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August 23
San Francisco's Fort Mason Center will be the site of the Family Winemakers of California Tasting, an event highlighting approximately 400 of the Golden State's small-production family-owned wineries. The public will have the opportunity to sample vino ranging from Temecula Valley to the North Coast and even meet winemakers and wine owners themselves. In addition to the bountiful sipping, visitors will also be able to enjoy Wisconsin cheeses and Marcel & Henri pâté. Tickets cost $50 per person in advance; $60 per person at the door. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.familywinemakers.org or call 877-772-5425. Festival Pavilion at Fort Mason Center, Marina Blvd. & Buchanan St., San Francisco, CA 94123.
Ongoing
The luxurious Dining Room at The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco offers an approachable new way to experience the restaurant's wines and chef Ron Siegel's cuisine: the clubby bar area now hosts Small Bottles/Small Bites, featuring more than 100 half bottles off sommelier Stephane Lacroix's international list, paired with a special menu of dishes. Affordable tastes include lobster risotto, seared foie gras and chilled oysters, as well as more playful items such as crispy chicken wings. Desserts and cheeses are also on the menu---creating, together with a half bottle of something tasty, an indulgent yet affordable way to crown a San Francisco evening. The Dining Room, The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco, 600 Stockton St., San Francisco, CA 94108, 415-773-6168.
Wednesdays
Bottles of wine are half price every Wednesday at Digs Bistro in Berkeley. Digs Bistro, 1453 Dwight Way, Berkeley, CA 94702, 510-548-2322.
Ongoing
In a revolutionary expression of trust between restaurant and guest, sophisticated Fifth Floor Restaurant & Lounge is offering something very special within its adjoining lounge: six wines, handpicked daily by master sommelier Emily Wines, available for customers to pour and pay for at their own discretion. Written note cards from the well-known somm will suggest flights, perhaps a wine-based cocktail recipe, or relay trivia from her extensive knowledge on that evening's choices. The wine's suggested value and an honor bucket are also provided for guests to pay as they please. It's almost too good to be true. The "Honor Bar" is on offer each day from 4 p.m.-9 p.m. Fifth Floor Restaurant & Lounge, Hotel Palomar, 12 Fourth St., San Francisco, CA 94103, 415-348-1555.
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
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
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
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.
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.
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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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