Do you know the difference between sparkling wine and Champagne? Brut and Demi Sec? Cava and Prosecco? Do you want to find out while discovering some great values for your holiday parties? Test your blind tasting skills while learning about the most fun wine there is: sparkling, at the Spark…
Holidays in the Vineyards, Sat. & Sun., Dec. 7-8, noon to 4:30 p.m. 40+ wineries showcase their decorated tasting rooms with special wines, arts, crafts, holiday music, activities and more. Admission is free; tasting fees may apply.
Find the perfect wine to gift or to enjoy at a holiday gathering at Rodrigue Molyneaux (RM) Winery, 3053 Marina Ave., Livermore, on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Listen to live country music performed by Virginia from 2 to 4 p.m., and see what the New Year has in store with a readin…
More than 300 area residents attended the local non-profit organization’s 25th Anniversary Celebration at Jeans & Jewels fundraiser on Friday, November 8. Guests “Rocked the Ranch” with delicious food, drinks, live music and a DF, and line dancing. The generous and dedicated supporters r…
If you would like your organization to be considered as a 2020 beneficiary of the Livermore Valley Wine Auction, please complete the documents: Beneficiary Letter, Beneficiary Application, Beneficiary Information Request, and Memorandum of Understanding. Then submit to the Livermore Valley W…
On the weekend of Nov. 8-10, Las Positas Vineyards will feature their Cheesecake Cupcake & Wine Pairing flight, and will also be offering a Reserve Flight. Tasting Room hours are 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, email curt@laspositasvineyards.com.
Don't miss Pleasanton Adult and Career Education's Fall Wine Series of classes. All classes are from 6:30 TO 8:30 p.m. at Rodrigue Molyneaux Winery in Livermore. $49 per class; for more information or to register visit: bit.ly/PACE-Classes.
Stop by Rodrigue Molyneaux Winery, 3053 Marina Ave., Livermore, to grab a taste of their newest French Bordeaux-style wines. The 2016 Cabernet Franc, double gold winner at the 2019 California State Fair, and 2016 Malbec are sure to be hits for the upcoming holiday season. Visit www.rmwinery.com.
On the weekend of Nov. 1-3, Las Positas Vineyards features their Cheesecake Cupcake & Wine Pairing flight, and also a Reserve Flight. Tasting Room hours are 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Getting the news that you have breast cancer can be devastating, particularly if you are underinsured or have high medical deductibles and co-pays. ValleyCare Charitable Foundation’s Women in Need fund continues to bridge financial gaps for local patients coping with breast cancer. This mont…
Las Positas Vineyards, Cuda Ridge, Fenestra and Dante Robere have partnered for unique Halloween "Trick or Taste" event. On Saturday, Oct. 26, all guests who come in a Halloween costume will receive a special flight offering and discount on bottle purchases. Las Positas Vineyards will be fea…
Art & Wine Intertwined brings together art, live music and local wineries to the Bankhead Theater on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
It was a sold out, semi-formal party that filled the barrel room of The Palm Event center with fans, friends and family in celebration of the 10th anniversary of Lineage, the flagship wine brand first released in 2009 by fifth generation vintner, Steven Mirassou.
Wine Wednesday at Rodrigue Molyneaux Winery is happening on Oct. 30, from 4 to 7 p.m.
A potential rise in the price of untreated water for agriculture next year could hurt small vineyards in the South Livermore Valley Specific Plan, and in turn affect the area’s wine tourism, said Sandy Figuers, Zone 7 Water Agency’s board president.
The Livermore Valley Winegrowers Foundation and the Wente Foundation for Arts Education are pleased to announce that together they raised nearly $500,000 for under-served East Bay children at the 25th annual Livermore Valley Wine Auction on September 21.
Sip by Harvest Moon at Rodrigue Molyneaux Winery takes place on Saturday, Oct. 12, from 12:30 to 7 p.m. Attendees will enjoy live music from 4 to 7 p.m., and winemaker Meredith Sarboraria will give harvest update talks at 2 and 5 p.m. There will be a harvest sale on RM Cabernet Sauvignon and…
Sipping with the Symphony returns on Thursday, Sept. 26, from 4 to 8 p.m., as part of Page Mill Winery’s Twilight Tastings, benefiting valley nonprofits.
Wine-down for the weekend with a glass or bottle of Charles R wine on the garden patio at the Fourth Friday Free Concert with Spencer James on Sept. 27, from 6 to 9 p.m.
On Thursday, Oct. 3, from 4:30 to 8 p.m., the Friends of the Vineyards (FOV) are hosting the 5th annual Twilight Tasting at Page Mill Winery, 1960 S. Livermore Ave., Livermore.
On the weekend of Sept. 28-29, Las Positas Vineyards will feature their new Cheesecake Cupcake Truffle & Wine Pairing Flight, along with offering a Reserve Flight. Tasting Room hours are 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, contact curt@laspositasvineyards.com.
The annual Livermore Valley Wine Auction, a black tie affair to benefit underprivileged local youth, is set for Saturday, Sept. 21, at 5 p.m. It will be held at the event center at Wente Vineyards, 5050 Arroyo Road. Tickets cost $275 a person, or $2,500 for a table of 10.
This year’s annual blessing of the grapes — a Tri-Valley tradition that marks the start of the harvest season madness — came after a summer of favorable weather for growing grapes. Relatively cool temperatures without prolonged heat spikes encourages slow ripening.
