Expect changes when you visit wine country this year. Like the rest of us, wineries are adjusting to a post-pandemic world and are unsure to what extent things will go back in time or what temporary measures taken over the last three years could become permanent. For us consumers, it’s a time to be adventurous but also be patient and let wineries know what’s working and what we’d like to see on our next visit.

Here are a few things to expect. Some of these predictions are contradictory and reflect the post-pandemic market uncertainty.

Tasting bars are back, so to speak.

The Covid restrictions ushered in an era – or at least an interregnum – of socially distanced seated tastings, where flights were ordered off the menu and brought to our table. It was like a restaurant with no food. Some wineries welcomed this change as it placed more emphasis on the wine and less on visiting the winery as a drinking pleasure. But it also meant less interaction between consumers and winery staff. That’s why wineries are now returning to the wine tastings of yesteryear, as they believe consumers want to learn more about the wines they’re tasting through interaction at the bar.

Unless, of course, they don’t.

“Some people want reservations, some people want things to go back to how they were,” says George Hodson, executive director of Veritas Vineyard and Winery west of Charlottesville, Virginia, and current president of the Virginia Wineries Association. So the reserved tastings can stay in place, and customers looking to enjoy a contemplative hour of vinous fun cast a sideways glance at the rowdy, super-spreader crowd at the bar.

In an email exchange, Hodson said the wineries want visitors to expand their knowledge and appreciation of Virginia wine. But apparently consumers have other things on their minds.

“Guests have changed and want experiences instead of just wine tasting,” Hodson said. That means food, music and entertainment. “They consume what they buy locally instead of taking it home,” he added. That means they’re also buying less wine and not building extensive wine collections.

Fees for tastings are likely to increase.

Tasting fees are nothing new, but Covid has accelerated the trend and inflation has increased price pressure on wineries. “Prices of all products are going up, so the tasting fee is pretty much universal,” says Hodson. He hopes this will shrink the market for coaches, which ferry large groups from one winery to the next in an all-day drinking spree.

In California, fees have skyrocketed in the Napa Valley. An “upscale” wine tasting there averages more than $82 per person, down from $30 just six years ago, according to Esther Mobley in the San Francisco Chronicle. Save and plan ahead.

Earlier this year, Tablas Creek Winery in Paso Robles, California, announced that it had converted its tasting room to casks and would no longer be serving bottled samples. The switch to kegs supports the winery’s ongoing efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and also improves the winery’s bottom line by saving up to 9,000 bottles per year that no longer need to be purchased, bottled and labeled, the general manager said Jason Hass.

“What’s the most useless glass bottle?” Haas asked rhetorically. “One who never leaves the winery.”

Meanwhile, in Darnestown, Maryland on the East Coast, Windridge Vineyards began experimenting with casks in its tasting room late last year and now has three wines on tap.

“We sell most of our wine locally and while we recycle our glass, we feel it’s best never to bottle the wine in the first place,” said winery owner Robert Butz.

Butz added that Windridge would like to get visitors to enjoy seated tastings that they can enjoy at their leisure, rather than crowded with strangers at the bar.

“We’re debating whether our approach is the right one, because a tasting is a great way to showcase to customers,” Butz told me. However, “a rushed or unprofessional tasting can be worse than none at all, and at least on the wine flights, the customer can enjoy the wine tastings at their own pace.”

At Black Ankle Vineyards in Mt. Airy, Maryland, a cask facility allows customers to taste an unfinished wine or component of a blend while it is still in the cask. On my last visit, the cask featured a tasting of Sauvignon Blanc from Live Edge Vineyard, Black Ankle’s new venture in northern Montgomery County.

“When we taste wine from a cask or cask, we can experiment a bit with what we let the customer taste,” says Sarah O’Herron, co-owner and winemaker at Black Ankle. “We’ve tasted red wines that have only been in cask for six months, single varietals that we would never bottle ourselves, and pure wine wines – basically giving customers a look behind the winemaking process in a way we couldn’t do with bottled wines .” She adds.

So plan ahead if you visit wine country this year. Check out winery websites to see what experiences they offer. Be patient and flexible with your time. And be on the lookout for something new.

