MORE ON UPCOMING EVENTS OF NOTE ©

            If you are up in the Bay Area April 6 and a fan of Rhone style wines, the Rhone Rangers are hosting their annual San Francisco area tasting from 3 to 6 PM. The location is in Richmond (East Bay) at the Craneway Pavilion at 1414 Harbor Way S. Over 100 producers will be pouring, with 25 of them being from my area, Paso Robles. If you have subscribed to the Paso Chapter web site, discount offers are available. There are two ticket levels, one at $120 that includes early entry into the Grand Tasting and two seminars, "Rise of the Rhone Garagiste" and "Grenache - The World's Largest Planted Rhone Variety". I'm thinking they mean acres not the size of fruit. But, it does grow pretty large clusters!

The tasting only ticket is $65, discount codes for those on the Paso web blast list are provided in the notice of the event. You might want to sign up and get all the latest news re: the Rangers.  A shuttle service from a convenient BART station is available as are tickets on the Red & White Fleet ferry and ample on-site parking is available. Details are on line at rhonerangers.org, where information on a winemakers dinner the evening prior to the Grand Tasting. Tickets are also available  via that site.

            Down Santa Barbara way April 10-13? That is (see santabarbaravintnersweekend.com) time for Spring Weekend. The Grand Tasting is at River View Park in Buellton on the afternoon of the 12th. Hikes - with wine, dinners and even a golf tourney are all part of the fun. Many wineries are doing special events and seminars and education offerings, a scavenger hunt, brunches and concerts are also part of the four days of the event. Details and ticket packages are on the web site above.

            Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance has announced an addition to the Wine Festival in May. Some well respected local restaurants will be adding Thursday evening (the 15th) winemaker dinners. Don't confuse this with dinners being held at many wineries in conjunction with the event. Details are to be available on April Fool's Day (today) but have not posted as of noon. I expect pricing, menus and participating restaurants to detailed on the pasowine.com site events link by tonight.