On Friday, Sept. 13, Las Positas Vineyards’ Evening in the Vineyards is featuring the Meredith McHenry Band with Meshach Jackson. This concert will be on the patio overlooking the vineyards, with wine and artisan pizzas available for purchase. To purchase tickets, visit www.laspositasvineyar…
Today is International Cabernet Day, an event that could not go unnoticed at Concannon Vineyards in the Livermore Valley. The winery hangs its proverbial hat on the varietal that has been crowned king of all grapes, an entire month’s worth of activities are planned in commemoration. After al…
The Crooked Vine/Stony Ridge has completed a remodeling of its tasting room that was spearheaded by the recently departed Gina Donofrio.
Lots of great fun at the end of the road Labor Day weekend!
Taste Our Terroir’s sold out lineup of seminars and outings this year ran the gamut from a rosé party at Retzlaff to a falconry demonstration with Kimmie Spears, of Embodied Wines, at el Sol. There were bubbles at Page Mill and Somm Secrets revealed at McGrail, but nothing had the Midas touc…
For the very first time in all the years of this event, parity was achieved on the number of white and rosé wines vs. red — eight of each. Had Darcie Kent Winery participated as planned, (unforeseen circumstances prevented their appearance), there would have been one more red offering, as th…
Las Positas College (LPC) students will soon see the literal fruits of their labor manifest in additional funding for LPC's Viticulture and Winery Technology programs. The college's Campus Hill Winery has earned its Viticulture and Enology Foundation license. The license, confirmed in May, a…
Valley Humane Society has forged a partnership with Darcie Kent Vineyards to benefit local dogs and cats through the sale of Dog Day Cabernet, which is newly available at eight Northern California Costco warehouses.
Whether you’re on a sweeping veranda, a cozy patio, your neighbor’s Weber-equipped deck, or your back porch, Sauvignon Blanc gives you shelter from the summer. Crispness hits your lips, tongue, and all the rest, causing you to sigh and close your eyes. Now you get some subtle herbal flavors …
Tickets are available to the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association’s annual food and wine pairing contest that partners wineries with Bay Area chefs to compete for coveted honors.
After the big 4th of July Holiday, with all its hot diggity excitement and overload of beer and cocktails, you might be looking for something a bit different to wag your fun meter. How about a luau at two of the most scenic spots in the Valley?
The East County Board of Zoning Adjustments (BZA) has renewed a conditional use permit for Crooked Vine Winery, allowing it to expand the number of events it annually hosts and the size of its event center at 4948 Tesla Road.
Wente Vineyards officially cut the ribbon on their newly remodeled dining space, now called the Vineyard Table and Tasting Lounge. Previously the site of their fine-dining restaurant, the new space is a place for friends and family to gather and make memories while enjoying Wente’s renowned …
The very fact that Concannon Vineyard wines still are made in a deliberate and intentional manner, with great respect to the land from which the grapes draw life, and in keeping with the longstanding tradition of this historical brand, is something of a miracle. They are effectively a small …
Viognier is an aromatic delight, typically with floral notes singing of white peaches, apricots, tropical fruits, sometimes grapefruit, jasmine, and, almost always, honeysuckle. The taste provides more of the same and has an undeniable sweetness but not an icky sweetness. You get a full roun…
The revamp of what was once known as The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards on Arroyo Road is nearly complete, with an official launch date of June 29 just announced. The Arroyo Road property has been under extensive revision for some months. PR and marketing firm AfCo, says the property has been…
The California State Fair's Commercial Wine Competition is a big one, and happens to be the longest standing wine competition in the Golden state, having originated in 1855. It is the only competition of its type to partition California into 11 wine regions and to recognize the best wines in…
John Kinney and Dave Hendrickson have been hard at work perfecting the three new gins they are set to bottle, now that they have label approval on two out of the three. “Learning the TTB rules for distillates takes a little navigating,” admits Kinney. “We’ve learned a lot about how to do spi…
Wineries are planning for warmer days and evenings ahead. Hopefully, the weather for Wine & Wags, set for Sunday, June 2, proves both human and pooch-friendly. Meanwhile, there are more Golds to celebrate in Livermore.
Suspend disbelief momentarily, and imagine you are part of something much larger and much more important than whatever you presently believe is your role in life. Perhaps you can set aside your smartphone or other informing device of choice, walk outside, take a deep breath and let the spiri…
A collaborative class sponsored by Friends of Open Space and Vineyards (FOV) with Las Positas College’s Community Education program is the first step in turning community wine enthusiasts into tasting room sales stars.
47th Annual Art in the Vineyard will be held at Wente Vineyard Estate Winery on Sun., May 26 starting at 11 a.m.
Wente Vineyards has released the first of its 2017 Artist Series red blends featuring original art by local Bay Area Artist, Lisa Elley.
Twenty-five downtown locations will become tasting rooms this Saturday, May 11th from 5-8 pm for Pleasanton’s Annual Wine Stroll. Spend a beautiful evening in downtown Pleasanton sampling wine and tasty bites while musicians perform live music throughout Main Street.
Ready or not, we’ve run out of April, and May is already upon us. Which means the school year is winding down, and thoughts are turning to summer. Wait…Summer? Not so fast. There’s still plenty of spring left in our step. Before all the wildflowers are spent and the hills begin fading to tan…
Wente Family Estates, the oldest continuously-operated, family-owned winery in the country, has announced a partnership with Bodega Cuarto Dominio of Argentina. Wente will be the designated US importer, sales and marketing agent for Bodega Cuarto Dominio of Argentina. Bodega Cuarto Dominio, …
Winemakers who made the winning wines of Tri-Valley Conservancy's (TVC) Livermore Uncorked for 2019 offered some highlights of their process.
Deacon Dave's "Casa del Pomba" is decorated with over 600,000 lights for visitors to enjoy at his annual holiday celebration. (Photos - Doug Jorgensen)
