Every spring, Napa Valley blooms with golden-yellow mustard flowers and hosts the Napa Valley Mustard Celebration, featuring art, wine and more. (Courtesy: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
A new year is approaching. It may seem daunting to some, but there’s nothing like a little liquid courage to jump-start 2024. From wine tastings and festivals to educational events and delicious dinners, we offer a sampling of local gastronomy. Beer and wine events to check out in the coming months.
Napa Valley Mustard Celebration: Various venues in Napa Valley from January to March. Enjoy his three months of special events, including delicious mustard dishes, wine tastings, and art exhibitions. Prices vary depending on the event. napavalleymustardcelebration.com/
Food and Wine Pairing Lab: Jan. 7, 3 p.m., Domenico Winery, 1697 Industrial Road, San Carlos. Will you be able to create the perfect pairing or will you be paralyzed by the rules? Featuring a live class with Master Sommelier David Glancy, a guided tasting of six Dominican wines, and a selection of light snacks for pairing, this amazing Enjoy food and wine at your event. $150. bit.ly/Pairing Lab
Bordeaux around the world: Jan. 12, 7:30 p.m., The Academy SF, 2166 Market St., San Francisco. Join wine director Michael Wells for a special sit-down wine tasting featuring his five Bordeaux-style wines from around the world. From classic French elegance to bold global expression, each pour promises a unique terroir journey. $45. bit.ly/Bordeaux Around the World
Napa Truffle Festival: It will be held from January 12th to 15th at various venues in Napa Valley. Enjoy some of the world’s best truffle dishes paired with great wines in the splendor of a world-class Napa winery. Learn about the trade characteristics of truffles from top Michelin stars and master chefs, explore a working truffle orchard, and see where and how truffles are harvested. Prices vary depending on the event. napatrufflefestival.com/schedule/
Wineland in winter: Jan. 13-14 at various locations in Sonoma County. Explore Sonoma’s Wine Roads at the 30th Anniversary Winter Wineland. Taste the latest vintages, restock your cellar, and chat with other wine lovers as you explore over 50 local wineries. $75 to $95. wineroad.com/events/Winter-wineland/
Sonoma Cutler Wine Dinner: January 18, 1520 5:30pm Lakeside Drive, Oakland. Lake Chalet Seafood Bar & Grill is proud to partner with Sonoma Cutler’s award-winning wines to offer a five-course wine dinner prepared by Executive Chef Ray Wirtz and hosted by Sonoma Cutler Head Winemaker Carla Morrison I’m proud of that. $110. bit.ly/SonomaCutrerDinner
Wine Class World Tour – Tokaj: Jan. 18, 6:30 p.m., Compline Wine Shop, 1300 First St., Napa. Get ready for a tour through the legendary wine region of Tokaj with Eric Dunn, one of America’s leading Tokaj importers. Learn about Furmint as you taste Hungary’s oldest wines in a variety of styles, from dry to sweet. $75. bit.ly/WineClassWorldTour
Napa Valley Restaurant Week: It will be held from January 19th to 28th at various venues in Napa. For 10 full days, Napa Valley’s world-class restaurants will offer exclusive deals on creative gourmet meals and experiences. Celebrate the gastronomy of Napa Valley by showcasing premium ingredients and fresh produce from talented chefs. Prices vary depending on the event. bit.ly/NapaRestaurantWeek
Forest bathing and wine tasting: Jan. 20, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1000 Vineyard Lane, Sonoma. Relax with a forest bathing and wine tasting experience. A certified nature therapy guide will guide you through Japanese meditation practices. Afterward, enjoy a tasting of a selection of local wines. $150. bit.ly/ForestBathingWineTasting
Burgundy master class: Jan. 25, 6 p.m., Napa Valley Wine Academy, 2501 Oak St., Napa. Join Master of Wine Mary Margaret and her MacAmic on a comprehensive exploration of Burgundy. Using six of her wines from this esteemed wine region, we delve into the connections and determinants of quality, sense of place, winemaking trends, and evolving styles. $129. bit.ly/Burgundy Masterclass
Seafood & Ships Mendocino: January 26th – February 4th at various venues in Mendocino. The annual Salute to the Sea features all kinds of crustacean indulgence. Enjoy gastronomic adventures like the Sparkling Wine & Oyster Celebration, Crab Cake Cook-Off & Wine Tasting Competition, and Family-Style Cioppino Feast. Prices vary depending on the event. visitmendocino.com/seafood-sips-2024/
Pinot for feet: Jan. 27-28, Dutton Estate Winery, 8757 Green Valley Road, Sebastopol. Drink, taste and support the Sonoma County Humane Society at this event featuring wine tastings, a puppy kissing booth, pet supplies sales and more. Free admission, attendance required. duttonestate.com/Visit-Us/Upcoming-Events