The post Wineries’ new covid actuality: Increased tasting costs and kegs appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

The world of fine dining is an enticing place, typically employing intricate cooking techniques and luxurious ingredients as chefs create beautifully presented dishes worth savoring. The Bay Area is fortunate to be home to a number of Michelin-starred and James Beard Award-winning restaurants and chefs, but dining at one of these acclaimed restaurants usually comes with a hefty entrance fee that sends diners around $200 or more each Person can cost person – a price that the average, price-conscious guest regularly cannot afford. Plus, these luxury experiences typically last for hours, stretching a meal into a full-length, multi-course marathon event in even the busiest restaurants.

But a sea change seems to be underway in the Bay Area: A number of upscale restaurants are offering shorter, more affordable tasting menus that could open the door to the world of fine dining for new customers. Restaurants including two Michelin-starred Commis, two Michelin-starred Birdsong, one Michelin-starred Bar Crenn, one Michelin-starred Sorrel and one Michelin-starred Mister Jius all recently released tasting menus at lower prices moving towards more affordable territory and cutting those long meals down to more manageable lengths. At Bar Crenn, for example, the Le Comptoir experience includes a six-course selection of “impromptu dishes” that cost $300 per person. Bar Crenn’s newly added snack menu, meanwhile, offers “five luxurious and playful little bites, both savory and sweet” at a much lower price of $125 — perhaps perfect for someone who’s tiptoeing into sampling celebrity chef Dominique’s dishes Crenn wants to hatch.

“This is an access point for those nights when you might want to spend some cash and be confident.”

At Sorrel in San Francisco, in addition to a two-and-a-half hour eight-course experience priced at $185 per person, the team recently added a four-course tasting menu at $98 per person for a 90-minute meal. The trigger for creating the shorter tasting menu, according to operations manager Joel Wilkerson, was the debut of Sorrel’s bar program last fall. Unlike the restaurant, the eight-seat bar requires no reservations and prides itself on first-come, first-served service with an a la carte menu and low-alcohol cocktails. Response to the bar program has been overwhelmingly positive, and Wilkerson says the team has been looking for more ways to “make people happy.” “The whole point was just creating accessibility to experience what we’re doing here,” says Wilkerson, “without the commitment of having to be here for three or more hours on a Wednesday night.”

Discussing the new four-course meal, Wilkerson pointed to the pandemic as a learning opportunity for the sorrel group; Having been through a lot with COVID, the team needed to take a closer look at their product and their customer. “I think restaurants are fundamentally evolving and changing things,” says Wilkerson. “And to run a restaurant, you have to be agile and be able to pivot and change.” Part of that is recognizing that the restaurant scene can be restrictive. Another reason for the new menu, he says, is to get the city moving again and get residents active — including by giving them reasons to get out and maybe try a new restaurant. “It’s really about getting people out on the sidewalks,” he says, “out in the restaurants and making San Francisco feel alive again.”

Patricia Chang

Mister Jiu’s in Chinatown offered an a la carte menu when it debuted seven years ago, but the restaurant has recently switched to a five-course tasting menu that costs $115 per person (with the option of larger and pricier dishes like Liberty Farms’ popular whole roast duck). For Executive Chef Brandon Jew, the new tasting menu presented a new opportunity. In practice, it offered his team the ability to prepare and execute more detailed dishes, such as B. a finely folded giant dumpling that has been added to the new seasonal menu. The change also yielded more practical results: less food waste, for example, because guests pre-select all dishes when making reservations. To Jew, the updates just make sense. “I feel like this is a way for me to potentially make this restaurant last longer,” he says. “For me that was more important.”

Whatever the reasons for these new, more affordable, and typically short menus, it seems Bay Area diners are responding positively to the changes. According to Wilkerson, regular customers have contacted Sorrel to express their excitement for a shorter, less expensive tasting menu with the high quality they have come to expect from the restaurant. “It’s a stepping stone, right? It’s there for people to get their feet wet,” says Wilkerson. “Sometimes it’s your anniversary, do you want to spend all the money you have in your savings account to go out to dinner? Sometimes you want to experience something different or something new and maybe you’ve never been to a Michelin star restaurant – this is an access point for those nights when you might want to indulge and rely on it.”

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The post Right here’s Why A few of San Francisco’s Michelin-Starred Eating places Are Rolling Out Cheaper, Shorter Tasting Menus appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Jon Yao is finally fulfilling his dream of moving his Taiwanese tasting menu restaurant Kato to a larger room. In early 2022, the Kato team will reopen at the former M.Georgina by San Francisco chef Melissa Perello on Row DTLA in the Arts District, who announced last night that it will not reopen.

