Northern California wineries are hosting a variety of spirited tastings for the holidays and on into the new year. Here’s just a sampling of what’s on deck for the Bay Area.
West Wines Scandinavian Christmas Celebration: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 29 – Dec. 1, West Wines, 1000 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg. This Scandinavian yuletide event will feature a holiday market and a tasting of four wines as well as Swedish glogg. $35. www.westwines.com/
Clif Family Winery: Through Dec. 31, Clif Family Winery, 709 Main St., St. Helena. A new seasonal pairing experience at this winery offers porcini-parmesan salumi, roasted squash and coffee- and lavender-rubbed cheese with a flight of Clif family wines or mocktails. $50. www.exploretock.com/cliffamily/
Spread Cheer with Beer: Through Jan. 5, Tri-Valley breweries and taprooms. The Tri-Valley Beer Trail is running a charitable game that offers visitors a chance to win beer-themed swag – growlers, hats and limited-edition Beer Trail beanies – and raise money for good causes. Download the “Spread Beer With Cheer” quest app on your phone to log your progress at visittrivalley.com/beer-trail.
Miracle and Sippin’ Santa Pop-Ups: Through the holidays. These merry holiday pop-ups are taking over cocktail bars across the Bay Area, including Livermore’s Miracle at The Fat Pigeon, Oakland’s Miracle on Telegraph (at The Double Standard) and San Jose’s Miracle on First and Miracle at Miniboss, plus Pleasanton’s Sippin’ Santa at Beer Baron and San Jose’s Sippin’ Santa at 55 South and Sippin’ Santa at Courage Anyone. Find more details at www.mercurynews.com/tag/drink.
The Christmaspolitan is a popular cocktail served at the Miracle pop-up holiday experience at participating restaurants and bars. (Photo by Aaron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)
Bright Nights at Cuvaison: 5-7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Nov. 29-Jan. 4, Cuvaison Tasting Room and Estate, 1221 Duhig Road, Napa. Celebrate the holiday season with an evening of curated wine and cheese pairings and an optional luxury caviar experience, all set against the backdrop of twinkling vineyards. $85 ($185 for a Regiis Ova caviar pairing for two); www.cuvaison.com
Celebrate the holiday season at Bright Nights at Cuvaison with wine and cheese pairings set against the backdrop of twinkle-lit Napa vineyards on Friday and Saturday evenings from Nov. 29 through Jan. 4. (Courtesy Cuvaison)
Dry Creek Holiday Celebration & Marketplace: 12 to 4 p.m. Nov. 30, Dry Creek Vineyard, 3770 Lambert Bridge Road, Healdsburg. Dry Creek’s annual Thanksgiving weekend tradition is the perfect way to spark your holiday spirit. Shop charming gifts from local vendors at the holiday market, while sipping limited-release wines and enjoying small bites. $40. https://tinyurl.com/DryCreekHoliday
Livermore Valley Cab Franc Tasting: 5 p.m. Dec. 4, Bankhead Theater, 2400 First St., Livermore. Sample cabernet franc wines made by 12 winemakers from wineries including Cuda Ridge Wines, Darcie Kent Vineyards, Rosa Fierro Cellars and Steven Kent Winery. Pair those sips with bites, available for purchase, from Color of Fresh and Debbie’s Doodles Cookies. $35-$45. https://livermorearts.org/events/livermore-cab-franc-tasting/
Holidays in the Vineyards: Noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 7, Livermore Valley wineries. From Rios-Lovell to Boa Ventura and Cuda Ridge, Livermore wineries will be decking their halls for this annual holiday party that combine wine tasting with special attractions that vary at each winery, but typically include Toys for Tots fundraisers, barrel samples or tasty bites. Find details on each winery’s website and at www.lvwine.org/events/.
Sunset Series at MacRostie Estate House: 4 to 6 p.m. Dec. 7, 4605 Westside Road, Healdsburg. Enjoy a festive evening of live music, wine pairings and bites created by pop-up Sonoma chefs. $40-$75; https://macrostiewinery.com.
