Golden yellow mustard flowers bloom in Napa Valley each spring and are celebrated during the Napa Valley Mustard Celebration featuring art, wine and more. (Courtesy Getty Images/iStockphoto)
A new year is upon us, and while that may be daunting for some, there’s nothing like a little liquid courage to help you hit the ground running in 2024. From wine tastings and festivals to educational events and delectable dinners, here’s a sampling of local beer and wine events to check out in the coming months.
Napa Valley Mustard Celebration: January through March, various Napa Valley venues. Enjoy three months of special events including mustard inspired culinary delights, wine tastings and art exhibitions. Prices vary according to event. napavalleymustardcelebration.com/
Food & Wine Pairing Lab: 3 p.m. Jan. 7, Domenico Winery, 1697 Industrial Road, San Carlos. Can you create perfect pairings or are you paralyzed by the rules? Come play with your food and wine at this fabulous event featuring a live class with Master Sommelier David Glancy, a guided tasting of 6 Domenico wines, and a selection of small bites for pairing. $150. bit.ly/PairingLab
Bordeaux Around the World: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12, The Academy SF, 2166 Market St., San Francisco. Join Wine Director Michael Wells for an exclusive seated wine tasting featuring five Bordeaux-style wines from around the world. From classic French elegance to bold global expressions, each pour promises a journey through unique terroirs. $45. bit.ly/BordeauxAroundtheWorld
Napa Truffle Festival: Jan. 12-15, various Napa Valley venues. Savor some of the finest truffle cuisine in the world, paired with magnificent wines amidst the splendor of world-class Napa wineries. Learn the trade traits of truffles from the best Michelin star and master chefs, explore a working truffle orchard and see where and how truffles are harvested. Prices vary according to event. napatrufflefestival.com/schedule/
Winter Wineland: Jan. 13-14, various Sonoma County locations. Explore Sonoma’s Wine Road at the 30th anniversary Winter Wineland. Taste current vintages, restock your cellar and chat with other wine lovers while exploring more than 50 local wineries. $75-$95. wineroad.com/events/winter-wineland/
Sonoma Cutrer Wine Dinner: 5:30 p.m. Jan. 18, 1520 Lakeside Drive, Oakland. Lake Chalet Seafood Bar & Grill is proud to partner with Sonoma Cutrer’s Award Winning Wines for a five-course wine dinner prepared by Executive Chef Ray Wurtz and hosted by Sonoma Cutrer’s Head Winemaker, Cara Morrison. $110. bit.ly/SonomaCutrerDinner
Wine Class World Tour – Tokaj: 6:30 p.m. Jan. 18, Compline Wine Shop, 1300 First St., Napa. Get ready to tour the legendary wine region of Tokaj with Eric Danc, one of America’s premier Tokaj importers. Learn all about Furmint while tasting some of Hungary’s most historic wines in a range of dry to sweet styles. $75. bit.ly/WineClassWorldTour
Napa Valley Restaurant Week: Jan. 19-28, various Napa venues. For ten full days, Napa Valley’s world-class restaurants will be offering exclusive deals on inventive epicurean meals and experiences. Celebrate the gastronomy of Napa Valley with this showcase of premium ingredients and farm-fresh produce presented by talented chefs. Prices vary according to event. bit.ly/NapaRestaurantWeek
Forest Bathing and Wine Tasting: 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 20, 1000 Vineyard Lane, Sonoma. Kick back with an immersive forest bathing and wine tasting experience. A certified Nature Therapy Guide will guide you through Japanese meditative practices, and afterwards, you’ll be seated for a curated tasting of local wines. $150. bit.ly/ForestBathingWineTasting
Burgundy Masterclass: 6 p.m. Jan. 25, Napa Valley Wine Academy, 2501 Oak St., Napa. Join Mary Margaret McCamic, Master of Wine, in a comprehensive exploration of Burgundy. Using six wines from this revered wine region, she will dive into the relevance and determinants of quality, sense of place, winemaking trends and evolving styles. $129. bit.ly/BurgundyMasterclass
Seafood & Sips Mendocino: Jan. 26-Feb. 4, various Mendocino venues. This annual salute to the sea offers an extravaganza of all things crustacean. Belly up for a round-up of epicurean adventures including a Sparkling Wine & Oyster Celebration, a Crab Cake Cook-Off & Wine Tasting Competition and a family-style Cioppino Feast. Prices vary according to event. visitmendocino.com/seafood-sips-2024/
Pinots for Paws: Jan. 27-28, Dutton Estate Winery, 8757 Green Valley Road, Sebastopol. Sip, savor, and support the Sonoma County Humane Society during this event which features wine tastings, a puppy kissing booth and pet supply drive. Free admission, RSVP required. duttonestate.com/Visit-Us/Upcoming-Events
Lodi Wine & Chocolate Weekend: Feb. 2-4, various Lodi venues. Fall in love with this premiere winegrowing region while sampling renowned Lodi wines and delicious chocolate pairings at one of Northern California’s most popular and decadent weekend experiences. Event offerings include various winery experiences, tours and the crowd favorite Winemaker’s Toast. $75-$125. lodiwineandchocolate.com/