Georgina, who also owns Frances and Octavia, never really got a chance to develop M.Georgina with just four months of uptime before the pandemic stopped eating indoors. The closure of M.Georgina allows Kato to take over the site. “It’s difficult to leave a restaurant that has only been open for four months. However, we don’t see a viable path for M.Georgina after COVID, “Perello said in a statement. After thanking staff and guests, Perello said, “We are grateful for the opportunity to hand the torch of this beautiful restaurant into the very capable hands of Jon Yao, Ryan Bailey, Nikki Reginaldo and the Kato team.”

There has probably never been a more improbable LA fine dining success story than Kato.

With a move to an already operational restaurant, Kato’s last day in West LA will be November 20th; The team will take a few months of rest during the holiday season and then ramp up for an opening in January or February 2022. The move to downtown has long been planned for Yao and his partners Nikki Reginaldo and Ryan Bailey, who have jointly founded a new parent company called Like Water Hospitality. The mission of the new group will be to make Kato (and hopefully more restaurants) one of the best gourmet institutions in the country, grabbing the attention of the 50 best in the world and earning two or even three Michelin stars.

Given what Yao did to Kato, there has probably never been a more improbable fine dining success story in LA. Yao first opened in 2016 in a near-hidden mall that was originally billed as a Japanese tasting menu, which was only $ 49 per person. Over the years, he began to look more closely to his Taiwanese and San Gabriel Valley roots, serving what appeared to be simple but well-thought-out raw and cooked seafood, as well as luxurious variations on homemade dishes like the Wagyu beef rice bowl. Since then, Kato has received virtually every accolade a restaurant could want, from a top spot on the LA Times’ 101 restaurant list to a coveted Michelin star to an all-time 38 eatery essential for eater. Yao was named Best New Chef in Food and Wine in 2018, and his eater video on Youtube has received more than 13 million views. That kind of recognition – especially the Michelin star – saved the restaurant, says Yao.

Yao had always planned to move Kato to a location that better suited his ambitions – a larger, more upscale space to match the intricate and beautifully presented dishes. Another desired improvement: Kato’s current mall spot has never allowed full alcohol service due to lack of space and permit requirements. The pandemic continued to weigh on operations, with Yao first making beautiful sashimi bentos in jewelry boxes and then opening them to a tiny outside area in the parking lot. Still, the restaurant pushed to serve a full tasting menu of $ 150 per person (with more for additions) and retained its Michelin star for the last month.

Now with the former M.Georgina room there is a lot of space and the proximity to the San Gabriel Valley.

“We wanted to be closer to SGV, where many of our friends and family came from. Right now, 30 to 40 percent of the people come from SGV who drive two or three hours, ”says Reginaldo, who also grew up in the San Gabriel Valley and remains the enthusiastic personality who touches every table when it comes to service. “A lot of people who come here are young Asian Americans who are grateful for the display and say that having the food remind them of home is a nostalgic experience. At the end we have conversations, then we start texting. We’re having lunch, we’re going to get Boba. We have this kind of intimacy that I really like personally, ”she says. Yao acknowledges that Reginaldo is essential to Kato’s success: “It’s like a mother and a pop. We didn’t move on to a new level until Nikki showed up and people came to identify Kato with her. ”

“We wanted to be closer to SGV, where many of our friends and family came from.”

Bailey, the third pillar of the Kato partnership, came on board three years ago with wine and operations experience in places like NoMad in NYC and LA as well as the Michelin-starred The Kitchen in Sacramento. He brings business acumen and organizational structure to Kato, a complement to Yao’s and Reginaldo’s more hands-on experience in eating and drinking. Before Kato, Yao directed at the Michelin-starred Benu and Coi, where he worked on the line for eight months but otherwise had no experience as a chef. Reginaldo also didn’t work in upscale restaurants before Kato, although she did project management at a brewery and graduated with a degree in hospitality. But Bailey joined the team and believed in Kato’s talent and mission. “With Jon you have one of the better chefs in LA who brings Taiwanese food to the world,” he says.

Bailey believes Kato can achieve both critical and financial success with a new space. “I feel very confident about the business model,” he says, noting that he can take on the less interesting, but no less important, human resources, accounting, and other corporate governance jobs that make a restaurant viable. The trio rounds off their partnership with ambition, friendliness and competence that a gourmet restaurant needs: Yao as the culinary head, Reginaldo the warm, inviting heart and Bailey, the gourmet veteran, the structure (as well as wine knowledge).

