The Other Guys: Beer and Wine Tastings in the Sacramento Area

As a side note, if you enjoy a good comedy, The Other Guys was a good movie...but this isn't about movies, it's about alcohol!  There are always a number of beer and wine tastings happening locally, and since I like to support local businesses and events, I wanted to highlight some for the month of May.

Saturday, May 7th - Wine, Food and Music Festival at Congregation B'nai Israel in Sacramento.  7-10pm.  Features fine regional wines, gourmet foods, live jazz and fantastic silent live auctions.  $45 at the door.  

Sunday, May 8th - 8th Annual El Dorado Hills Art and Wine Affair at the El Dorado Hills Town Center.  10am-5pm.  Over 150 artists plus 20+ El Dorado County Wineries will be at the 8th Annual El Dorado Hills Art & Wine Affaire on Mother's Day Weekend - May 7 & 8 - at the Town Center in El Dorado Hills (Town Center at Latrobe & Hwy 50). Live entertainment will be featured at the Stephen Young Amphitheater with youth performers on Saturday, May 7 at 10AM and Sacramento Blues Revue at 1:30PM. Sunday, May 8 is Over the Edge at 10AM and Mumbo Gumbo at 1:30PM.  The event is free with wine tasting only $20 each day (pouring from 11am-4pm both days).

Tuesday, May 10th - Tequila Tasting Dinner at Tres Hermanas in Davis.  $30.

Tuesday, May 10th - Outside the Box Exhibit & Live Auction Gala.  10am-5pm.  Don't miss this unique art exhibit! Artists are issued a box and given two months to come up with whatever creation their mind can dream up. View the boxes at The Arts Building Gallery and bid on them via silent auction starting on April 14. Then the fun goes live on Saturday, May 14 from 7 - 11 pm, when auctioneer Dan Macon will accept your bids in a lively evening accompanied by local wine and appetizers.  Free.

Thursday, May 12th - Thursday Night Jazz & Wine at Arden Hills Resort Club and Spa.  6-9pm.  Enjoy a relaxing and entertaining May evening filled with jazz and wine at Arden Hills Resort Club & Spa. With wine tastings provided by Acacia Winery -- known for producing amazing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay -- and live music by the popular Joey V, you’re sure to experience new flavors and meet new friends along the way. This is your chance to enjoy an evening of musical entertainment while appreciating a variety of wines and complimentary light appetizers provided by Arden Hills.  $20.

Thursday, May 12th - Girls Night Out at The Wine and Roses Hotel Restaurant Spa in Lodi, CA.  5-9pm.  Join us in support of Pink October benefiting Geweke Caring for Women Foundation! This event includes 2 - 15 minute spa treatments, swag bag, raffle prizes, hors d’oeuvres and local Lodi wines. Gather your best gal pals and gather for a unique evening to celebrate the lives of women. We currently have limited tickets available for $125.00.
 
Thursday, May 12th - Taste of the Little City at Safetyville USA (Sacramento).  5:30-9:30pm.  It's the adults turn to play at the miniature city, Safetyville USA. Taste Northern California's diverse cuisine, wine and micro-brews. Over 100 items at the silent auction including travel, wine, fine art, hand-crafted jewelry and more. Enjoy Celebrity MC's, a Fire Fighter Cooking Challenge and demonstrations by Executive Chef Russel Michel of Morgan's Restaurant, Sheraton Grand Hotel and Chef Jon Nelson of Sienna. All proceeds benefit the youth health and safety programs at Safetyville USA.  $40 pre-sale, $50 at the door. 

Friday, May 13th - 5th Annual Raley Field Brewfest.  Handcrafted microbrews from more than 30 Northern California breweries and live music.  $30 in advance, $35 at the door, $50 VIP.

Friday, May 13th - Davis Food Co-op Wine Tasting - A Celebration of Zinfandel.  In the Co-op Conference Room.  Benefits the Acme Theatre Company of Davis.  6-8pm.  $1/taste.

Friday, May 13th - Passport to Gold River Wine Tasting at the Sunrise Event Center (Rancho Cordova, CA).  6-9pm.  The Gold River Business Group is proudly sponsoring the 3rd Annual Passport to Gold River Wine Tasting. The event will benefit St. Mel's Smart Board Technology Expansion Program. Enjoy an evening with friends, 15 wines, food, jazz, dancing and door prizes.  Tickets are $60.  Please call Lori Estipular 916-849-0336 for all tickets sales. 

Saturday, May 14th - Art, Wine, and Cheese Festival at ArtBeast Sacramento.  California Montessori Project hosts its annual Art, Wine & Cheese at artBeast on May 14. View great art, taste wine from three local wineries, and sample finger foods. Fun community event, supporting a local public school.  6:30-9pm.  Cost?

