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JANUARY
2008
Seasonal
Tip:
It's
OYSTER harvesting time. Have them with
Champagne
to ring in the new year! This is also the season
for wild mushrooms, tangerines and oranges,
as well as Camembert and blue cheeses. Look
for these ingredients in markets and on restaurant
menus. |
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January
25-February 10
Mendocino, CA—Ninth Annual Mendocino Crab & Wine Days |
Every
year, Mendocino County celebrates two of its best products,
wine and crab. For the ninth straight year, natives and
visitors will celebrate the relationship with Dungeness
crab by pairing a wide variety of crab dishes with fine,
locally-crafted Mendocino wines during the Crab and Wine
Days. Throughout the county, restaurants, winemakers, and
even the fishermen themselves will take part in the events.
A sampling of activities include meeting the fishermen and
going on scheduled cruises leaving every day from Noyo Harbor
near Fort Bragg, special barrel tastings and crab appetizers
in and around local wine tasting rooms and the Crab Cake
Cook-off, which benefits the Coast Clinics. For more information,
visit www.gomendo.com,
e-mail info@gomendo.com or call 866-466-3636. |
January 11-April 4
Boston,
MA—19th Annual Boston Wine Festival
Located
on beautiful Rowes Wharf, The
Boston Harbor Hotel invites guests to the 19th annual
Boston Wine Festival. Plan ahead since connoisseurs
and novices alike will enjoy exceptional dinner events.
This year’s edition promises a fun-filled lineup of
vintners and events. Special room rates are available through
the hotel (call 800-752-7077 for more room rate details).
For event information or reservations, call 800-752-7077
or visit www.bostonwinefestival.net. |
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January
6-February 1
Yosemite,
CA—2008 Chef’s Holidays |
 |
Get
up close and personal with renowned food artists as they
reveal their secrets amidst the natural wonder of Yosemite
Park. Chef’s Holidays at the Ahwahnee feature
eight sessions where guest chefs share their trademark techniques
during "Meet the Chefs" receptions, cooking demonstrations
and kitchen tours. Each session comes to a delightful end
during the Chef’s Gala Dinner, a five-course meal
that highlights the specialties of the featured chef paired
with complimentary wines. This year’s guest chefs
include Kent Rathbun of Abacus (Dallas, TX); Jerry Regester of The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards (Livermore, CA); Cal Stamenov of Marinus (Carmel Valley, CA); Peter Chastain of Prima (Walnut Creek, CA); Steve Corry of Five Fifty-Five (Portland, ME); Paul Virant of Vie (Western Springs, IL); Tony DiSalvo of The Dining Room at Jack’s (La Jolla, CA) and many others. Guest packages including
lodging are available. Call 559-253-5635 or visit www.yosemitepark.com for information and reservations. |
January
19
Paso
Robles, CA—Esprit du Vin Wine Celebration |
California’s Central
Coast is where the Wineries of Highway 46 East meet
and celebrate the Esprit du Vin wine celebration. On Jan. 19, sample a different wine from each of the eleven acclaimed Paso
Robles wineries paired with eleven different cheeses. Gourmet olives, olive oils and breads will also be served. Event starts at 6 p.m. at Firestone Winery; tickets cost $15 per person or $25 per couple. The celebration includes weekend events at all participating wineries as well as special tours, tastings and discounts. Pick up a free passport at any participating winery and get it stamped to enter a drawing featuring prizes, including a Paso Robles Wine Country Getaway package. For more information call 805-591-8010, visit www.pasowine46east.com or email katy@firestonewine.com. |
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Australia Week 2008, or "G'Day USA,"
will highlight Australian culture and the impact of its
food, wine, artists, sports and fashion on American pop
culture. The event will draw Australian celebrities, dignitaries,
sports teams and a number of commercial and financial interests
to Los Angeles and New York. The event's activities include
the Black Tie Gala in LA and New York, Melbourne Australia
CEO Golf Day, an Australian designer showcase, economic
and environmental forums and a food and wine trade event.