Uni with brown butter and tapioca starter at Kato. Kato

Yao is excited about the new opportunities downtown offers. “It is a big plus to have the kitchen designed by a Michelin-starred chef,” says Yao. As for the food, the kitchen has a wood-burning stove that will enrich Yao’s cooking arsenal. There is a separate area to focus on pastries. A full cocktail bar and wine list on par with Kato’s food. Although there is a lot more space, Kato will serve a modest number of guests each night, between 65 and 80, which is little more than the current amount, to allow for a theatrical experience such as table preparation to match a fancy meal.

While the loss of M.Georgina is sure to be a disappointment to Perello’s fans, the inclusion of Kato Yao and his Asian-American cuisine should continue to introduce a wider audience. “I feel like Kato is about to become a French laundry, a Meadowood – an iconic pillar for LA,” says Bailey. Opening just steps from the two-Michelin-starred Hayato by Brandon Go is another plus for Row DTLA, which has a lot of foot traffic on weekends in Smorgasburg but isn’t necessarily a weekday dining destination. The move leaves a gaping hole in West LA, though Yao says the mall’s location will eventually transform into something else that will serve its Westside fans. But that won’t happen until Downtown Kato is firmly established as one of LA’s most special restaurants.

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The post Formidable Taiwanese Tasting Menu Restaurant Kato Is Shifting to Downtown LA appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Here are 30 wine-centric experiences to enjoy this summer, from vineyard outings and winemaker dinners to virtual tastings you can do from home.

Abbot’s Passage Winery and Mercantile: Summer opening July 1, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays through Mondays, 777 Madrone Road, Glen Ellen. Offering guests tastings or bottle service, shuffleboard and other games, and a Mercantile with artisanal products. Reserve a wine tasting or immersive food and wine experience. abbotspassage.com

Acumen PEAKeasy Champagne Room: Acumen Napa Valley, which is known for its Atlas Peak wines, has just opened a new speakeasy-inspired Champagne lounge at the Acumen Wine Gallery in downtown Napa, pouring top French bubbles by the glass or bottle. Open by appointment from 3 to 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and noon to 6 p.m. Fridays through Sundays at 1315 First St., Napa; acumenwine.com.

Aperture Cellars Virtual Tastings: Join the winery’s experts for a virtual tasting in the comfort of your home. Order ahead so your tasting kit arrives before the virtual tasting. aperture-cellars.com/virtual-tastings

Berryessa Gap Vineyards’ International Food & Wine Dinners: 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 14, Oct. 30, Berryessa Gap Vineyards, 27260 Highway 128, Winters. Each dinner features a Peruvian, Asian, Moroccan or Spanish cuisine experience, plus wine. Bring your own dishes, silverware and decorations for your party’s table. Individual events are $70. bit.ly/2PzjmiN

Best of the Valley Wine Tastings: Noon to 2:30 p.m. Saturdays through July 31. Silverado Resort and Spa, 1600 Atlas Peak Road, Napa. Taste eight wines from select Napa wineries paired with small bites. Tickets include a welcome “bubbles” reception from 12 to 12:30 p.m. $79. bit.ly/35eeoN3

Bouchaine Vineyards Picnic and Falconry Programs: Bring a picnic from home or any restaurant, then pick up a Bouchaine wine bag, which includes a wine key, water, two logo crystal wine tumblers and a bottle each of Bouchaine’s Estate Pinot Noir and Estate Chardonnay. ($150 per couple, $25 for additional guests.) Or enjoy a falconry demonstration with master falconer Kate Marden, of West Coast Falconry, at 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays through Fridasy as part of a small group or private event. The experience is $75 and includes a glass of wine. bouchaine.com

Cabernet Classic: Aug. 19-22, Meritage Resort & Spa, Napa Valley. Guests will taste and learn about some of the world’s iconic cabs from Master Sommeliers Jay Fletcher and Thomas Price, and explore the cabernet franc and sauvignon blanc, too. Find details at thepatronfoundation.org

Cardinale’s Virtual Wine and Cheese Tastings: Crafted by Cardinale’s estate chefs and selected to pair with winemaker Chris Carpenter’s mountain wines, each kit includes a set of two to four wines accompanied by an assortment of cheeses, cured meats, and a variety of seasonal small bites. $100-$150. www.exploretock.com/cardinale

Carmel-By-The-Sea Wine Walk: Sip, savor and discover the region’s premium wines. This free digital guide details exclusive and upgraded tasting experiences at 11 Carmel wine tasting rooms. Carmel-by-the-Sea: https://bit.ly/35uWoy4

