As Northern California wineries reopen, many are offering outdoor wine and food experiences, with social distancing and mask protocols in place. (Given the ever-changing landscape of openings and closings, best to call your favorite winery before you go.) But others are continuing or expanding their virtual tasting events, much to the delight of us shelter-at-home types. Here’s just a sampling of possibilities.
Ancient Peaks Winery ‘Somm Voyage’: This interactive food, wine and travel show airs every Thursday evening this fall via Zoom. Enjoy Sister, Sister — Malbec and Merlot, Oct. 29. Free, with an optional Ancient Peaks wine package for tasting along with each episode. http://ancientpeaks.com/events/
Aperture Cellars Virtual Tastings: Join us for a virtual tasting in the comfort of your home. Please purchase your tasting kit in advance of your virtual tasting. https://aperture-cellars.com/virtual-tastings/
Art of Mixology: Five East Bay bartenders from Oakland’s Bardo Lounge and Supper Club, Martinez’s Bar Cava, Moraga’s Canyon Club Brewery and Oakland’s Sobre Mesa have turned their favorite craft cocktails into Art of Mixology Cocktail kits in this benefit for the Lamorinda Arts Council. Kits, which include everything except the alcohol, can be shipped or picked up at Orinda Theatre Square through Oct. 30. ($50-$200). A mixologist of the Year awards show will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 16. https://lamorindaarts.org/mixology/
Beaujolais Nouveau Celebration: Nov. 19, All Bay Area Left Bank locations. The festivities feature Georges Dubœuf Beaujolais Nouveau 2020, as well as the Beaujolais Nouveau Rosé 2020. In addition, all pickup orders over $50 will receive a complimentary bottle of chef Roland Passot’s private stock beaujolais, plus beaujolais nouveau swag. At the Larkspur and Menlo Park locations, live music will be featured from 5-8 p.m. https://www.leftbank.com/
Bouchaine Vineyards, Napa: Order a Bouchaine Winemaker Tasting Kit delivered to your home, then book a virtual wine tasting appointment online. Each kit provides tasting notes and vintage summaries, so you’ll be all set for your private tasting with a host — seated before the panoramic view of Bouchaine Vineyards — who will lead you and your guests through a discussion of the wines. www.bouchaine.com
Ceja Vineyards Taco Tuesdays: Join Amelia and Dalia Ceja of Ceja Vineyards for a Napa-style Taco Tuesday, Vino y Más in Los Carneros, streaming on Facebook Live every Tuesday at 7 p.m. through Oct. 6. Learn about classic and contemporary dishes and fun wine pairings. https://www.cejavineyards.com/recipes
Clos Du Val “Tasting at your Table”: Purchase four bottles ($55 and up) of wine and make an appointment for a live virtual tasting tailored around your choices of wine. https://www.closduval.com/Visit-Us
CRUSH From Home: Southern California’s Temecula wine country is holding virtual Crush festival events, including an evening of food and wine — Sept. 24 — with South Coast Winery Resort & Spa winemakers Jon McPherson and Javier Flores and Vineyard Rose executive chef José Esparza, via Zoom. The tasting package ($145 for four bottles, including shipping) includes four bottles of wine. www.temeculawines.org/events/
Cuvaison Estate Wines: Offering a virtual wine tasting experience to taste through the new wines. Email club@cuvaison.com to schedule a virtual Cuvaison wine tasting. www.cuvaison.com/
Duckhorn Virtual Yoga and Rosé Brunch: Pinot & Point Reyes Cheese Pairing of Sep. 25, Merlot Celebration Oct. 16, Thanksgiving Celebration Preparation Nov. 13 and a Host the Holidays Like a Pro on Dec. 11. www.duckhorn.com/Events/Calendar
Enriquez Estate Wines Virtual Holiday Party Pack: Purchase through Oct. 31 and redeem any time through the end of the year. Enjoy a private guided virtual tasting experience with winemaker Cecilia Enriquez. Tasters enjoy two bottles of Enriquez Estate wines and a cheese and charcuterie nosh box. Starting at $125. http://bayareane.ws/Enriquez
Far Niente Family of Wineries: Virtual wine tasting through the end of the year. Guests have the opportunity to ask pressing wine-related questions, while learning more about the wines and winery. Book a date and select a wine package that will be shipped directly to your door. www.exploretock.com/farnientewinery/
Flowers Vineyards & Winery’s Indefinite Virtual Tasting Experiences: Offering 30-minute daily virtual tastings of pinot noir or estate flights, or you can customize a tasting with your favorite Flowers wines. www.flowerswinery.com/virtual-tastings/
Hess Collection Virtual Happy Hour: Join chief winemaker Dave Guffy and his colleagues on Facebook Live at 4 p.m. on select Thursdays as they chat about winemaking, wine tasting and vineyards. www.hesscollection.com
Holiday Pairings with Clif Family — Wine & Food Discussion and Demo: 5:30-7 p.m. Nov. 24. Join the discussion about the best wine and food pairing for the festive season. Claire McConnell will walk you through delicious side dishes, how to select the best wines to enhance your menu and other kitchen tips. Free admission. Thanksgiving Trio kits available for purchase. www.cliffamily.com/blog/events/holiday
Inglenook’s Virtual Chef Demonstration and Wine Tasting: 3 p.m. Oct. 28. Chef Alex will go over the process of making an extra-large raviolo stuffed with fresh ricotta and an egg yolk, while incorporating Inglenook’s Estate Olive Oil. The perfect pairing to this dish is Inglenook’s Blancaneaux. https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/
Inman Family Wines: Choose one of four three-packs ($84 and up) of Sonoma pinot noirs, chardonnay, rosés, and sparklers, then join a scheduled “Meet the Maker” happy hour tasting with winemaker Kathleen Inman via Facebook Video Chat, where you can enjoy the wines with fellow wine lovers. https://www.inmanfamilywines.com/Visit-Us/Events
J. Lohr Vineyards Virtual Tastings: This San Jose and Paso Robles winery has launched private virtual tastings for J. Lohr aficionados. Order a four-pack of wine ($130 and up), then pop the cork for the one-hour tasting session held Wednesday through Sunday. Order the wines and make reservations via jlohr.com/virtual-tastings.
