Wine Events Coming up in 2010

Pasadena PinotFest, 2nd Annual
Jan 24-30
Noir Food & Wine
40 North Mentor Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91106
Jan 24 7:00 p.m. – Brian Loring Winemaker Dinner - $129
Jan 29 5:00 p.m. - Wes Hagen, Clos Pepe Tasting - $20
Jan 30 3:00 p.m. - Public Grand Tasting - $75 advance, $89 at door.
Attendance is limited to 350.
Each night during PinotFest Noir Food & Wine will feature flights of the Pinots from some of the participating wineries. $20-$30
All three events available for $200
*****
Loyola Marymount University Wine Classic
Jan 31  2:00-5:00 p.m.
Loyola Marymount University
1 LMU Drive
LA CA 90045
310.338.5278
More than 150 California boutiuque wineries will be featured.  A silent auction of specialty wines and products will be featured.  Proceeds benefit LMU student scholarships.
$90, $80 if purchased by January 15
*****
Stars of Santa Barbara, 7th Annual
Wednesday, February 3
7:00-9:30 p.m.
The Peninsula Hotel, Beverly Hills
9882 S. Santa Monica Blvd
Beverly Hills, Ca 90212
310.451.7600
Attendance is limited to 125.
Cost: $120.  Limited number of discount tickets are available at Goldstar for $69 while they last.  http://www.goldstar.com/events/beverly-hills-ca/stars-of-santa-barbara-at-the-peninsula-beverly-hills.html
The wine education group Learn About Wine will stage this event spotlighting 116 wines from the Santa Barbara area.  Participating wineries are set to include such luminaries as Ampelos, Carr, Dierberg, La Fenetre, Lucas & Lewellen, Riverbench, Sanford, Tantara and Zaca Mesa.
*****
Valentine'N Wine Passport Weekend
Feb 12 - 15  Noon-5:00 p.m.
Participating Wineries of Ventura County
Seven wineries in Ventura County are hosting this tasting tour.  Bella Victorian Vineyard, Cantara Cellars, Herzog Wine Cellars, Rancho Ventavo Cellars, Old Creek Ranch Winery, Casa Barranca and Camarillo Custom Crush are the stops along the way, all within shouting distance of the 101 Freeway between Highway 23 and Highway 33.
$35 advance, $40 during event
*****
Top 100 Cabs of the Napa Valley
Feb 13 3:00-6:00 p.m.
Bayleaf Restaurant
2025 Monticello Road
Napa, CA 94558
818.224.8603
A judged blind tasting of the Top 100 Cabs of the Napa Valley is the highlight, but you'll enjoy tasting the top Cabs in the land that's known for them.  Hors d'ouevres will be served.  Judges will taste and score over 400 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon wines several days prior to the event.  They will be ranked from 1 to 100 for you to taste them.
Attendance is limited to 300.
$95 $135 at door
*****
Madera Wine Trail's Wine and Chocolate Weekend
Feb 13 - 14 Noon-5:00 p.m.
Wineries of the Madera Wine Trail
9400 Road 36
Madera, CA 93636
800.613.0709
Wine and cocolate delights for those in the Central Valley over Valentine's weekend.
*****
Edge of L.A. 1st Ever International Wine Festival
Apr 10 2:00-6:00 p.m.
Michael's of Tuscany
470 W. 7th
San Pedro, CA
310.831.1551
Over 40 wineries will be represented, hailing from all over the world.  Favorites from California will be featured alongside French, Eastern European, Aussie and more.  There's a Winemaker Dinner following the event and a silent auction.  Proceeds benefit charities.
Cost: $50 - $500.  Limited number of tickets available.

On a smaller scale - but just as enjoyable -my friends at Pourtal in Santa Monica, The Wine House in West L.A., Wally's in Westwood, Rosso and 55 Degree Wine in Glendale, K&L in Hollywood, Off The Vine in San Pedro and All Corked Up in Santa Clarita all sponsor regular tastings and special events.  Check the website of your favorite wine hang and pay them a visit!  Always remember to drink responsibly.  That includes tastings, too.  If you don't have a designated driver, that's why they have spit buckets.