C’est Si Bon  — Bastille Day at Treasure Island Wines: 1-4 p.m. July 10, 995 Ninth St., Building 201, Treasure Island, San Francisco. Featuring  live French café music and classic bistro cuisine to pair with sauvignon blanc, rosés, Pouilly Fuissé chardonnay, Burgundian pinot, and Napa bubbly. $35. Eventbrite: https://bit.ly/3zlB0sT

Charles Krug Live Events: Events at the St. Helena winery at 2800 Main St. include Blue Note Napa (June to October) with concerts twice per night Fridays through Sundays featuring acts such as Brian McKnight, Tycho, Los Lobos and Pink Martini; bluenotenapa.com. Festival Napa Valley (July 16 through 25) showcases Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Lisette Oropesa, Michael Fabiano, Roberto Bolle and more; festivalnapavalley.org/. The Cameo Theater brings a drive-in movie experience to the winery on Wednesdays through September; cameocinema.com. The Sunset Cinema Series brings a variety of screenings on July 9, Aug. 6 and Sept. 3; charleskrug.com. And Nimbash, Napa Valley’s annual celebration on Sept. 11, offers art, music, local cuisine and wine; nimbusarts.org/nimbash.

Chateau St. Jean Virtual Tastings: Order a tasting kit and enjoy a virtual tasting with Chateau St. Jean’s wine educators, available by reservation from 12 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. Or head for the winery for outdoor tastings by reservation during the same hours. chateaustjean.com

Clif Family Virtual Experiences: Virtual Brunch: Enjoy farm-inspired ingredients paired with the lighter side of Clif Family wines. Tasting kit includes a rosé, a white and a red wine, three food pairings and recipes for brunch. $120-$150. Napa Valley Adventure Wine Tasting: This private gathering includes a guided tasting of Clif Family’s small production wines and hand-crafted food products, hosted by a wine educator. Kit includes one white wine, two reds and three food pairings. $120-$150. King of the Mountain Wine Tasting: This private tasting of small production wines features cabernet sauvignon from Howell Mountain Appellations of Napa Valley and three current vintages, complete with food pairings. $225-$250. https://cliffamily.com/visit/virtual-wine-tasting-experience/

Clos Du Val : This Napa winery is offering both real life and virtual tastings. The “Hirondelle House Experience” includes a winery tour and private seated tasting ($50, limited to six guests), while the “Tasting at your Table” offers a virtual tasting with a three or four-bottle tasting kit ($240 and up) to enjoy from home. 5330 Silverado Trail, Napa. www.closduval.com/Visit-Us

Contra Costa County Beer Trail: June 1-30, Contra Costa County. Explore 40+ local breweries, tap houses and beer bar restaurants, from Canyon Lakes to Danville Brewing and Epidemic Ales, try new brews and earn prizes during the month of June. https://bit.ly/3vlEedn

Cornerstone Sonoma Summer Music Series: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays in June, 23570 Arnold Drive, Sonoma. June 20, Steve Pile Band; June 27, the Henry Coopers. Free. Food, wine and other beverages available for purchase. www.cornerstonesonoma.com/

Cuvaison Estate Wines: Head for this Napa winery for intimate, in-person tastings by appointment amid lush vineyards and with panoramic views. The winery also offers virtual tasting experiences to showcase its new wines. 1221 Duhig Road, Napa.  www.cuvaison.com

Earth & Fire Wine Dinner Event: 7 p.m. June 27, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, 1685 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Walnut Creek. Featuring a four-course dinner paired with Caymus wines. Taste and sip through a plant-forward earth menu or a land and sea fire menu, both paired with four Wagner Family wine pairings. $80-$98. www.flemingssteakhouse.com

Elevated Hike and Wine Adventure: This new hike and wine tour led by Active Wine Adventures takes guests on secluded trails, 4.5 to 6 miles long, in Napa and Sonoma, before heading to hidden wineries to taste small-production wines. $179. www.activewineadventures.com

Far Niente Family of Wineries: Get your pressing wine-related questions answered, while learning more about the wines and winery. Book a reservation for an outdoor seated tasting at the winery or a virtual tasting, with wine shipped directly to your door. 1350 Acacia Drive, Napa. www.exploretock.com/farnientewinery/

