July 21st and 22nd at the Old Sugar Mill in Clarksburg.
For more info:  http://www.oldsugarmill.com/
Tickets are $25 online, $30 at the door

Once the allergies season slows down, springtime in the Sacramento Valley is quite the enjoyable experience. It's like Mother Nature comes through with a wand and throws a rainbow smackdown of color on the city. The tree canopies of East Sac and Midtown become lush with greenery, small colorful birds begin chirping up a storm in the brush and the flowers....well, there's flowers everywhere you look! With the pleasant weather, comes a change of attitude. People want to shuck their wool scarves and don on some shorts and lace up their Chucks. Skateboards and cruisers are brought out of the garage and people, young and old, take to the streets and relish the fantabulous weather. Looking around you'll see an abundance of Sacramentans hanging out on the patios of various coffee shops, breweries and bistros.

After the dreary wet winter, businesses too are excited to host outdoor events celebrating the wine, food and sunshine of the region. One of the best events in the Valley that showcases this is in the small town of Winters, just outside of Sacramento. With just a mere mini-ride away you can find yourself away from the harried city and submerge yourself in some relaxation and merriment. This year's "Springtime in the Vineyard" Picnic, will feature delicious shrimp, carnitas and fresh fruit skewers along with bluegrass tunes by Doc Holler. You can also sip on the newly released 2010 Sauvignon Blanc, 2010 Sunset, Rosé of Primitivo and 2008 Petite Sirah while strolling through the vineyards or lounging under the old Oak Tree while gazing at the exquisite vista views. So gather up your family and friends and make a day out of celebrating spring and the delicious wine of this region!

- Interested parties are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance, as tickets to this event sell out.
- May 28, 2011
- Tickets: Wine Club Members $30 ~ General Admission $40
- Website: http://www.berryessagap.com/product/Springtime-in-the-Vineyard

The California State Library's Food for Thought Series will be showing "Bottle Shock": An American drama-comedy which  loosely portrays the now infamous California vs. France blind tasting event organized in Paris in 1976 by wine retailer Steven Spurrier that has come now to be known as the "Judgement of Paris." The film stars Alan Rickman, Chris Pine, Bill Pullman, Rachael Taylor and Eliza Dushku.

There will be snacks provided as well as a presentation and Q&A by Darrell Corti. The event is free but donations would be greatly appreciated.
* Email rfontaine@library.ca.gov to make a reservation for this film event.

Trailer:

As Californians we are incredibly lucky to be surrounded by a plethora of delicious wines. There's an incredible array of choices for every palate and every wallet everywhere we look. Now, I'm no expert wine connoisseur but I thought it'd be fun to share a few of the wines that I'm currently enjoying.

2007 Delas St. Esprit Cotes-du-Rhone Rouge

I was first introduced to this wine at a wine party I threw quite awhile back. A guest had picked it up at Corti Brothers and at first sip, I knew that I was in love with this full-bodied red and would be buying it regularly. The garnet-colored wine carries a nice subtle taste of pepper, plums and blackberry. If you love jammy reds like I do, you'll like this one. You can usually find it at Cost Plus World Market or Corti Bros for around $12-$14.
 
2007 Berryessa Gap Tempranillo
 
This soft Tempranillo didn't come onto my radar until late this summer. Mr. S. and I threw a BBQ and my friend Jenni was kind enough to bring a few bottles to share. Berryessa Gap's Tempranillo is very balanced and has a richness to it that makes it appealing even to the pickiest drinker. Throughout the night I heard several of our guests murmuring about how they liked the Tempranillo.
 
2008 Ceretto Moscato d'Asti Santo Stefano
 
During my recent trip to LA, Mayumi and I stopped in a wine bar called Friends of the Vine in Redondo Beach for a pre-dinner drink. My sweet tooth was in full effect so I opted for a glass of the Ceretto Moscato d'Asti Santo Stefano ($20-$25), a sparkling wine. The wine was fresh tasting, aromatic and offered up the right amount of sweetness (it wasn't cloying at all). This wine would be perfect paired with a dessert, like a raspberry tart or perhaps an apricot creme brulee.
 
Trentadue Chocolate Amore
 
If you could bottle up some post-sex after glow, it'd most definitely taste something like Trentadue's Chocolate Amore ($20-$25). The winery describes it as a, "Merlot-based, port-styled chocolate flavored dessert wine," and although that's on mark, it doesn't quite do this sublime wine justice. Seriously, the Chocolate Amore is so heavenly and decadent that you'll want to draw the shades and snuggle down in your sheets before popping the cork. If you haven't tried it you must! I was first exposed to this silky elixir after a fabulous dinner at Formoli's. It was so good that I had to check out the winery. If you can, book a room in Healdsburg, a stone's throw from Geyserville (where Trentadue is located) and make a romantic weekend out of it. They do 4 tastings for $5 and the people who work there are as sweet as pie. I think they're used to guests swooning after taking a sip of the Chocolate Amore.
 
Lastly, is the "dirty little secret wine." I know you, like me, have a few cheapie bottles of wine squirreled away somewhere. For me it used to be Ironstone's Obssession, a Symphony wine ($5-6). It really hits the spot on a sweltering summer day and doesn't put the hurt on my pocketbook. However, as it's becoming a bit of a PIA to find in the grid I've found myself turning toward Whole Food's version of the Two Buck Chuck, called Three Wishes. For $2.99, the dandelioned labeled California wine is a decent drink. It comes in merlot, chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon. The latter two are the better of the group, in my opinion, and are great for making sangria with. I also like that the bottles are made of Eco-Glass. 
 
So now that you know what's been swirling in my wine glasses, I'd love it if you'd share what bottles you've been choosing to stack on your wine racks and sip with your dinners.