Olive Fare
Now that the grape harvest is over, winter visitors turn to Wine Country’s other bite-sized edible treasure during the Seventh Annual Olive Festival. Beginning the first weekend of December, the Olive Festival is a three-month culinary feast that concludes with an odyssey of events on the weekend of February 16th. Enjoy artisan breads and cheeses, fine wine and succulent Sonoma Valley olives. The Olive Press [24724 Arnold Drive, (707) 939-8900], not far from the Sonoma Plaza, has a working press with a tasting room and gift shop devoted to all things olive. Cooking demonstrations from the valley’s finest chefs and winemaker dinners makes this fête especially popular among foodies and gourmands. For more information on Olive Festival events, visit www.sonomavalley.com or call (707) 996-1090. FYI: In the Sonoma Valley village of Kenwood is a superb boutique winery called VJB Vineyards. Regarded for creating intense wines with amazing depth, VJB is also known for procuring some of the finest gourmet sauces, tapénades and pestos in Wine Country (the Belmonte family was in the restaurant business for years). During the Olive Festival, VJB
offers discounts on all wine purchases, excluding Library wines. Find VJB Vineyards at 9077 Sonoma Highway; (707) 833-2300; www.vjbcellars.com.
Culinary Club
Speaking of olives, Round Pond, the producers of artisan olive oils and red wine vinegars, recently introduced a program that gives loyal customers a chance to take advantage of special offers throughout the year. Taking its cue from the wine clubs offered by most wineries, the company ships seasonal oils and vinegars to members of the Round Pond Club. In the winter, for instance, club members can purchase freshly bottled extra virgin olive oil from the current year’s harvest, while spring offers the choice of olive oils infused with either blood orange or Meyer lemon. Round Pond also offers tours of its orchards and mill, followed by tastings, by appointment throughout the year. Visit the facility at 886 Rutherford Road at Highway 128, Rutherford; www.roundpond.com, 1-877-963-9364.
Seasonal Specials
Winter is the best time to take advantage of the smaller crowds and lower rates offered by many Wine Country businesses. For dining, Market [1347 Main St., (707) 963-3799] in St. Helena, serves a three-course lunch for $14.95 and dinners are $24.95. On Tuesdays, corkage fees are waived. Every Thursday, Julia’s Kitchen [500 First St., (707) 265-5700], in Napa, hosts “Locals Night” with a delicious three-course menu for $29 and no corkage charge. This offer is extended through Sunday for COPIA members. For lodging, the best deal in overnight indulgence is upvalley at the historic Foothill House. During high-season, you must book months in advance to reserve a suite at Napa Valley’s only four-diamond getaway, with prices as high as $350 per night. Off-season, rates are as low as $150 per night! For $100 more, opt to stay in the to-die-for Quail’s Roost cottage, easily the most enchanting cottage in the entire valley. The winter season pricing still includes the Foothill House’s legendary gourmet breakfast delivered to your door in a large wicker basket. Gift certificates are available – which makes a very impressive present. For reservations, call (707) 942-6933 or visit www.foothillhouse.com.
Best Bets
If you’re looking for the gift that keeps on giving, two Napa Valley food and wine insiders have launched separate online ventures that specialize in the best of Wine Country. For foodies, one of Napa Valley’s most renowned chefs has created a smart website called AFlashInThePan.com, which offers quick, healthy and “almost gourmet” meals. The site offers delicious Wine Country cuisine while simultaneously simplifying all the lengthy planning and preparation. Subscribers receive an email every Thursday notifying you that your personal weekly menu is available. These ever-changing, chef-created menus are customized to your personal tastes and consist of one to three recipes a day for five days. In addition, you’ll also receive a shopping list for the necessary ingredients. Each recipe is scalable from two to 12 servings and includes a fail-safe, recipe-timing cooksheet which allows you to choose when you’d like to eat and then lists the exact time you should begin preparing each recipe so that all dishes arrive at the table piping hot. For foodies, this website is the Holy Grail. Speaking of Holy Grail, for the wine aficionado on your list, a great gift is a wine club membership. The “Mother of All Wine Clubs” is found at Napa Valley’s own Wine Garage, a retro-chic wine shop that has an uncanny knack of finding ultra talented, under-the-radar wine producers. Every bottle tastes like $60 yet, somehow, no label in their sweeping inventory is over $25, with most under $15! As for the quality, the Garage Club ships only the good stuff, six times per year, without duplicates. Best of all, there is no charge to join. Simply pay whatever the wine costs, less a ten percent discount. In most cases, reorders of club wines are available at discounted prices. As an extra important perk, club members are alerted to exclusive deals, which means you get first notice to secure a great wine opportunity before it’s gone. Become a Garage groupie – all the locals have. Visit the Wine Garage at 1020 Foothill Boulevard (Highway 29), in Calistoga. For more information, call (707) 942-5332 or visit www.winegarage.net.
On the Radar
Zinfandel lovers should order tickets now for the 17th Annual Heritage Zinfandel Festival. Held in San Francisco, the ZAP festival is the first major food and wine shindig of the new year and always sells out. Commencing January 23rd through 26th, the event features flights, great eats and pairings, and a intimate evening with winemakers. If you are a zinfandel lover, this event is for you. To attend, call (415) 345-7575 or visit www.zinfandel.org.