Holiday Bazaar at Bacchus Landing: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 7-8, Bacchus Landing, 14210 Bacchus Landing Way, Healdsburg. Browse an artisan holiday bazaar as you enjoy wine tastings, pizza and live music at this complex which showcases eight different wineries. www.bacchuslanding.com
Calistoga Wine Passport: Dec. 7-Feb. 9, participating Calistoga wineries. Buy a Calistoga Wine Passport ($80), available as a digital passport on your phone or a physical passport from the Calistoga Welcome Center at 1457 Lincoln Ave., then enjoy two months of complimentary one-time tastings at 19 wineries, including Chateau Montelena, Pope Valley, Sterling and more. https://visitcalistoga.com/winter-in-the-wineries-passport/
Aptos Wine Wander: 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 8, Aptos Village Green, Aptos. Explore the heart of Aptos village during this festive afternoon of Santa Cruz Mountains wine tasting and holiday shopping at the makers market. $45 in advance, $50 at the door; https://winesofthesantacruzmountains.com.
Ferry Building Holiday Open House: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Dec 11, San Francisco Ferry Building Marketplace, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco. Decorate cookies, craft a holiday gnome, enjoy live music and make it a Wine Wednesday with a tasting passport ($29) from Napa Valley Vintners. Free admission. www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com
Pour + Explore Sparkling Wines: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Dec. 11, Gloria Ferrer Wines, 23555 Arnold Drive, Sonoma. Join Sonoma County Vintners and sommelier Chris Sawyer for light bites and a tasting of sparkling wines from more than two dozen Sonoma wineries, including Banshee Wines, DaVero Farms & Winery, Domaine Carneros and Iron Horse Vineyards. $76. https://sonomawine.com/
Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards tasting room in Sonoma overlooks the estate vineyards. (Courtesy Gloria Ferrer)
Santa Beer Crawl: 1-4 p.m. Dec. 14, Downtown Martinez. Break out those ugly holiday sweaters and Santa suits and join this Santa Beer Crawl down Main Street, stopping in at participating small businesses to sample craft brews. $50. https://downtownmartinez.org
Get up and Glow: 10 a.m.-noon Dec. 14, Santa Clara. Treat yourself at Eataly in Santa Clara to a luxury brunch with wine tasting and a masterclass from estheticians at Dermalogica and a personal guided shopping session through Sephora. $108 for 2. eataly.com.
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Bricoleur Vineyards Holiday Market: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 14-15, Bricoleur Vineyards, 7394 Starr Road, Windsor. This festive holiday market at Bricoleur Vineyards offers a chance to shop for gifts – including wine, ceramics, chocolates and other local crafts – while benefiting the Santa Tim organization, which supports local families in need. $10 admission. www.bricoleurvineyards.com
Holiday Bubbly & Beats: Noon to 3 p.m., Dec. 15, Barrel Room, McGrail Vineyards & Winery, 5600 Greenville Road, Livermore. Don your best ugly sweater and head to this Livermore winery for Gracie sparkling wine, music and holiday cheer, courtesy of DJ Michael Ramponi. The Brunch in a Box food truck will be on hand, and McGrail wines will be available by the glass and bottle. Free admission. https://mcgrailvineyards.com/events-current/
Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl: 4-10 p.m., Dec. 21, San Jose and Concord. Pubcrawls.com is hosting multiple bar crawls in the area inviting visitors to wear ugly sweaters and engage in some holiday-themed revelry. Tickets include access to 4+ venues, an after-party, food and drink specials and more. https://pubcrawls.com.
NYE JaMParty: 10 p.m. Dec. 31 to 1 a.m. Jan. 1, JaM Cellars, 1460 First St., Napa. This New Year’s Eve bash at JaM Cellars’ Wine & Music Studio includes a welcome splash of Butter Bubbles and DJ tunes with gourmet bites, wine and wine Jell-O shots available for purchase. $45. https://jamcellars.com/
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