Festival Napa Valley Arts for All Gala: 5 p.m. July 18. Enjoy a lavish dinner paired with Far Niente wines at this charity event whose festivities include a powerhouse performance by Jennifer Hudson. $2,500. Other Festival Napa Valley 2021 events include performances and dinners July 13-25 at Napa Valley wineries and other venues. https://festivalnapavalley.org

Flowers Vineyards & Winery’s Indefinite Virtual Tasting Experiences: Offering 30-minute daily virtual tastings of pinot noir or estate flights, or you can customize a tasting with your favorite Flowers wines.  www.flowerswinery.com/virtual-tastings/

Frank Family Vineyards Fourth of July BBQ Bash: July 3, 1091 Larkmead Lane, Calistoga. Celebrate Independence Day and the winery’s 28th anniversary alongside barbecue specialist and backyard pitmaster Jack Arnold, who will host a Zoom cooking demonstration at 2 p.m. The event includes expert wine pairings and recipes, so you’ll want to purchase both Frank Family wines and wagyu steak packages ahead of time. $235-$435. www.frankfamilyvineyards.com/events

Gloria Ferrer Virtual Tastings: This Sonoma Valley winery offers private, virtual tasting experiences with wine educators, who sip along with you through a selection of Gloria Ferrer wines. You can taste with just your household or invite friends to join in via Zoom. The Trio of Sparkling Wine & Chocolate Pairing experience ($115), for example, includes three bottles of sparkling wine and a 12-piece box of chocolate truffles. Details: www.gloriaferrer.com.

Hess Collection: Enjoy an interactive virtual experience or an outdoor tasting at the winery, with  a dedicated host to guide you. Reservations required. 4411 Redwood Road, Napa. www.hesscollection.com

Inman Family Wines: Patio tastings are held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at the winery located at 3900 Piner Road in Santa Rosa. In addition to patio tastings, you can enjoy a number of virtual wine tasting events. www.inmanfamilywines.com/Visit-Us/Events

J. Lohr Vineyards Virtual Tastings: This San Jose and Paso Robles winery has launched private virtual tastings for J. Lohr aficionados. Order a four-pack of wine ($130 and up), then pop the cork for the one-hour tasting session held Wednesday through Sunday. Order the wines and make reservations via jlohr.com/virtual-tastings.

J Vineyards & Winery: Virtual tastings noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Choose your favorites for a custom flight, explore a new collection or take a deep look at a single wine through the years. www.jwine.com/bespoke-virtual-tastings

JCB Live Happy Hour: Indoor and outdoor experiences are available from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday by appointment, as well as online. JCB Live Happy Hour sessions will be held at 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and at 4 p.m. Saturday through September. 6505 Wshington St., Yountville. https://jcbcollection.com/

Jordan Winery Events: Paris on the Terrace Noon Thursdays-Sundays through Aug. 29 and Oct. 1-17. Enjoy classic Parisian bistro fare with a California twist, including Jordan Garden crudité, a salad of Jordan Garden greens, charcuterie and cheese platter and dessert, paired with Jordan Cuvée by Champagne AR Lenoble and other Jordan wines. The winery also offers a library tasting, an estate tour and tasting, a winery dinner in July and August and more. 1474 Alexander Valley Road, Healdsburg. https://www.jordanwinery.com/

Justin Vineyards & Winery: Outdoor tastings at the estate and downtown tasting rooms, as well as lunch and dinner reservations are now available. Prefer to sip from home? The winery is also  offering interactive virtual tastings led by certified sommeliers. Estate winery, 11680 Chimney Rock Road, Paso Robles; Downtown tasting room, 811 12th St., Paso Robles. www.justinwine.com

Keller Estate Road Rallies: This Petaluma winery has plotted three different, summery road trips from the East Bay and the South Bay to the winery that include a “rally kit” shipped ahead of time, a winery tour and a tasting served with salad and Argentine-style empanadas. $150. Find details at www.kellerestate.com/Visit/Hit-the-road, and reserve your spot at least a week ahead by emailing customercare@kellerestate.com.

Kendall Jackson Wine Estate Garden Dinner Series: Through October. These alfresco feasts, each with a different theme, showcase Kendall Jackson’s wines and estate garden’s fresh produce prepared by the winery’s gardeners and chefs. $135-$180. Kendall Jackson Wine Estate, 5007 Fulton Road, Fulton; www.kj.com/events/farm-table-dinner-series

Landmark Vineyards Sensory Tasting Experience: Guests will learn about all the sensory aspects of enjoying wine and how to identify and appreciate all the elements within the glass. After the guided tour, enjoy a selection of four Landmark wines paired with artisan cheeses, hand selected by winemaker Greg Stach. $85. 101 Adobe Canyon Road, Kenwood; Landmark Reservations.

