Enchanted Evening
A popular fall tradition is St. Francis’ annual Winemaker’s Dinner. The meal features game from prominent producers who harvest from local fields and streams. Winemaker Tom Mackey will pull out a beautifully aged library selection to include on this hearty menu. Chef David Bush and his staff are planning delicious new appetizers and sides to continue to delight guests. Seating for this special evening is limited make your reservations early. Cost for the Saturday, November 15th event is $130 per person; $105 for wine club members. To participate, call 1-888- 675-9463 or go to www.stfranciswinery.com.
Seaside Sips
Near the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is Cocoanut Grove, a California State Historic Landmark. On November 13th, visit this picturesque mansion at the 4th Annual A Taste of Santa Cruz and dine on cuisine from 34 of the best restaurants in Santa Cruz County and drink delectable wine from local vineyards. A silent and live auction will help kick your winter shopping into gear. Tickets for the November 13th tasting are only $30 per person. For more information, visit www.atosc.com or call (831) 464-2000.
‘Tis the Season
An excellent opportunity to explore the Carneros wine region is during Holiday in Carneros. Scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, November 15th through the 16th, this “passport” event includes special offerings at fifteen to twenty Carneros wineries, offering music, barrel tasting and great food. Purchase of a logo wine glass at any participating winery is your “passport” to all other wineries for both days. Events such as these provide wine consumers a rare chance to visit some of the smaller wineries that are never open to the public, as well as gain access to the “inner sanctum” of the bigger wineries. Great deals are also a staple on rare and exciting wines, as well as the first chance at “newly released” wines of the year. Logo glass “passports” are $40 per person. No reservations needed. For more information, contact 1-800-909-4352 or visit www.carneroswineries.org. FYI: While in Carneros, don’t miss Cline Cellars. Once the site of a Miwok Village and then later the first camp of Father Altimira in his quest to establish the Sonoma Mission, the property offers sweeping views of the Carneros Valley. Cline’s 350-acre estate also includes some of the oldest surviving vines in California. The tasting room is located inside the original 1850s farmhouse. For more information, call (707) 940-4025 or visit the website at www.clinecellars.com.
Upcoming
Enjoy artisan breads and cheeses, fine wine and succulent Sonoma Valley olives during the Eighth Annual Olive Festival. Beginning the first weekend of December, many activities takes place at locales along Sonoma Plaza. Nearby, The Olive Press [24724 Arnold Drive, (707) 939-8900], has a working press with a tasting room and gift shop devoted to all things olive. Cooking demonstrations from Sonoma Valley’s finest chefs and winemaker dinners makes this food festival especially popular among foodies and gourmands. Call (707) 996-1090 or visit www.sonomavalley.com.