Enjoy a week's worth of wine tastings, with a side of whiskey.
A Weekend Wine & Food Affair in Sonoma County
Find yourself a designated driver for the weekend, because Northern Sonoma County is hosting the 16th Annual Wine and Food Affair, and it's bad form to drink and drive on the Wine Road. There are 110 wineries participating in the two-day event, which stretches across Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River Valleys. Purchase a ticket for one or both days and enjoy wine and food pairings from Sonoma County's finest wineries at your own pace. Each of the wineries on the self-guided tour will prepare their favorite recipes for guests to sample throughout the weekend, and guests even get a commemorative tasting glass and calendar. Tickets are available online for $78.65 for both days, $56.46 for Sunday only, or $34.27 for designated drivers. Various locations in Northern Sonoma County
Wine Dinner at Comal
Wine and dine with Arnot-Roberts co-founder Duncan Arnot Myers this Tuesday at Comal in Berkeley. The five-course wine dinner will feature a selection of Arnot-Roberts wines paired with dishes prepared by Comal's executive chef, Matt Gandin. Guests will get a chance to meet Myers and hear the story behind each wine poured. The 2013 wine line-up includes a Chardonnay from Trout Gulch Vineyard in Santa Cruz, a Trousseau from North Coast, a Rosé fros Luchsinger Vineyard in Clear Lake, and a Syrah from Que Syrah Vineyard on the Sonoma Coast. Courses include Kona Kampachi crudo, little gems salad, poached Gulf white shrimp, Heritage pork chile verde and Oaxacan chocolate budin. Purchase tickets online for the $100 wine dinner, which starts at 6:30 pm. 2020 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley
Single Vineyard Night at Fort Mason
Love Russian River wines, but don't love the drive? Mark your calendar for Single Vineyard Night on Wednesday, November 5 at Fort Mason's General's Residence. More than 30 wineries will be serving small-lot, single vineyard wines from the Russian River Valley alongside food, live music, a silent auction, and stunning views of the San Francisco Bay, Aquatic Park and Alcatraz. The event begins at 6:30 pm and continues until 9 pm, which should give you plenty of time to sample a significant portion of the Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc being poured. General admission ($55) and VIP ($65) tickets are available online, as are passes to the Expert Sommelier Seminar ($25) from 4 to 5 pm. 1 Fort Mason
Cafe Claude Hosts Skylark for Wine Wednesday
Looking for a low-key wine-tasting this week? Join Café Claude Wine Director Sarah Knoefler and Robert Perkins from Skylark Wine Company on Wednesday, Nov. 5 from 6 to 9 pm for a casual exploration of Pinot Blanc, Grenache and Syrah from Skylark. For $15, you can taste all three wines, paired with French bites and Perkins' wealth of experience creating distinct wines from select vineyards in Northern California. The monthly Wine Wednesdays event is hosted by Café Claude on the first Wednesday of each month and features a different winery each time. 2120 Greenwich Street
Beer & Whiskey Tasting Event
If you prefer beer and whiskey to wine, Master Cicerone Rich Higgins and Plumpjack Wine & Spirits have the event for you on Tuesday, November 4, from 6 to 9 pm. The California Beer & Whiskey Tasting event will feature artisans of the beer and spirits world, including Charbay's 13th Generation Master Distiller, Marko Karakasevic, and Brendan Moylan, owner of Stillwater Spirits, Moylan’s Brewing, and Marin Brewing. Featured beers and whiskeys inclue Xocoveza Mocha Stout and Smoked Porter from Stone Brewing, Chocasmoke whiskey from Seven Stills Distillery, Racer 5 IPA from Bear Republic, R5 and S whiskey from Charbay Artisan Distillery, and libations from Moylan's Brewing Company and Stillwater Spirits. Each tasting station will feature a curated food pairing, and brief seminars will be presented throughout the evening. Higgins, a local beer expert and noted educator will join Josh Thinnes, whiskey expert and General Manager and Buyer at Plumpjack Wine & Spirits Noe Valley Store to lead seminars on beer styles, whiskey history, fermentation, distilling, and palate honing. Tickets can be purchased online for $75 per person. Entry price includes food pairings, and additional sustenance will be available for purchase from food vendors. 3138 Fillmore
Send drinking suggestions to renee@grassrootspr.com.