Larkmead Estate Tastings: Open for outdoor estate tastings at the winery, as well as virtual tastings from home. Tasting fee ranges from $45-$95. Reservations required. 1100 Larkmead Lane, Calistoga. www.larkmead.com/pages/visit/

Lobster Feed in the Vineyards: 7-10 p.m. July 23, Hannah Nicole Vineyards & Winery, 6700 Balfour Road, Brentwood. Enjoy music, dancing, wine and and steaming pots of lobster, prawns, artichokes and more. $140-$150. Eventbrite: https://bit.ly/3goWQmQ

Longevity Tastings: Now open for outdoor wine tastings on the covered patio and lawn from 1 to 6 p.m. Fridays and noon to 5 pm. weekends. If you prefer to taste from home, Longevity is also offering private virtual wine tasting experiences for you and your group. 2271 S. Vasco Road, Livermore. https://www.longevitywines.com/

Markham Napa Valley Vineyards Virtual Party: Outdoor tastings have returned with a variety of options, including wine and potato chip pairings, as well as virtual vineyard fly overs. 2812 St. Helena Hwy North, St. Helena. https://markhamvineyards.com/visit/

Meritage Resort Vista Collina Summer Events: Red, White & Rosé, noon-8 p.m. July 4. Guests can enjoy barbecue by chef Vincent Lesage, wine and cocktails, while the kids participate in activities including bubble fun and glitter tattoos from 1-4 p.m. https://bit.ly/2TKLDoK; Lobster Feed, 6-9 p.m. Aug. 14. This fork-free evening pairs wines and brews from the Vista Collina tasting rooms with lobsters, prawns, artichokes, corn and sourdough baguettes. Enjoy your meal outdoors, with a live bluegrass band providing tunes. $215. Adults only. https://bit.ly/3vbbd3g

Monochrome: Enjoy an outdoor seated wine tasting by appointment with owner/winemaker Dave McGee as you learn about Monochrome, the wines and winemaking style. $20. Free virtual tastings are also available. 3075 Blue Rock Road, Paso Robles. https://monochromewines.com/

Murphy-Goode Winery Tasting Lounge: This just-reopened tasting room is offering wine flights, paired cheese and charcuterie boards, pool and shuffleboard. Noon-6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. 241 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. $10-$25. Tock: www.exploretock.com/murphygoodewinery

Napa Valley Tasting Barn: This family owned tasting room is offering wine tasting flights by appointment, along with a seasonal food menu. In-person tastings 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Monday. Private virtual tastings also available. 1021 Atlas Peak Road, Napa. www.primesolum.com/

Newsome Harlow Wines: Join the virtual tastings with this Sierra Foothills winery every Wednesday, alternating between happy hour with winemaker Scott Klannour and a guest and virtual tastings. www.nhvino.com/visit/

ONX: This Paso Robles winery and tasting room have reopened for tastings of current releases and library selections by appointment only. Virtual tastings are still available as well. 2910 Limestone Way, Paso Robles. www.onxwine.com/

Page Mill Winery: Livermore winemaker Dane Stark is offering Virtual Twilight Tastings on Facebook on the first  Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. The tasting benefits a different charity each time, with 10 percent of gross sales from the start of the virtual tasting to close of business on Friday going to that week’s organization. www.pagemillwinery.com/twilight-tastings

Parallel Napa Valley: Visit the Napa Valley winery for private tasting experiences by appointment, or book a private online tasting. Brasswood Napa Valley, 3125 St. Helena Highway North (highway 29), St. Helena. www.parallelwines.com/tastings

Passalacqua Winery Virtual Wine Tasting: Taste through Passalacqua’s small-lot handcrafted wines outdoors under the redwood trees by appointment, or reserve a virtual wine tasting session from home. 3805 Lambert Bridge Road, Healdsburg. https://passalacquawinery.com/

Priest Ranch Wines: This Yountville tasting room is offering a wide range of outdoor tasting experiences ($15-$50) that include a new Bubbles & Caviar Tasting, a Bacon & Wine Experience and more. 6490 Washington St., Yountville. Find details and make reservations at www.priestranchwines.com.

