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As Northern California wineries begin reopening, some have begun offering outdoor wine and food experiences, with social distancing and mask protocols in place. Others are continuing their virtual tastings. Here’s just a sampling of possibilities, including several virtual tasting options for areas where nonessential travel remains restricted.
Riggers Loft Wine Company: This urban winery on Richmond’s waterfront just reopened its patio to wine lovers. Choose from 50 wines and ciders by the bottle or glass from R&B Cellars, Carica Wines and Far West Cider Company to pair with tasty bites from Carrie Dove Catering. Last week’s menu included roast chicken, empanadas and a fig and Gorgonzola flatbread. Open Thursday-sunday. Call 508-6928414 for reservations. 1325 Canal Blvd., Richmond; www.riggersloftwine.com
Taste Our Terroir: Livermore Valley’s annual oenophile bash has gone virtual with a Tapas & Tempranillo party ($130) via Zoom at 6 p.m. July 24, a Celebrate Chardonnay Zoom session ($95) at 5 p.m. July 25, and an online auction July 23-26 to help local school efforts to distribute meals to hungry children through the summer and fall. www. lvwine.org/events
Inglenook: This Rutherford winery has reopened to the public for tastings by Inglenook’s fountain or in the cozy private cellar or salon by appointment. But the winery is continuing its virtual offerings as well, which include an online 2016 cabernet sauvignon tasting and wine trivia night at 3 p.m. Wednesday. Find the winery at 1991 St. Helena Highway, Rutherford; www. inglenook.com/visit
Robert Mondavi Virtual Summer Sundays: The iconic Napa winery is putting its annual Margrit Mondavi Summer Concert Series online this summer. Order a concert kit —a concert-ready trio of rosés, stemless wine glasses and a soft blanket, perhaps — so you can sip as you tune in on the winery’s Youtube channel. Hosted by Bay Area TV and radio host Liam Mayclem, the guest lineup includes singer Matt Nathanson on July 19, and people from the wine, food and arts worlds.www. robert mon da vi winery. com/summer-sundays Big White House and John Evan Cellars Virtual Tasting: Catch this Livermore winery’s virtual tasting — “Geek Out with Wine Nerds” — on the last Saturday of each month. On July 25, the topic will be riesling; Aug. 29 features a vertical tasting of El Capitan wines. bigwhitehouse.com
Clos Lachance: This San Martin winery has reopened for outdoor food and wine
experiences by appointment only, with two wine flight options and menu items from Bistro Clos that include sliders, grilled chicken salad and chocolate-dipped strawberries. 1 Hummingbird Lane, San Martin; www.clos.com
House Family Vineyards: Perched on a Saratoga hilltop with expansive views, this winery recently reopened for outdoor food and wine experiences by appointment only. 13336 Old Oak Way, Saratoga; www. housefamilyvineyards.com
Big Basin Vineyards: This Boulder Creek winery has reopened for Fireside Fridays at the estate winery from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. every Friday through October. Enjoy the magic of sunset in the vineyards with food, wine and live music, by reservation only. 830 Memory Lane, Boulder Creek; www. bigbasinvineyards.com
Garre Vineyard and Winery: The tasting room is closed, but the winery is doing curbside pickup and the Garre Cafe, which serves wood-fired pizzas and Garre wines, is open for patio dining by reservation only. 7986 Tesla Road, Livermore; www.garre winery.com
Passalacqua Winery: This Healdsburg winery has reopened for alfresco seated wine tastings and vineyard tours by appointment. It’s also continuing its virtual wine tastings, including Sample Sips ($75), a customized wine tasting flight of three wines, delivered in sample-sized vials and accompanied by a private, guided virtual wine tasting. 3805 Lambert Bridge Road, Healdsburg; passalacquawinery.com
Chappellet Virtual Tastings: The winery’s Napa and Sonoma tasting rooms are still closed, but Chappellet is continuing its virtual tastings with a lineup that includes a pinot noir tasting and discussion on Thursday and a blind white wine tasting on July 23. www.chappellet.com/virtual-tastings
Aperture Estate: Healdsburg’s Aperture winery has reopened with reservationonly curated wine and food experiences at a seated tasting bar, private spaces for elevated tastings and an outdoor terrace overlooking the estate vineyards. 12291 Old Redwood Highway, Healdsburg; aperture-cellars.com/visit
Inman Family Wines: Choose a threepack ($95 and up) of Sonoma pinot noirs, chardonnay, rosés or bubbles, then join the “Meet the Maker” happy hour on Fridays through July. www.inmanfamilywines.com/ Visit-us/events
Paradise Wines & Sunsets: Paradise Ridge’s music and wine series has resumed with events on Wednesday evenings through Oct. 28. Enjoy artisanal wines, sunsets and gourmet local food trucks. Live music to be announced. Tickets $10-$15; staggered admission times beginning at 5 p.m. Paradise Ridge, 4545 Thomas Lake Harris Drive, Santa Rosa. shop.prwinery. com/wine-shop/event-tickets