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February 26-November 10
Campton Place Restaurant is hosting a series of winemaker dinners and seminars, called The Wine Scene, starting with Storybook Mountain Vineyard’s Tasting on Tuesday, February 26; Chappellet Vineyards on Tuesday, March 4; Opus One Tasting Seminar and Dinner on Thursday, March 20; Jordan Vineyards Alexander Valley on Tuesday, April 15; Hanzell Vineyard’s Rare Library Tasting on Tuesday, April 29; Peay Sonoma Seminar and Dinner on Monday, May 5; Duckhorn Napa Valley Tasting and Dinner on Monday, June 9; Fritz Tasting Seminar and Dinner on Tuesday, June 24; Silver Oak & Meyers Family Cellar on Tuesday, July 15; BR Cohn California Tasting Seminar and Dinner on Tuesday, August 19; Wines from New Zealand Tasting on Monday, September 15; Champagne Henriot Tasting Seminar and Dinner on Monday, October 6; and Domaine Carneros Wine Dinner Tasting and Seminar on Monday, November 10. For more information or reservations call master sommelier Richard Dean at 415-955-5574 or email Richard.Dean@tajhotels.com. Campton Place Restaurant, Campton Place Hotel, 340 Stockton St., San Francisco, CA 94108, 415-955-5555.
May 13-19
The second annual San Francisco Cocktail Week will celebrate the culture and history of dining and drinking with daily events and festivities. The week commences with an "Opening Gala" on May 13 at Harry Denton's Starlight Room at the Sir Francis Drake hotel. San Francisco Cocktail Week's signature cocktail The Soiree, will be introduced and guests will be greeted with a complimentary Soiree or Cable Car upon arrival. Conduit, bacar, The Alembic, Bong Su and other restaurants will individually host multi-course dinners paired with complementary cocktails on May 15. Other events held that week will include an evening of "Farmers' Market Cocktails" at the CUESA Kitchen in the San Francisco Ferry Building on May 14, a celebration of Sazerac on May 16 at Elixir, and a literary discussion themed on "Literature, Booze and History" on May 17. Cocktail Week wraps up on May 19 at Absinthe where guests will enjoy light fare from executive chef Jamie Lauren and a selection of cocktails created by Absinthe (including absinthe-based cocktails). Admission price varies for each event. For further details, tickets and reservations, please visit www.sfcocktailweek.com.
Nightly
Rue Saint Jacques restaurant is offering a three-course menu and a glass of wine for $23 every day from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Guests can take their choice of appetizers (soupe du jour or pâté du jour), a choice of main course (New York steak or moules frites) and a choice of a dessert (crème brûlée or mousse au chocolat). Rue Saint Jacques, 1098 Jackson St. at Taylor St., San Francisco, CA 94133, 415-776-2002.
Nightly
Indigo restaurant hosts a nightly Ultimate Wine Dinner. Guest may choose one appetizer, one entrée, one dessert and drink freely for the evening from a select choice of wines. That's right, it is an all-you-can-drink dinner. Guests must arrive after 8 p.m. The dinner is $49. Indigo, 687 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102, 415-673-9353.
Ongoing
UC Davis Extension offers courses in winemaking and grape-growing for amateurs and aspiring professionals alike. All classes take place either on the UC Davis campus or at the Da Vinci Building (1632 Da Vinci Court in Davis). Course fees and times vary. For more information, call 800-752-0881 or visit www.extension.ucdavis.edu/winemaking. UC Davis, 1632 Da Vinci Court, Davis, CA 95618, 800-752-0881.
Ongoing
Plumpjack Wines offers weekly wine classes with sommelier-led discussions, held above the Matrix Fillmore at 3138 Fillmore, across the street from Balboa Café. 6:30 - 8 p.m. Prices vary. For more information, call 415-346-9870 or 888-415-9463. Plumpjack Wines, 3138 Fillmore St., San Francisco, CA 94123, 888-415-9463.
