Join me at these upcoming events:

5th Annual Healdsburg Wild Steelhead Festival

Friday February 10th- Sunday February 12th, 2012

This wild and fun festival kicks off with the Wild Salmon Dinner at the Villa Chanticleer in Healdsburg Friday night. Then Saturday brings the big day of fish, wine and food fun! The plaza in downtown Healdsburg is the place to be from 10am to 4pm! I will be there broadcasting live for KRSH 95.9fm, from 11am-1pm. All day you can enjoy a fly fishing pond where you can learn from the pros and there's a trout pond under the Gazebo for the young anglers too. The Festival includes: Fish cooking demos from local chefs, wine tasting from amazing local artisan wineries, fish soup and treats to eat, face painting and art for kids and a live steelhead display to enjoy. To top it off there will be a live band, dozens of information booths featuring local watershed restoration groups, sustainable seafood culinary tips and demos and a terrific selection of wines from local fish friendly vineyards and wineries, fishing gear displays, fly casting lessons, fly tying lessons, fish art, interactive fish art for the kids and can you believe it?, much more! Sunday the family fun events continue at the Visitor Center at Lake Sonoma. See the fish returning to the hatchery and jumping the fish ladder, fish sorting, Healdsburg High School Jazz Band, Father Nature, Bird Rescue and more! 10am -3pm.

Learn More: http://healdsburgsteelheadfest.org

4th Annual Love & Meritage blending party at Topel Winery

Sunday February 12th, 2012

Join winemaker Marcus Topel and Ziggy The Wine Gal at Topel Tasting Room for a romantic winemaking adventure with your special Valentine. Learn first-hand from the masters about blending — the highest form of the winemaking art. Enjoy enticing couplings of wine and food as you craft your own unique cuvée from the exquisite varietals grown at our Estate Vineyards. At the end of the party, take home a bottle of your specially blended wine with a personalized Love & Meritage label.

$75 per person; $100 per couple (includes one 750ml bottle of your blend)

Reservations required. Call Donnis Topel at 707-433-4116 or email donnis@topelwines.com.

5th Annual Women, Wine & Cheese!
A Fundraiser for the YWCA, Sonoma County

Friday May 11th, 11am-2pm

www.ywca.org/sonomacounty

Support the YWCA Sonoma County (my charity of choice) in their fight against domestic violence by attending this fantastic event.

This unique event brings you to a sparkling reception featuring local women artisan cheesemakers followed by an amazing luncheon catered by Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn's famed Michelin starred Chef Bruno Tison! Each table of ten features a woman winemaker or prominent woman in wine! She'll be pouring her wines for you and talking about her passion for the work of the YWCA. Throughout the event, contribute to the raffle and the silent auction, or the live auction where you'll find incredible items that cannot be purchased elsewhere. Past top auction lots include; Signed guitars, concert & backstage passes from JOURNEY, Celebrity Chef and Iron Chef contestant Duskie Estes of local Zazu fame paired with Wine Enthusiast's 2011 #1 winery - Kosta Browne wines at Chef Duskie's farm; a trip to India with Celebrity Winemaker Kerry Damskey to see where he is consulting with the Nashik region to launch a wine industry; a front and center VIP table at the next year's event featuring your choice of winemaker and a New World vs Old World tasting by Bill Shea and wine from his amazing 20,000 bottle wine cellar!

This event is not to be missed! I'm not only the event chair but your Mistress of Ceremonies! My fabulous event committee has an unforgettable day planned for you! Thanks to our top sponsors: Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation, and Northern California Medical Associates. For tickets,sponsorship information or to donate, please Contact Kristi at 707-508-5698 or at kpadley@ywcasc.org with sponsorship or ticket interest.

15th Annual Taste Alexander Valley events

Friday May 18th - Sunday May 20th

This weekend long wine and food extravaganza begins on Friday, May 18 with the Opening Celebration, a very special evening at the exclusive Lancaster Estate Winery. Your evening of Alexander Valley wine bliss includes mingling with winemakers & vineyard owners, tasting incredible wines, savoring wine country cuisine from 3 star Sonoma chefs as well as dancing to the rockin jump swing, blues and jazz band Steve Lucky & the Rhumba Bums!

Opening Gala – $105 – Advance only (limited availability)
Opening Celebration & Weekend Pass (package) $155 – Advance only (limited availability; best value!)
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Join me Saturday and Sunday, May 19-20 when over 30 wineries will host their own special wine and food parties offering wine and food pairings, live entertainment and special weekend wine discounts. I will be broadcasting live all weekend as I venture from winery to winery. One ticket gets you access to all the parties! Come and experience the best of the casually elegant wine country lifestyle that makes the Alexander Valley a premier international tourist destination!

Weekend Pass: $65 per person in advance, $75 at the door;
Weekend Pass (designated driver): $20 per person in advance, $30 at the door
Sunday Only: $45 per person in advance, $55 at the door
Sunday Only (designated driver): $15 advance, $25 at the door

Learn More: http://www.alexandervalley.org/content/view/TAV