Wine Calendar
Halloween Zombie Brewery Tour:
Join other Zombies for snacks and games while on a bus tour to three of the top rated craft breweries in Sonoma County. Makeup, props and fake blood will be provided to participants 30 minutes prior to the tour at the pick up location. Noon-6 p.m. Oct. 29 and Oct. 30. OnTap Beer Tours, 1040 N. Dutton Ave., Santa Rosa. $99. http:// bit.ly/2dWOXpe. Grapetionary A-Z: Stroll the vineyards, enjoy a multicourse harvest feast and taste the world via an eclectic assemblage of wines representing each letter of the alphabet, from A to Z. Noon-5 p.m. Oct. 29. Bonny Doon’s Popelouchum Estate Vineyards, 543 Mission Vineyard Road, San Juan Bautista. $250. http://www. bonnydoonvineyard.com.
Greed, Murder, and Arson in California’s Vineyards:
The Commonwealth Club will host Frances Dinkelspiel, author of “Greed, Murder, Obsession and an Arsonist in the Vineyards of California.” Dinkelspiel will trace the history of California wine and unravel the story of the massive 2005 warehouse fire that destroyed 4.5 million bottles of wine. 7 p.m. program; 8 p.m. book signing. Nov. 1. Schultz Cultural Hall, Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. $8-$22. www.commonwealthclub.org.
Lamorinda Wine & Vines:
Learn how grapes are grown and wine is made. The class includes a barrel tasting and cheese pairing. 1-3 p.m. Nov. 13 and Dec. 11. Captain Vineyards, 1969 Joseph Drive, Moraga. $43-$49. http:// captainvineyards.com. Pinot on the River: A fun-filled day full of all things pinot noir. Sit with winemakers and fellow wine enthusiasts and learn about the world of limited production West Coast pinot noir. The festival’s grand tasting will feature more than 100 wineries and guest artisan food vendors. Noon Oct. 23. Plaza Square, Healdsburg. Tickets cost $75 in advance and $100 at the event and can be purchased online at pinotfestival.com/registration.html. Fall Pick-up Party: Sip new releases and special selections from the Failla Library, along with small bites from Ashley Christensen’s new cookbook. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 29. Failla Wines, 3530 Silverado Trail North, Saint Helena. www. faillawines.com.
Best of San Benito: This annual food and wine bash features six chefs, each with a featured course prepared to complement different wines. All chefs and wineries have ties to San Benito County as well as much of the produce, meats and accompaniments. A special seasonal beer selection will be featured by Chillin & Grillin Brewery. All proceeds benefit Emmaus House, a women’s shelter. 3 p.m. Oct. 30, San Juan Oaks Golf Club, 3825 Union Road, Hollister. $125. 831-630-5899.
Broofest: This new craft beer festival features more than 80 craft beers, a wide selection of food, games, music, costume contest and more. Attend the general admission session from 8-11 p.m. on Friday or 1-4 p.m. on Saturday; upgrade to an early access ticket or opt for the full VIP experience. Oct. 28-29. Municipal Stadium, 588 E. Alma Ave., San Jose. $45-$65. www. sjbroofest.com. Wine & Food Affair: Visit more than 40 wineries in the Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River valleys for a weekend of wine and food pairings. All of the participating wineries will have a favorite winery recipe available online, which they will prepare both days to pair with the perfect wine. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 5-6. $30-$80. www.wineroad.com.
Grape Stomp: Jump in a barrel of freshly picked grapes, then add your grape-stained footprints to a white “I stomped at Grgich Hills” T-shirt. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily through Oct. 31. Grgich Hills Estate, 1829 St. Helena Highway, Rutherford. $15-$35. www.grgich.com.