Ongoing
The charming and stylish Luella has a spiffy prix-fixe menu that includes its addictive romaine, radicchio, and watercress salad with Gorgonzola and walnuts that has a fan club of its own. But then you have to turn down the baked mussels with bacon over mashed potatoes! Oh, decisions. Their roasted pork loin with pancetta-braised cabbage is then followed with a vanilla and fresh mint crème brûlée. All this for $26, which means you can splurge on one of their wines from their well-chosen list of unique vintages. Available Monday-Thursday 5:30 p.m.-6:30pm. Luella, 1896 Hyde St. at Green St., San Francisco, CA 94109, 415-674-4343.
Ongoing
Bennett Lane Winery in Calistoga launched a “Custom Blend Experience” for groups of six or more—guests can blend their very own version of the winery’s signature Maximus feasting wine (Merlot, Cabernet, and Syrah). For $175 per person, it’s a lot of fun and each comes away with his or her very own custom bottle. Bennett Lane Winery, 3340 Hwy. 128,, Calistoga, CA 94515, 707-942-6684.
Ongoing
The Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant is offering innovative wine service by presenting the 2004 Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc from Sauvignon Republic Winery as a tap selection at the restaurant. Offering wine on tap at Greystone was a dream seven years in the making, before Greystone's Sommelier Traci Dutton finally convinced John Buechsenstein, Sauvignon Republic's winemaker and an instructor in the CIA's Professional Wine Studies program, to produce his crisp Sauvignon Blanc in five-gallon kegs to be served on tap at the restaurant. While customary in Europe, the practice of serving wine on tap is still rare in the United States. At the Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant, the wine is offered both by the glass (at $5 per glass, a steal in Wine Country) and by the carafe. Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant, 2555 Main St., St. Helena, CA 94574, 707-967-1010.
Ongoing
In scenic Healdsburg, the Mayo Family Winery has opened a second Sonoma County “Reserve Room,” where guests can sit and savor wine over a seven-course tasting menu for only $20. Chef Jeff Mall (of ZIN Restaurant) has designed the seven food pairings to accompany seven Mayo family reserve wines. Some examples include Dungeness crab, avocado and mango with the 2004 Chardonnay, Laurel Hill Vineyard, Sonoma Valley; and homemade fennel sausage pizza with a 2004 Zinfandel, Ricci Vineyard, Russian River Valley, “Old Vine.” Reserve Room Healdsburg is open Thursday-Monday, 10:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. Reservations to sample the seven-course pairing menu are not required but recommended. Mayo Family Winery, 340 Center St., Healdsburg, CA 95448, 707-433-9400.
Ongoing
Il Fornaio crafts monthly “Festa Regionale” menus showcasing different regions of Italy, with special attention paid to the food, bread and wine of that area. Upcoming dates and regions include: Abruzzo, May 5-18; Sicilia, June 2-15; Sardegna, July 7-20; Toscana, August 4-17; Veneto, September 1-14; Lombardia, October 6-19; Umbria, November 3-16; Best of Festa, December 1-14. Il Fornaio, 1265 Battery St., San Francisco, CA 94111, 415-986-0100.
Ongoing
Cyrus is now hosting the "Grand Tasting" wine experience at the restaurant, a selection of unique and remarkable wines rarely served by the glass, paired with chef Douglas Keane's seven-course Chef's Tasting Menu to create an unparalleled evening of food and wine. Sommelier Jim Rollston has taken great care to source some of the world's most exceptional wines to create this experience for Cyrus' guests. Pairings currently start and end with such legendary marques as Champagne Krug and Château D'Yquem and also include a Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Château de Beaucastel, France 1996 and a Pinot Noir, Williams Selyem, Russian River Valley 2005. The "Grand Tasting" wine experience is offered for $165 per person, with the seven-course wine pairing available as well for $89 per person. Cyrus, Les Mars Hotel, 29 North St. at Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, CA 95448, 707-433-3311.
