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Community Corner

PATCH PICKS: Wine, Beer & Food Happenings

Attend the largest tasting of American wines in the world and have some beer too.

National Drink Wine day is Friday and to help lovers of wine and food celebrate, the weekend promises a myriad of wine, beer and food events to choose from, between here and San Francisco.

A gourmet’s paradise of fine wines, bracing beers accompanied by delectable delights awaits those who dare to be deluged starting Friday and on through Sunday.

What’s your passion?  Wine? The Barley or French variety? Champagne? Beers? Cheese? Huge event? Smaller more intimate? Casual or more structured? 

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For example, The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition on Saturday, has grown to be the largest tasting of American wines in the world, having over 5,000 wine entries in 2010 and growing every year.  It is unpretentious, fun and a great event to experience new and exciting award winning wines and an exceptional spread of gourmet fare.  Perfect to bring your friends to.  

, a local winery in Milpitas, is a gold and silver winner from this competition from 2010 and was interviewed by Patch in December last year. Call them to see if they are open for tasting before heading out there - it's a good and scenic drive on a meandering drive uphill .

Find out what's happening in Mountain Viewwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A more intimate event would be found at California Café in Palo Alto, for 5 Bites Friday, where wines of Paso Robles will be featured while you enjoy latin and classic jazz. Perhaps, you would be interested in bottling your own wine on Saturday at  La Honda Winery in Redwood City.

Keep it simple and fun at where they also serve snacks of special selected cheeses and crackers in Mountain View.  Like to shop and support good causes? Santana Row Wine & Dine Around on Saturday will offer fine wine and cuisine paired with exclusive shopping events.

Want to focus only on Petite Sirahs? The 5th Annual Dark & Delicious Event in Alameda on Friday at the where they will feature Petite Sirah wines and Napa and Bay Area cuisine. If you have a designated driver or you have a group, they’ll offer discounts upon request.

Whatever strikes your fancy, there is sure to be a fitting event just for you, see what's on tap listed below.

Friday  2/18

  • An amazing wine and food experience in store at the 5th Annual Dark & Delicious Event at the Rock Wall Wine Company in Alameda from 6 to 9 p.m. Featuring 40 Petite Sirah wineries and Napa and Bay Area restaurants and/or caterers. Cost: $53 to $63 with discounts for Groupies and Designated Driver upon request. Telephone: 510-522-5700 .  
  • Taste Amber Beers with a snack of  Black Creek Cheddar on Carr’s Assorted Biscutes, at from 4 to 7 p.m. Cost: $2.
  • Enjoy latin and classic jazz while sampling 5 outstanding wines with 5 phenomenal appetizers, at California Café in Palo Alto, for 5 Bites Friday, from 6 to 8 p.m. This premier wine event was created to celebrate and acknowledge excellence in the California wine industry. Featured wines include an ’10 Paso Robles Orange Muscat, ’07 Central Coast Rhone to Robles, ’07 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon and  ’05 Paso Robles Vintage Port. Cost $20. Telephone for more information and to RSVP: 650-325-2233.   
  • Champagne of Nicolas Feuillate featured while you socialize, dance and enjoy French inspired cuisine, at the Bubble Lounge in San Francisco from 10 p.m. Cost: $65 Champagne Duo – Bottle from the featured Champagne House and Strawberries with Chocolate Fondue. Telephone: 415- 434-4204.

Saturday, Feb. 19

  • Celebrate San Francisco Beer Week in San Jose with , Sunnyvale’s FireHouse Brewing and Better Beer Blog as they present the 2nd annual Meet the Brewers festival. 
This year they will highlight the local food trucks that pair well with the local microbrews. The breweries that will be participating include: Campbell Brewing, Devils Canyon, Faultline, FireHouse, Gordon Biersch, Hermitage, Rabbits Foot Meadery, Rock Bottom, Santa Cruz Mountain, Tied House, Uncommon Brewers, and more to come. Tickets are for unlimited beer tasting ($25), or designated drivers ($5). Bring lots of cash for food. Leashed dogs allowed only outside brewery. Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011 from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. at Tied House’s San Jose distribution plant, 1627 South 7 St., 
San Jose, CA 95112.
  • Bottle Your Own Wine at La Honda Winery in from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Bring your clean empty wine bottle(s) and fill it up directly from the tank with Petite Sirah.  Cost: $5 (your glass) or $7 per bottle (our new glass).  Cork and label provided and a free wine tasting of some older vintages. Telephone: 650-366-4104.
  • Discuss current release wines with founder and winemaker of Knightswood, Robert Amox at The Newest Urban Winery in Treasure Island at 12 p.m. Telephone: 415-525-4154.
  • Taste 5 cent Reds & Whites at weekly tasting with snacks of Port Salut on Carr’s Assorted Biscutes, from 12 to 3 p.m. Cost: $2.
  • Santana Row Wine & Dine Around, benefiting The American Heart Association from 2 to 5 p.m. in San Jose. Fine wine and cuisine paired with exclusive shopping events and discounts offered by participating retailers. Become more aware of the impact of heart disease and stroke on women. Cost: $30. Telephone: 408-551-4611. 
  • Try five French wines with cheese for the French Wine Tasting at Que Syrah wine bar in San Francisco from 5 to 8 p.m. Exciting young French Wine Importer, Raphael Knapp, owner of Return to Terrior Wines, shows off some of his newest finds specializing in imports from small family owned wines from his home country to California, paying close attention to sustainable vineyards from lesser known areas of France. Cost: $15.  Telephone: 415-731-7000.

Sunday, Feb. 20

  • Celebrator Beer News 23rd Anniversary Bash will have over 30 breweries pouring and BBQ will be catered in. from 4 to 8 p.m. at Trumer Brauerei in Berkeley.  Cost: $45.  Beer industry: $35 and at the door: $60 cash only. Telephone: 530-470-0191.

Happy Wine and Beer Tasting Day and Bon Appetit!

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