Hip Sips
The 11th Annual Great Wine Escape Weekend will be held November 9th through the 11th, at locations throughout Monterey County. The Great Wine Escape Weekend is the premiere social event of the year for the Monterey Peninsula and features over 45 wineries, local and national celebrity chefs, and the ultimate travel experience in the unparalleled setting of Monterey Wine Country. Events throughout the weekend include wine and food pairing sessions on Friday afternoon at the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa, Wine Country open houses and tours on Saturday, a hidden gem and boutique wine tasting on Saturday afternoon, more than 20 winemaker dinners by world-renowned chefs on Friday and Saturday evenings and The Great Wine Escape Grand Finale at Quail Lodge on Sunday. Ticket packages begin at $40 per person. To participate, call (831) 375-9400 or visit the website at www.montereywines.org. FYI: For overnight accommodations, I recommend staying at the legendary Hofsas House, in beautiful Carmel-by-the-Sea. Most of the rooms have breathtaking views of the forest and Pacific Ocean, with private lanais overlooking the aromatic pines. Guestrooms are spacious, comfortable, and well appointed. Ergonomic chaise lounges surrounding a heated pool and intimate dry saunas are provided to revitalize body and soul. Easy walking to downtown dining and shopping, and less than 15 minutes to most major regional attractions. A-List accommodations and attractive pricing makes Hofsas House my only overnight destination when visiting the Monterey Peninsula. Reservations can be made by calling 1-800-221-2548 or visit www.hofsashouse.com.
Haute Spot
Want to impress your friends with more than a couple bottles of from-the-source wines? Visitors to the Napa Valley have a unique opportunity to acquire the knowledge of a seasoned sommelier with two days of fun and education. On Saturday, November 17th, St. Supéry winery is offering a tutored tasting of their award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon paired with tasty hors d’oeuvres prepared by the winery’s private chef. Available are four distinctly different wines that will perfectly demonstrate the meaning of “terroir.” Participation is $30 per person and reservations are required. Return again on Sunday, November 18th, and go behind the scenes at this fabled world class winery. This is your chance to see first hand what goes on “inside” St. Supéry’s cellar with a wine educator and learn about the entire winemaking process from crushing to bottling. Your experience concludes with a barrel tasting of estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Merlot. If you’re looking for something besides the standard wine tasting fare, this is a must-attend engagement for every wine enthusiast visiting Napa Valley. Cost for the Sunday seminar is $25 per  guest and reservations are requested. To participate, call 1-800-942-0809 or visit www.stsupery.com.
Best Bet
Lodi Wine Country Vintners are inviting adventurous wine drinkers to enjoy the fruits of their labor on November 10th and 11th. At First Sip – Celebrating Lodi’s New Vintage wine spectators can enjoy mingling with several talented, but under-the-radar, winemakers as they unveil their new 2007 wines with barrel sampling, blending seminars, cellar tours, live entertainment, a host of educational activities and delicious culinary recipes. More than 30 regional wineries will open their doors for this new fall wine festival. Guests will receive a commemorative tasting glass, event map and admission to all participating wineries. Advanced tickets are $35 and can be purchased at the Lodi Wine & Visitor Center, by calling (209) 365-0621, or online at www.lodiwine.com. Tickets can also be purchased at each participating winery the day of the event for $45. There is no charge for designated drivers. Lodi Wine Country is found 35 miles south of Sacramento, an hour from the East Bay or Napa, or 90 minutes from San Francisco.
Rabbit Season
Prepare your favorite seasonal meal with celebrity chef John Ash! For one night only, foodies will have an opportunity to learn new culinary skills in a beautiful four-star kitchen setting. In this class, you’ll depart from our beloved turkey with cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes to explore new autumn recipes that just might change the traditions at your home. The menu, paired with delicious wines, include: Corn Soup with Fresh Crab; Orange, Olive and Fennel Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette; Rabbit Braised in Red Wine with “Little Ears” Pasta; and Flourless Walnut Cake for dessert. Cost to participate in the Monday, November 19th, course is $100 per person. To attend, call (707) 575-7350 or go to www.vintnersinn.com.
Winery Buzz
If demand was ever more vocal for the next generation of hot California winemakers, Silenus Vintners, fashionably answers the call. From the ashes of the former Koves-Newlan winery emerges the phoenix, Silenus Vintners, who progressively blends trendsetting cool with high society chic. Taking its cue from the latest trend of housing multiple small-lot producers under one roof, Silenus Vintners recently opened their showroom quality tasting lounge with no less than twelve stellar winemakers, including major up-and-comers as: Ahnfeldt, Juslyn, Renard and Robert Williamson, to name just a few. In every sense of the word, Silenus Vintners has raised the bar of aspirational wine tasting, connecting savvy consumers with cult-like winemakers in an ever-so hip wine tasting environment. Large picture windows from floor to ceiling frame the enchanting views of vineyards and production facilities, and several leather sofas invite you to sprawl while visiting with friends, sipping wine and enjoying the cozy open fireplace. A 60" flat panel is positioned above the mantelpiece so you can catch your favorite programs while drinking your wines! Because they are a collective of small-lot winemakers, the wines tend to go quickly, and can often be difficult to find, so I strongly recommend signing up with their wine club. It’s easy to find Silenus Vintners, simply head south from Yountville or north from Napa on Highway 29, turn west onto Darms Lane. Go left and it’s is directly on your right. For more information, call (707) 299-3930 or keep an eye out for their soon-to-open website, www.silenusvintners.com.