Gala dinner tickets start at $250. For
event information call 310-229-2371, email Losangeles@dfat.gov.au or visit www.australia-week.com. |
January
23-February 2
Taos Ski Valley, NM—22nd Annual Taos Winter Wine
Festival |
This
annual event at Taos
Ski Valley Resort offers a number of wine-related activities
such as daily wine seminars, guest chef demos, nightly winemaker
dinners, a chance to sample Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
and two grand tasting events each featuring more than 75
wines. A silent auction will follow the tasting events and
will benefit the Taos
Community Foundation. This year's select wineries include
The Calera Wine Co., Domaine Chandon, R&B Cellars,
Casa Rondea, Foris Vineyards, Gundlach Bunchshu, Martine’s
Wines and many others. Guest chefs are to be announced. For more information
or to make reservations, visit www.skitaos.org. |
January
19-20
Uncasville, CT—Sun WineFest |
Wine aficionados, gourmets and collectors will gather in
New England at Mohegan
Sun for a weekend-long extravaganza. The event will
welcome celebrated chefs such as Michael Luboff, Todd English,
Jasper White, Mary Ann Esposito, Ihsan Gurdal and Michael
Ginor. Also in attendance will be wine experts like Kathy Benzinger, Malcom Gosling, Fred Dame, Steve Reeder and Stefano
Girelli. Sun WineFest benefits important charitable organizations
including Share our Strength and The Juvenile Diabetes Research
Foundation. For information visit www.sunwinefest.com or call 860-728-5700. |
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The
Zinfandel Advocates & Producers' (ZAP) annual Zinfandel
Festival honors one of California's favorite wine varietals. Held at various
locations around the city, highlights of this year's event
include: Flights: A Showcase of Zinfandels; a ‘dine-around’
extravaganza, where Zinfandel producers will teamed up with
restaurants to create special pairings; An Evening With
The Winemakers, which raises money for The Heritage Projects
including The Heritage Vineyard; and the 17th Annual Grand Zinfandel Tasting, which allows exploring
the wide varieties of more than 260 Zinfandel wineries.
Tickets may be purchased by calling 415-345-7575. Visit www.zinfandel.org for more info. |
January 25-February 5
Venice,
ITALY—Carnival
of Venice |
Carnival
of Venice 2008 celebrates the world's most romantic and glamorous
masked ball, as well as other lively events. Carnival-goers
are ensured to enjoy lavish parties, exotic 18th-century
costumes, fireworks and frenzied celebration. There will
be Baroque music concerts, water parades in gondolas and
extravagant gala dinners. And plenty of other lunches, brunches,
dinners, exhibitions, balls and concerts are held in between.
For more information, visit www.carnivalofvenice.com. |
January
26-27
Temecula, CA—18th Annual Winter Barrel Tasting |
The
Temecula Valley Wine Growers Association hosts the Winter
Barrel Tasting where guests are invited to each of the 20
participating wineries to sample wines aging in barrels
or tanks, unreleased wines and new favorites. It is the
perfect opportunity to befriend the winemakers and ask questions.
Each winery will be serving foods that complement the wines.
Tickets cost $85 per person and $65 for designated drivers.
Tickets have typically sold out a few weeks prior to the
event, so it's best to purchase them early. Call 800-801-WINE
for tickets, or visit www.temeculawines.org. |
January 29-31
Sacramento,
CA—Unified
Wine & Grape Symposium |
Ideas,
information, science and data all come together at the Unified
Wine & Grape Symposium. The symposium combines a trade show with a spectrum of seminars. The program of sessions adress topics affecting the grape-growing and winemaking industries, ranging from marketing and business to enology and viticulture. Registration information will be available Oct.
23. For more information, call 800-550-1496, or visit www.unifiedsymposium.org.
Sacramento Convention Center, 1400 Jones St., Sacramento,
CA. |
Back
to the Calendar
(Updated:
02/21/08 SCV) |
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