Calendar
Northern California is locked down once more, but you can still enjoy virtual tasting experiences with wineries across California. Here are just a few possibilities to check out from home.
Virtual Wine & Cheese Pairing: Jan. 15. Join fellow cheese lovers in the virtual classrooms of New York’s Murray’s Cheese Education Department for a session ($75for up to four guests from one household) that pairs six wine-friendly cheeses with three suggested wine styles. Course sign-ups close four days before the class to allow time for shipping the cheeses. (Wine suggestions will be emailed, if you’d like to pick up your own sips.) Details: winesevent.com/events/ virtual-wine-and-cheesepairing-4
Cuda Ridge Wines Virtual
Tasting: 6p.m. Jan. 21. Join Livermore winemaker Larry Dino and tasting room staffers for “The Secrets of Syrah,” a Zoom tasting ($72) of the winery’s newly released 2018syrah. $72 plus tax and shipping. www. cudaridgewines.com Cakebread Cellars Virtual Wine and Food Festival: 10-11:30 a.m. Jan. 23. Resident chefs will offer live culinary demos, as Cakebread staff lead wine tastings of a 2017chardonnay reserve, 2017 Annahala pinot noir, 2017 syrah, 2017Vaca, 2017 Guajolote and 2008Benchland Select. Order the wines ahead of time to taste along and check out the recipes on the winery’s “culinary page” at www.cakebread.com. Cardinale Estate Virtual Tastings: This Oakville winery’s tasting room is closed right now, but you can set up a virtual session and bring a little wine country into your home with a guided, personal tasting hosted by a member of the estate team. Contact them at info@cardinale.com. Find winery information at www. cardinale.com.
Mcgrail Vineyards’ Sip Club Virtual Tasting:
5:15p.m. Friday. Join this Livermore winery’s Sip Club to chat wine and wine pairings, enjoy live music from winemaker Mark Clarin and play virtual games. The $50 weekly membership includes two bottles of wine delivered to Tri-valley and Brentwood addresses each week. www. mcgrailvineyards.com
Spire Collection Estate Remote Tastings:
Napa County’s temporary business closures mean the tasting room for this Calistoga winery is closed, but you can still order wine online and do personalized virtual tastings. Call 866399-0261or email membership@spirecollection.com to set that up. Find winery information at www. spirecollection.com.
Sextant Wines on Zoom:
Taste along with this Central Coast winery at live tasting sessions on Zoom and Face
book at 5:30p.m. the first Thursday of each month. Order a two- or three-bottle kit ($1ground shipping), then pop open a bottle and pepper the winery team with questions. sextantwines.com Ehlers Estate Private Virtual Tastings: This Calistoga winery will help you celebrate a special occasion or gather for a virtual happy hour with a private wine tasting, with food and
wine pairing suggestions available, too. Add a private wine tasting to your wine or tasting pack order, and a winery host will be in touch to schedule details. www. ehlersestate.com/ Wines/ Private-virtual-tastings ONX Virtual Tasting Kit: Enjoy a tasting session with this Paso Robles winery by ordering a tasting kit ($30 for five 2-ounce pours) shipped to your home before
your virtual sipping time. Details: www.onxwines.com Folded Hills Winery: This Santa Ynez Valley winery hosts complimentary virtual tasting sessions seven days a week. Order the wines of your choice (free shipping for six or more bottles), then book a tasting time at foldedhills.com to chat about the wines, Folded Hills Ranch and Santa Ynez wine country.