Lodi Wine & Chocolate Weekend: February 2nd to 4th at various venues in Lodi. Fall in love with this premier wine region as you sip famous Lodi wines and delicious chocolate pairings at one of Northern California’s most popular decadent weekend experiences. Events include a variety of winery experiences, tours, and the popular Winemaker’s Toast. From $75 to $125. lodywineandchocolate.com/
Dry Creek Vineyard Barrel Tasting: February 3 from 12:00pm to 4:30pm, 3770 Lambert Bridge Road, Healdsburg. Deconstruct the rich history and techniques of Dry Creek Valley’s classic winemaking by tasting it straight from the barrel. Enjoy the cellar atmosphere as you interact with the winemaking team, taste barrel samples, sip limited edition wines, and enjoy delicious appetizers. $40. drycreekvineyard.com/events/
Calistoga wine experience: Fort Mason Arts and Cultural Center in San Francisco on February 3rd from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Come join us for this unique opportunity to taste Calistoga’s wines with an actual winemaker and winery owner. Plus, enjoy an array of artisan cheeses, charcuterie, and other light bites to pair with these world-class wines. From $125 to $250. bit.ly/CalistogaWineExperienceSF
Great Sonoma Club and Wine Fest: Feb. 3, 4-8:30 p.m., Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. Come join us for our 34th annual festival. Enjoy great wine pairings, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, fresh Sonoma Coast crab and sides, and a live auction. $150. bit.ly/SonomaCrabWineFest
V. Sattui Barrel Tasting & New Release Party: 1111 February 3, 6-9:30pm, White Lane, St. Helena. Taste the 2023 vintage straight from the barrel at this party featuring more than 60 wines, hearty food stations, and live music from the Calvin Keys Quartet. $135 to $150. vsattui.com/events/barrel-tasting-new-release-party/
Winter and Wine – 6th Annual Cup with Soroptimist: Feb. 3, 1189 Washington St., Benicia, 6:30 to 10 p.m. Enjoy an evening of winter fun and wine tasting at the charming Benicia Clock Tower. Enjoy a cozy atmosphere, mingle with fellow wine lovers and enjoy a wide range of fine wines. $85. bit.ly/WinterWineSoroptimist sip
Lunar New Year at Breathless Wines: Feb. 9, 5 p.m., 499 Moore Lane, Healdsburg. Celebrate the Year of the Dragon with dim sum, tarot readings, and lots of sparkling Lunar New Year fun at Breathless His Wines. $35. bit.ly/SparklingLunar
SF Beer Week 2024: Held from February 9th to February 18th at various locations in the Bay Area. This 10-day event celebrates the Bay Area’s vast community of beer lovers and beer makers with hundreds of tours, tastings, quirky events, and more. Prices vary depending on the event. sfbeerweek.org/
Bistro 24th Double IPA Festival: 12:00pm to 3:30pm February 10th, 1001 B St., Hayward. Enjoy a grand celebration of craft beer that promises to be a paradise for all hop lovers. This street festival will feature a selection of over 80 double IPAs from renowned local breweries for you to sip and taste. From $80 to $100. bit.ly/DoubleIPAFest
Sweetheart Beer & Wine Festival: Feb. 10 from 12 to 5 p.m., 335 North Eighth Ave., Oakdale. This annual festival showcases the region’s best flavors with a wide selection of beers and wines from local breweries and wineries. Discover new favorites, sample unique blends, and learn about the art of brewing from experts in the field. From $50 to $100. bit.ly/Sweethearts Beer Wine Fest
Anderson Valley White Wine Weekend: Feb. 17-18 at various Anderson Valley venues. Spend your weekend exploring the beautiful Anderson Valley and enjoying white wine, sparkling wine, rosé, and more. Wineries along the Wine Road welcome you with special wine flights, food pairings, special library tastings, and more. From $95 to $145. avwines.com/white-wine-weekend/
Happy hour to sip and sketch: February 24, 2301, 4:00 p.m., Hardy’s Lane, Santa Rosa. Visit the Schulz Museum for a fun day of drinking and painting. Get inspired by the museum’s galleries and learn how to draw emotions while enjoying an adult beverage with professional cartoonist Justin Thompson. Schulzmuseum.org/
Pig and Pinot: March 15-16, Hotel Healdsburg, 25 Matheson St., Healdsburg. This celebratory weekend will feature a series of intimate dining and educational events hosted by acclaimed chef Charlie Palmer. Master sommeliers, renowned winemakers and celebrity chefs will perform, showcasing the world’s best Pinot his noir and the perfect pairing of charcuterie. $275. pigsandpinot.com/
San Mateo Wine Festival: March 23-24, 1346 Saratoga Drive, San Mateo. Come to the spectacular San Mateo Event Center to raise a glass and enjoy a weekend filled with our passion for wine, spirits, snacks, shopping, and live music. From $79 to $99. bit.ly/SanMateoWineFest
Pebble Beach food and wine: Pebble Beach Resort from April 4th to 7th. land. Ocean. food. wine. Over four days, 125 world-class chefs, 150 wineries, mixologists, sommeliers and beverage luminaries will gather for this premier food and wine destination event. For the latest ticket information, visit pebblebeachfoodandwine.com/.
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