J Vineyards & Winery: Virtual tastings noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Choose your favorites for a custom flight, explore a new collection or take a deep look at a single wine through the years. https://www.jwine.com/bespoke-virtual-tastings
JCB Live Happy Hour: Jean-Charles Boisset’s online JCB Live Happy Hour sessions air through September at 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Fridays, and at 4 p.m. Saturday with varying themes. https://jcbcollection.com/jcb-live-happy-hour.
Justin Virtual Tastings: Founder Justin Baldwin is hosting interactive tastings. You can either reach into your cellar or allow Baldwin to craft a custom flight. Find more details on the Paso Robles winery’s tastings at www.justinwine.com/visit-justin-winery/virtual-tastings-home.html.
Meet the Maker Happy Hour: Join Santa Rosa’s Inman Family Wines owner and winemaker Kathleen Inman for virtual wine tastings at 3 p.m. through Oct. 10 over Zoom. Complimentary with an order of one or more wine trios ($154 and up). https://www.inmanfamilywines.com/Features/virtual-wine-tasting-online
Muscardini Cellars: This Kenwood winery’s new “Explore Your Senses” tasting experience through the end of October. The tasting explores the tasting notes of four wines and lets you match them to customized sensory jars, is available by appointment daily at the tasting room ($30) and virtually from home ($150, includes four wines and the sensory kit). www.muscarMuscardini Cellarsdinicellars.com
Newsome Harlow Wines in the Sierra Foothills: Join the virtual tastings every Wednesday, altering between Happy Hour with winemaker Scott Klannour and a guest, and virtual tastings. https://www.nhvino.com/
Page Mill Winery: Livermore winemaker Dane Stark is offering Virtual Twilight Tastings on Facebook every Thursday at 6 p.m. Each week, the tasting benefits a different charity, with 10 percent of gross sales from the start of the virtual tasting to close of business on Friday going to that week’s organization. www.pagemillwinery.com/twilight-tastings
Parallel Napa Valley: Schedule a guided tasting ($95) with the winery’s general manager Adrienne Capps, which covers Russian River Valley Chardonnay, Napa Valley Cabernet and Black Diamond Reserve Napa Cabernet. https://www.parallelwines.com/Tastings
Passalacqua Winery’s Virtual Wine Tasting: Enjoy unique personalized wine tasting flights, delivered in three individually selected 2-ounce glass vials and accompanied by a private, guided one-on-one virtual wine tasting appointment. https://passalacquawinery.com/virtual-tastings
Prescription Vineyards — San Jose Int’l Short Film Festival: Oct. 22-25. This virtual event includes screenings of 100-plus short films, filmmaker interviews and musical performances. The festival offers a limited VIP festival wine experience package ($99) with Prescription Vineyards that includes wine, popcorn, exclusive film panels and festival swag. https://qudio.com/event/allaccess
Priority Wine Pass Virtual Wine Tasting: Order curated wine selections for delivery, then schedule online video-tastings with winemakers from Bridgette/Courtesan, Boeschen Vineyards, Prime Solum and more. The virtual tasting experiences include a “Learn How to Wine Taste” experience with sommelier Victor Orozco. https://prioritywinepass.com/virtual-wine-tasting/
Rombauer Hour, Virtual Wine Tasting: Schedule your own privately-hosted Rombauer hour with one of the tasting room hosts. Free. www.rombauer.com/virtualtasting/
Sonoma Valley goes virtual: Some 14 Sonoma Valley wineries are offering virtual wine tastings and wine experiences. Take a look at the offerings and pre-order wines at https://sonomavalleywine.com/sonoma-valley-virtual-tastings/
Succulents & Wine: 5-7 p.m. Oct. 27, The Veranda, 2001-2003 Diamond Blvd., Concord. Create a pumpkin succulent garden while enjoying wine and food samplings. You will receive a Veranda wine swag bag and wine glass and be entered to win a picnic basket full of goodies. Sponsored by Residual Wine Bar. A percentage of the proceeds will benefit Napa Valley Grapegrowers and Farmworker Foundation. $110 for table of 2. https://bit.ly/3okFZo4
Unique Techniques Virtual Tastings: 4 p.m. Oct. 23. A Center of Effort Winery virtual tasting with winemakers Nathan Carlson and Kevin Bargetto. Featuring four wines ($230) that represent unique winemaking techniques. www.centerofeffortwine.com/event/unique-techniques-virtual-tasting/
Virtual “Mix Masters” Foster Youth Fundraiser: 5-6:15 p.m. Oct. 8. General admission guests will receive a shopping list for the ingredients needed to craft the featured cocktails. ($40). VIP guests will receive a box containing exclusive goodies and ingredients needed to complete the mixology lesson. ($150). Experience includes a mixology class and personal stories of hope. https://pivotalnow.ejoinme.org/
Wine.com Experiences: Experience wine edu-tainment as you taste wines and talk to top winemakers and wine-loving celebrities, chefs and critics. Buy the wines ahead of time to get the full tasting experience. https://www.wine.com/content/landing/virtual-tastings?s