Quilt & Co.: This downtown Napa tasting room and wine lounge is currently open for outdoor seating. Enjoy a glass, tasting or bottle in a heated tent. Open noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday, and noon-7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Virtual wine tastings also available.  https://quiltandco.com

Rombauer Hour, Virtual Wine Tasting: Visit and taste wines at the winery’s Napa Valley and Sierra Foothills tasting rooms, as friendly, knowledgeable hosts guide you through a tasting by appointment. Virtual wine tasting sessions are also available. Napa Valley, 3522 Silverado Trail North, St. Helena. Sierra Foothills, 12225 Steiner Road, Plymouth. www.rombauer.com/

Secrets of Aging Cabernet with Mark Oldman and Chappellet: 7:30 p.m. July 8. During this virtual mini-master class on aging wine, guests will taste two vintages of the Chappellet Signature Cabernet Sauvignon and discuss aging characteristics and qualities that add cellar value. Free. Bevinars: https://bit.ly/3gEThcb

Silver Trident Winery: This Yountville winery is offering two tasting experiences, Perfect Pairing and a Potato Chip Extravaganza, each beginning with a complimentary splash of Rosé of Pinot Noir. Prefer to sip at home? They’re also offering virtual tastings. 6495 Washtington St., Yountville.  www.silvertridentwinery.com

Summer Wine Celebration: 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m. July 24, ZD Wines, 8383 Silverado Trail, Napa. This fete, which benefits the Boys and Girls Clubs of Napa Valley, features wine, live music and fare from Di Filippo’s wood-fired pizza food truck and Kona Ice. $100. Eventbrite: https://bit.ly/3pIaRjI

Takara Sake Virtual Sake Tasting: Takara tasting room manager Mika Tsuchiiwa will lead a Zoom class from 4 to 5 p.m. Thursdays. Tasting kits ($50) include five bottles of various types of sake, detailed charts and descriptive sheets. Register in advance for home delivery or pick up at Takara Sake, 708 Addison St., Berkeley. www.takarasake.com

Taste of Terroir Wine Dinner Series: This series of four wine dinners ($135-$160) includes a Pinot Noir Harvest Dinner and a Premier Cruz Dinner featuring hard-to-get wines from the region. The series opener will be at 5 p.m. June 27 for Heart of the Santa Cruz Mountain, followed by Elevated Wines of the Santa Cruz Summit at 6 p.m. July 24, Pinot Noir Harvest Dinner at 5 p.m. Aug. 29, and Premier Cruz at 5 p.m. Nov. 6. Tickets: https://bit.ly/2P6asJT

Thirsty Thursday: 5-8 p.m. July 1, Aug. 5. Hannah Nicole Vineyards & winery, 6700 Balfour Road, Brentwood. Enjoy music, wine and food on the first Thursday of every month. Ticket includes a meal, live music and a glass of wine or beer. Additional drinks available for purchase. $25-$30. https://bit.ly/2U0ViI7

Vinyl + Wine: 5-8 p.m. first Friday of the month from July through October, Farm at Carneros, 4048 Sonoma Hwy, Napa. Featuring music curated by executive chef Aaron Meneghelli from his personal vinyl collection, alongside sips from Napa and Sonoma wineries, raw bar station and seasonal small bites. https://carnerosresort.com/events/vinyl-wine-1

Wine Women Fundraiser: 5-7 p.m. July 14, Raymond Vineyards, 1584 Saint Helena Highway, St. Helena. This fifth annual benefit features live music, hor d’oeuvres and a talk by Maureen Downey, an authority on wine fraud, counterfeit wine and fine wine authentication. $100. https://bit.ly/35fj2KK

WineaPAWlooza: 5 p.m. June 19. This year’s virtual fundraiser features rare, handcrafted wines from more than 50 famed vintners and winemakers, and a live auction of 12 lots led by auctioneer Fritz Hatton.  $250-$25,000. https://bit.ly/2Ts0TqJ

Wine.com Experiences: Experience wine edu-tainment as you taste wines and talk to top winemakers and wine-loving celebrities, chefs and critics. Buy the wines ahead of time to get the full tasting experience. www.wine.com/content/landing/virtual-tastings?s

California Zinfandel Trail: ZAP, the ZInfandel Advocate and Producers association, has just launched a California zin-centric trail website with wine-tasting itineraries that include a Bay Area urban wine crawl and a Gold Country weekend jaunt, plus links to virtual winery experiences. Details: https://zinfandeltrail.com

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