Amazing Attraction
Today, the Napa Valley is one of the most popular tourist attractions in California, and world renowned for its wines. The fame of its wineries is matched by the reputation of its restaurants. Combined with the beauty of the area, they provide a vacation holiday without equal anywhere in the country. Like any good destination, the Napa Valley also has an outstanding number of quality attractions and personalities. One of the best is legendary wine country luminary, Alan Arnopole. A self-described “Yodelmesiter,” Alan has been working at Peju Winery, in Rutherford, for more than a decade and often launches into a pitch-on yodel in between pouring tastes. He also amazes with his uncanny ability to spontaneously compose contemporaneous rap stories and creative songs about Napa Valley, its heritage, and the wines. Possessing a lifetime worth of knowledge on the valley, Alan has been featured on several national and international television programs, including CNN Headline News, The Food Channel, Bay Area Back Roads, Evening Magazine and Japanese National Television. Recently, Alan produced and released an outstanding CD of original music with his band, California Zephyr, aptly titled “Harvest Time: Songs from the Napa Valley.” Make no mistake, this is no amateur production effort. The music and musicians weave a rich tapestry of infectious melody and verse providing the perfect musical accompaniment for experiencing Wine Country. Along with the tasty mélange of stylish, soulful songs, Harvest Time includes a deluxe hard bound 24-page booklet, which makes a great souvenir, or gift. Alan’s CD can be purchased at Peju or online at www.napamusic.com. FYI: See Alan perform live with California Zephyr on Saturday, January 19th, at COPIA (500 First St., Napa). In addition to an exuberant playlist from the band’s existing catalog, the concert will be featuring new songs from the upcoming CD “The Old Valley Home and the Mountains of Light.” Before the show, enjoy complimentary tasting of Peju Wine from 7 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person and can be ordered online at www.copia.org, by phone (707) 259-1600, or simply go to the information desk at COPIA.
Hot Tickets
Zinfandel lovers are converging on San Francisco for the 17th Annual Heritage Zinfandel Festival. Host in the Fort Mason Center, the ZAP festival is the first major food and wine shindig of the new year and is always a great time. The four-day fete begins January 23rd, and features flights, great eats and pairings, and an intimate evening with winemakers. So, if you’re jiggy for Zinfandel, this event is definitely for you. Tickets are $45 for ZAP members; $55 for nonmembers; and $65 at the door. To participate, call (415) 345-7575 or visit www.zinfandel.org.
Feeling Crabby?
The Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association is hosting the 5th Annual Wine & Crab Taste-Off. Several of the regions finest restaurants will be battling in hopes of being named “Crab King 2008,” and you help decide! All participating restaurants will be preparing two crab selections on Sunday, January 20th from 2 to 5 p.m. For $47.50, you get a delicious meal featuring crab and are one of the Consumer Judges. Evaluate both wine and food at two restaurants of your choice or, for an additional $16.25, you can visit another restaurant. All scores will be tallied for the “Consumer Choice Award” which will be totaled with the results from professional judges to determine the “Judges Choice Awards.” Ultimately, you walk away with a better knowledge of the versatility of wine and a belly full of yummy crab delicacies! To participate, go online to www.scmwa.com or call (831) 685-8463.
Stellar Sips
The Santa Cruz Appellation wine scene is ripe with award-winning wines, produced in wineries that vary widely – from an historic 1800s ranch to a modern chateau. On Saturday, January 21st, spend time discovering the unique terroir and special hospitality of Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Clara Valley wineries during “Winter Wine Passport.” Although a world apart from the better-known Napa Valley, the back-road wineries of the Santa Cruz Mountains (home to nearly 50 mostly small wineries that are big on quirky hospitality and luscious, award-winning wines), is definitely worth the trip. The low-key wineries of the the mountain appellation offers an alternative to the bigger wineries of the Napa Valley tourist circuit, with coastal fog and majestic redwood trees towering the small and windy roads. There is no better time to get acquainted with some of these wineries than during Passport where $30 allows wine lovers access to over 25 wineries, many of which are not normally open to the public. High-quality fruit producing distinctive Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnays has been grown in this breathtaking area since the 1800s, making this wine region a real hidden gem. To obtain your passport, call (831) 685-8463 or visit www.scmwa.com. FYI: Passport is held four times per year and your $30 passport is good until it’s been stamped by each participating winery, which means your passport never expires until you complete the entire circuit.
On The Radar
This year marks the fifteenth season of the Napa Valley Mustard Festival. During the months of February and March, experience a “Sensational Seasons of Wine Country Events” beginning with Mustard Magic ~ The Grand Opening Event, on Saturday, February 2nd. The red carpet rolls out for adventurous food and wine enthusiasts who revel in enchanting surroundings while sampling five-star refreshments and world-class wines. Live music, visual arts, tableau scenes, plus silent and live auctions all contribute for one unforgettable evening. Napa Valley’s most creative and extravagant gathering of the year always sells out, so make your plans to attend now. Call (707) 938-1133 or visit www.mustardfestival.org.