Wine Tasting, Wednesday, April 20
It’s the mid week and time to start getting ready for the weekend, so join August Ridge Vineyard’s owner and winemaker John Backer at UnWined as he pours his 2009 Rocco’s Red, 2006 Sangiovese, 2009 Primitivo and 2008 Barbera. This great Paso Robles winery combines the robust styling of the best California wines with the restrained classic elegance of wines from northern and central Italy.

Witness the Winemaking Process, Saturday, April 23
Assemblage is a fancy French word that means the blending of several wines, generally issued from different grape-varieties. Seize your chance to be on the inner wine circle by coming to Ridge Vineyard’s “Assemblage” event. Be part of the assemblage process and be among the first to sample the 2010 Monte Bello out of the barrel! Enjoy the Monte Bello estate, meet and mingle with the winemaking team while you sample a selection of wines featured alongside a delicious array of cheeses, breads and charcuterie from local artisan producers including Gayles Bakery of Capitola, Fatted Calf of San Francisco, and others to be announced.

Learn to Pickle, Saturday, April 23
Crave to learn how to pickle anything? Here is your opportunity to learn. Love Apple Farm is hosting a workshop that will delve into the rich cultural history of pickling while providing students with the foundations to start preserving at home. Preservation basics, equipment, food safety issues and variations on basic recipes as well as home canning techniques will be covered in class. Each student will have the opportunity to get hands-on in the kitchen as well as take home some of the fabulous recipes created in class. Some of the things covered will be basic vinegar pickles, Japanese pickled vegetables, sauerkraut, lactic fermentation, and spice mixes.

Winemaker Dinner, Tuesday, April 26
Enjoy a gourmet dinner at Restaurant James Randall paired with wines from Oakville Ranch. The vineyard covers just two square miles of Napa Valley, but its wines play a very big role in the connoisseur’s collection. At 1,400 feet above the valley floor, Oakville Ranch produces fruit that is influenced by the appellation’s signature red volcanic soil with a mountain accent. On the menu that evening is gnocchi in a cream sauce, Ahi tuna, New York steak and chocolate hazelnut mousse for a sweet finish to any Tuesday night. Bon Appetit!

Decadent Dinner, Wednesday, April 27
In the mood for something decadent? Come to The Plumed Horse for an incredible dinner with winemaker Eric Flanagan, owner of Flanagan wines. Since 1999 Eric has produced wines that reflect the soils, climate and aspect of his very distinctive site in Sonoma County. The evening will begin with hors d’oeuvres followed by a four course dinner. The four wines served will be the 2009 Chardonnay, 2008 Syrah, and the 2006 and 2007 Cabernet Sauvignons. On the menu will be lobster and pea ravioli, roast squab, braised beef cheeks and walnut cake with chocolate sorbet. What a way to celebrate the middle of the week!