The stunning views from Wente Vineyards make the drive to Livermore worth every minute, and now there's yet another reason to go. Wente's one-night only Harvest Dinner this Friday will feature a four-course seasonal meal designed to capture the distinct flavors of the season and perfectly paired with four different versions of 2014 Pinot Noir - Nouveau specially hand-crafted for the occasion by Wente Vineyards' Fifth Generation Winemaker, Karl Wente. Seating for the Harvest Dinner begins at 6:30pm, and the $125/person ticket price includes wine pairings. Make reservations online or call 925.456.2424. 5050 Arroyo Road, Livermore
Vintner Dinner at Parallel 37
Don't want to make the drive to Wente, but tempted by the wine dinner? Parallel 37 in the Ritz-Carlton is hosting a Vintner Dinner with Crocker & Starr on Friday as well, beginning at 6:30pm with a wine reception, followed by dinner at 7pm. $150 per person to attend, exclusive of tax and gratuity. Napa Valley's Crocker & Starr will be showcasing their current and library vintages of Cabernet Sauvignon, plus other small production wines from the century-old, 80-acre winery estate. The dinner will feature a five-course Autumn-inspired tasting menu created by Executive Chef Michael Rotondo with hyper-seasonal ingredients, specifically chosen to complement Crocker & Starr's wines. Co-owner, manager and winemaker Pam Starr will be presenting the wines throughout the evening. Tickets are $150/person, including wine pairings. Call (415) 773-6168 to make a reservation. 600 Stockton St., San Francisco
Give Back the Bird
'Tis the season to drink whiskey for a cause, and a handful of local bars are making it easy for you. Wild Turkey has teamed up with local bar consultancy Jupiter Olympus to bring back "Give Back the Bird," the second annual, month-long, whiskey-fueled fundraiser for the local food bank. Throughout November, SF-Marin Food Bank gets $2 from the sale of every special Wild Turkey Old Fashioned variation purchased at some of San Francisco's most buzzed-about bars. Try the Golden Gobble at Trick Dog (3010 20th St.), The Old Fashioned Pilgrim at Elixir (3200 16th St.), the Old Fashioned Thanksgiving at Rye (688 Geary), On the Drumhead at Smokestack (2505 3rd St.), and The Old Fashioned 17 at 1760 (1760 Polk St.).
Boarding Passes Still Available for BRU/SFO
November is Belgian Beer Month in San Francisco, thanks to a mutual infatuation for Belgian beers between Magnolia and 21st Amendment breweries. As in past years, both brewhouses released three beers on November 1, followed by another beer each every Monday, accumulating an intoxicating variety of strong, sour, fruity, musty, and chocolatey ales, each with its own decidedly funky flavor. Upon the release of the final two beers on November 17, the two breweries will be featuring a dozen Belgian brews between them, including favorites such as Magnolia's Gris Gris (a grisette), and 21st Amendment's Drunken Monk (a strong, dark ale) and Baby Horse (a Belgian-style quad). Pick up a boarding pass at either pub to keep track of which beers you've "visited." Try all 12 and get a complimentary, commemorative BRU/SFO glass, while supplies last. Magnolia:1398 Haight St. 21st Amendment: 563 2nd St, San Francisco
Burritt Room + Tavern Hosts "Flights + Bites" with Sonoma County Distilling Co.
This month's "Flights + Bites" event at Burritt Room + Tavern features Sonoma County Distilling Company. On Tuesday, November 18, from 6 to 8pm, you're invited to take an intimate look at the local hooch-maker's premier, small-batch California whiskey, alongside a three-course meal featuring the bounty of the season. Burritt Room Chef Luke Knox and Bar Manager Josh Trabulsi have teamed up to prepare a whiskey pairing dinner that starts with Salt-Roasted Beets served with Sonoma 2nd Chance Wheat mixed with Dolin dry Vermouth, creme de cassis and rosemary; moves on to Fried California Brussels with sunchoke emulation and speck ham served with a cocktail of Sonoma Rye, Cocchi Barolo Vermouth, Jardesca Apertif, and house orange bitters; and finishes with Grilled Liberty Duck with sugar pie pumpkin, cranberry, and marshmallow paired with Sonoma 2nd Chance Wheat. Tickets are available online for $25 per person, and the action happens in the Berlinetta Lounge which, like the Burritt Room + Tavern, is located in the Mystic Hotel. 417 Stockton, San Francisco
Send drinking suggestions to renee@grassrootspr.com.