Tuesdays
La Strada is hosting regional Italian wine tastings. Chef Donato Scotti will pair sultry wines with light bites inspired by different regions of Italy. Enjoy the evening in a convivial and relaxed atmosphere on La Strada's open-air patio. 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. $20 per person; includes wine and appetizers. For more information, visit www.lastradapaloalto.com. La Strada Ristorante, 335 University Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94301, 650-324-8300.
Wednesdays
Maverick has launched “One-Of-A-Kind Wine Wednesdays,” a regular bi-monthly fixture. Maverick’s wine director Mike Pierce will host atypical educational wine seminars every other Wednesday from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. In keeping with the Maverick philosophy, tasting seminars will be spirited yet relaxed, informative and interesting. Unique to other “wine classes” offered in The City, they will always include delicious food pairings. Seminars will be limited to ten guests, and cost $35 per person, plus tax. Look for more details and a calendar of tasting themes at www.sfmaverick.com. Maverick, 3316 17th St. at Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94110, 415-863-3061.
Wednesdays
Levende Lounge is offering all wines at 50% off on Wednesdays. Considering the fact that sommelier Nicole Burke consulted on the list, you can definitely find some special deals. Levende Lounge, 1710 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94103, 415-864-5585.
Thursdays
Every Thursday night, Absinthe Brasserie & Bar is hosting “Bar School” between 6 p.m.–9 p.m., highlighting a specific spirit and offering a flight of selected producers. Absinthe’s oft-admired bartenders will mix cocktails to match, and along with the flights will be offered at special happy hour prices. Check www.absinthe.com for details on the upcoming lineup of spirits. Absinthe Brasserie & Bar, 398 Hayes St. at Gough St., San Francisco, CA 94102, 415-551-1590.
Fridays
Ladera Vineyards is starting its new Twilight Tours, a unique wine tasting experience. The tour starts with a sip of Ladera’s Sauvignon Blanc, plus a tasting of cheese and chocolate. Your personal lantern will then help guide you through the different levels of the winery while you learn about its open-top tanks and gravity flow process. The tour wraps up with a tasting of Ladera’s limited production wines, as well as barrel samples of its signature Howell Mountain and Lone Canyon hillside Cabs. Cost is $50 per person with a limit of ten people. For reservations, call 707-965-2445 or email winery@laderavineyards.com. Ladera Vineyards, 150 White Cottage Rd., Angwin, CA 94508, 707-965-2445.
Saturdays
Napa Valley’s Ladera Vineyards is offering an exclusive private tour of their vineyard. Led by Ladera family members, the Lone Canyon Driving Tours take guests 1,100 feet above sea level to explore the mountains and valleys of Lone Canyon, ending with lunch in the vineyard paired with Ladera wines. Tours run from May to October, and the cost is $200 for up to four people. The tour runs from 11 a.m.-1:30 pm. To make a reservation, call 707-965-2445 or e-mail winery@laderavineyards.com. Ladera Vineyards, 150 White Cottage Rd. S., Angwin, CA 94508, 707-965-2445.
Sundays
Every Sunday at PlumpJack Café is “Wine Collector's Night.” Bring in wine from your own collection and there is no corkage fee. Enjoy a six- or seven-course prix-fixe menu prepared by the talented chef de cuisine Jeff Smock for $75, featuring dishes like Cabernet-braised beef oxtails or the trademark ahi tartare comes with yuzu crème fraîche. You can opt for PlumpJack’s notable wine pairings for $35 if you don’t want to bring your own. PlumpJack Café, 3127 Fillmore St., San Francisco, CA 94123, 415-563-4755.
(Updated:
05/12/08 HC) |
| RECOMMENDED
WINE SHOP
For additional information
on wine events, please contact:
Plumpjack
Wines
3201 Fillmore St.
San Francisco, CA 94123
415-346-9870 |
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