Saturday, May 14th - Pops 'N' Corks at Old Sugar Mill (Clarksburg, CA).  6-10pm.  The Capitol Pops Concert Band's Pops 'N' Corks event will feature fine wines and tasty food samples at the Old Sugar Mill, 35265 Willow Ave., in Clarksburg. Live music will be provided by band ensembles and talented soloists. A DJ and extensive silent auction will be on-site. Tickets, priced at $30 each or $50 for 2, may be purchased at the PayPal link on www.capitolpops.org. Individual tickets $35 at the door. Proceeds will aid the CPCB scholarship fund for deserving local student-musicians.

Saturday, May 14th - Festa di Vino at the Scottish Rite Center (Sacramento).  6:30-10:30pm. 

Join us for our 9th Annual “Festa di Vino” wine and food event. Festa di Vino is a major fundraiser for Point West Rotary and is one of Sacramento’s premiere food and wine tasting events.  This year we are proud to be partnering with the Sacramento Children’s home. The event will include a live & silent auction and music and dancing by the Q-Balls!  You can purchase your tickets online at www.FestadiVino.com. For more information call 916-952-9222 or email festa@pointwestrotary.com.  $55.

Saturday, May 14th - ZinFest in Lodi, CA.  12-6pm.  Sip, swirl and savor from a selection of 250 handcrafted wines from 50 Lodi wineries. Enjoy local provisions, the ZinFest Wine & Cooking school, or relax along the beautiful Mokelumne River to an eclectic mix of live music. Peruse merchandise from regional vendors and take home a commemorative bottle of custom blended Old Vine Zinfandel from the ZinFest Wine Shoppe. There is no better way to celebrate the fantastic wines of Lodi Wine Country!  $45 in advance, $50 at the door. 

Saturday, May 14th - Taylor's Market Cheese Class - Spanish Cheese and Wine.  1pm.  Spanish Cheese
with Cheesemonger Felicia Johnson.  Join Taylor's Cheesemonger for a cheese class focusing on the cheeses of Spain.  Participants will taste pairings of 6 Spanish cheeses with 2 Spanish wines.  For further information contact felicia@taylorsmarket.com.  Tickehttp://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6260778418975226268ts are $30 per person.

Saturday, May 14th - Consumnes River College 2011 Foundation Gala.  6pm.  Don't miss a fantastic evening of food, wine tasting, live jazz and a silent auction at CRC's, "A Taste of Jazz Foundation Gala."  The 2011 Gala will wrap up our year-long celebration of CRC's 40th Anniversary of service to the community. Join us as we pay special tribute to the people, places and events that have made our first 40 years truly remarkable.  Proceeds from this event will benefit the Cosumnes River College Annual Fund.  $40.

Sunday, May 15th - Painting Party at the Painted Cork with Wine Tasting by Mt. Aukum at the Painted Cork in Folsom, CA.  1-5pm.  The Painted Cork presents MT AUKUM WINERY! Come treat yourself to a painting party at The Painted Cork and enjoy the delicious varieties of Mt Aukum winery. Mt Aukum will be providing wine tasting beginning at 1pm and will have bottles of their wine for sale and to drink at the event! The Painted Cork will be painting the "Red Wine Glass" painting during the painting party from 2pm-5pm. Seats are being filled, so reserve yours online as soon as possible!  $45.

Sunday, May 15th - Vino Velo 2011 at the Winchester Country Club (Meadow Vista, CA).  7pm.  Join the Bike Auburn Committee’s Vino Velo 2011 Gala at the Winchester to celebrate the Amgen Tour of California. VIP tickets include pre-event meet & greet, 12pm-1pm with guest speakers. Special guests include “Fast” Freddy Rodriquez, Dylan Casey, Mike McCarthy, and Ken Carpenter. Enjoy food and wine from top Auburn restaurants and wineries. Listen to live Jazz by Dick Harris’ Club House Jazz Band. View a vintage and modern bicycle exhibit. Participate in a silent auction.  $65-$85.

Thursday, May 19th - Concours Raduno at the Arden Hills Resort and Spa.  7-9pm.  Auction, along with a selection of cars on display. Plus, wine, beer, hors d'oeuvres and live music.

Friday, May 20th - Davis Food Co-op Beer Tasting - Belgian and Sour Beers.  In the Co-op Conference Room.  Benefits the Acme Theatre Company of Davis.  6-8pm.  $1/taste.

Saturday, May 21st - 11th Annual West Coast Brew Fest at Miller Park (Sacramento).  1-5pm.  Live bands, great food, and unlimited microbrew tasting!  $30 pre-pay or $40.

BevMo in Sacramento, Roseville, Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, and other local locations offers wine tastings every week.  Check out your local BevMo or their website for upcoming tastings!

You can also check out Sacramento Region Wineries for a list of local wineries (most all of them have tasting hours/days), and you can view events on their calendar.  Another link for local wineries can be found here.

You can also use this Google Map to view listings of local microbreweries and their locations.

If you know of other events, let me know!  Happy Tastings!  Many more to come this summer including whiskey and spirits!