Dry Creek Vineyard Barrel Tasting: 12 to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 3, 3770 Lambert Bridge Road, Healdsburg. Deconstruct the rich history and techniques of classical winemaking in Dry Creek Valley with tastes directly from the barrel. Enjoy the ambience of the cellar as you interact with the winemaking team, taste barrel samples, sip limited-production wines and nibble delicious bites. $40. drycreekvineyard.com/events/
Calistoga Wine Experience: 1 to 4 p.m. Feb. 3, Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture, San Francisco. Come out for this rare opportunity to taste Calistoga wines with the actual winemakers and winery owners, plus enjoy an array of artisan cheeses, charcuterie and other small bites to pair with these world-class wines. $125-$250. bit.ly/CalistogaWineExperienceSF
Great Sonoma Crab and Wine Fest: 4 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 3, Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. Come out to the 34th annual festival for fabulous pairings of wine, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, fresh Sonoma Coast crab and accompaniments and a live auction. $150. bit.ly/SonomaCrabWineFest
V. Sattui Barrel Tasting & New Release Party: 6 to 9:30 p.m. Feb. 3, 1111 White Lane, St. Helena. Taste the 2023 vintage straight from the barrel during this party that features tastes from more than 60 wines, hearty food stations and live music from the Calvin Keys Quartet. $135-$150. vsattui.com/events/barrel-tasting-new-release-party/
Winter & Wine – 6th Annual Sip with Soroptimist: 6:30 to 10 p.m. Feb. 3, 1189 Washington St., Benicia. Enjoy an evening of winter fun and wine tasting at the charming Benicia Clock Tower. Indulge in a variety of exquisite wines while enjoying the cozy atmosphere and mingling with fellow wine enthusiasts. $85. bit.ly/WinterWineSoroptimistSip
Chinese New Year at Breathless Wines: 5 p.m. Feb. 9, 499 Moore Lane, Healdsburg. Celebrate the Year of the Dragon at Breathless Wines with dim sum, tarot readings and tons of sparkling Lunar New Year delights. $35. bit.ly/SparklingLunar
SF Beer Week 2024: Feb. 9-18, various Bay Area locations. This 10-day event celebrates the vast community of Bay Area beer lovers and brew makers with hundreds of tours, tastings, whimsical events and more. Prices vary according to event. sfbeerweek.org/
The Bistro 24th Double IPA Festival: 12 to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 10, 1001 B St., Hayward. Enjoy an epic celebration of craft beer promising to be every hop lover’s paradise. This street festival offers a remarkable selection of over 80 Double IPAs from renowned local breweries to sip and savor. $80 to $100. bit.ly/DoubleIPAFest
Sweethearts Beer and Wine Festival: 12 to 5 p.m. Feb. 10, 335 North Eighth Ave., Oakdale. This annual festival offers a vast selection of beer and wine from local breweries and wineries, showcasing the finest flavors of the region. Discover new favorites, sample unique blends, and learn about the art of brewing from experts in the field. $50 to $100. bit.ly/SweetheartsBeerWineFest
Anderson Valley White Wine Weekend: Feb. 17-18, various Anderson Valley venues. Escape to the beautiful Anderson Valley for a weekend of white wine, sparkling, rose, and more. Wineries along the wine road will welcome you with exclusive wine flights, food pairings and special library tastings. $95-$145. avwines.com/white-wine-weekend/
Sip And Sketch Happy Hour: 4 p.m. Feb. 24, 2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa. Come out to Schulz Museum for a fun day of drinking and drawing. Get inspiration from the museum galleries and work with professional cartoonist Justin Thompson to learn how to draw emotions while enjoying adult beverages. schulzmuseum.org/
Pigs & Pinot: March 15-16, Hotel Healdsburg, 25 Matheson St., Healdsburg. This celebratory weekend offers a series of intimate dining and educational events hosted by the highly acclaimed Chef Charlie Palmer. A cast of Master Sommeliers, iconic winemakers and celebrity chefs will showcase some of the world’s greatest Pinot Noirs with perfect pork pairings. $275. pigsandpinot.com/
San Mateo Wine Festival: March 23-24, 1346 Saratoga Drive, San Mateo. Come out to the grand San Mateo Event Center to raise a glass and enjoy a weekend designed to indulge your passion for wine, spirits, casual bites, shopping and live music. $79-$99. bit.ly/SanMateoWineFest
Pebble Beach Food & Wine: April 4-7, Pebble Beach Resorts. Land. Sea. Food. Wine. Over the course of four days, 125 global chefs, 150 wineries, mixologists, sommeliers, and beverage personalities will gather for this premier food and wine destination event. Find updated ticket information at pebblebeachfoodandwine.com/
Have a wine, beer or spirits event to add? Submit it online at forms.gle/Cu9J6Ks2fQiQUcKk8.
Originally published at Brittany Delay