Here's a sampling of wine festivals and other spirited events that lie just ahead.
SCOTTS VALLEY ART, WINE AND BEER FESTIVAL >> Today. This annual festival includes local wine and beer, fine art booths, live entertainment and a Cops `n Rodders Car Show. Free admission. svartfestival.com
PESTO FESTO >> 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today. Jacuzzi Family Vineyards, 24724 Arnold Drive, Highway 121, Sonoma. Join the Jacuzzi winery family for its inaugural Pesto Festival. Taste a variety of local pestos and experience the perfect blend of flavors with artisanal bread, cheese, olive oil and pasta from local merchants, plus live music and entertainment. Details are still being released. Keep an eye on the fun at www.jacuzziwines.com/ events
CHAPPELLET WINE DINNER >> 5:45 p.m. Aug. 31, Alexander's Steakhouse, 19379 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino. Enjoy a fourcourse tasting menu curated by Chef Eric Upper and served with Chappellet wine pairings, as you chat with winery CEO Dominic Chappellet and director of trade relations Amy Chappellet. $195 by reservation only; https://alexanderssteakhouse.com/cupertino/chappellet/.
MILLBRAE ART & WINE FESTIVAL >> Sept. 2-3, Broadway Avenue. between Victoria and Meadow Glen, Millbrae. This vibrant end-of-summer celebration features two days of crowd pleasing live music, hand-crafted work by nearly 300 talented artists and crafters, gourmet food, refreshing ice treats, wine, beer, champagne and specialty drinks, a car show, a decked out Kids Zone and more. Free admission. millbrae.com/art-wine-festival/
FIELD DAY HARVEST DINNER AT BELLA >> 5:30-9 p.m. Sept. 8, Bella Vineyards + Wine Caves, 9711 W. Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg. Mingle, sip bubbles and nibble farm-fresh hors d'oeuvres before moving to a long table among the vines for a three-course harvest feast. $185. www.exploretock.com/bellawinery/
THE ALICE COCKTAIL EXPERIENCE >> Through Sept. 10, Lakeside Drive, San Jose. Reality bends and curiosity reigns supreme at this topsy-turvy tea party. Create your own liquid concoctions under the watchful eye of The Mad Hatter in this dive down the rabbit hole to experience the magic of Wonderland. $47-$55. https://bit.ly/TheAliceCocktailExperience
BARBERA FESTIVAL >> 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 9, Terra d'Oro, 20680 Shenandoah School Road, Plymouth. Taste barbera wines from more than 50 California wineries at this grand outdoor tasting that includes gourmet bites and live music. Part of the proceeds go to the Amador Community Foundation. Tickets start at $50; https://amadorwine.com/ barbera-festival/.
WENTE VINEYARDS 140TH HARVEST CELEBRATION >> 6 p.m. Sept. 9, 5050 Arroyo Road, Livermore. Celebrate this grand estate's anniversary with a picturesque harvest dinner in the vineyards that features a seasonal wine country menu paired with special wines from the Wente portfolio. $275. bit.ly/WenteHarvestDinner
MARKHAM VINEYARDS FALL WINE RELEASE AND PAELLA PARTY >> 2 to 4 p.m. Sept. 17, Markham Napa Valley Winery, 2812 St. Helena Highway, St. Helena. Celebrate the 2023 Napa wine harvest at this paella party that includes wine pairings and live music in the winery's historic stone cellar and on the courtyard and patios. $75-$100. www.exploretock. com/markhamvineyards/