The holidays.
What better time to get a taste of the 209?
Given the Northern San Joaquin Valley is at the heart of the world’s greatest agricultural region in terms of bounty and breadth, there are endless options every day, 365 days a year.
This time of year, however, offers special opportunities paired with the fall harvest wrapping up or the approach of Christmas.
Two such events present opportunities to savor food, wine, and people in the coming weeks.
One of those is in the fertile vineyards of Lodi that represent the bulk of what has made San Joaquin County the undisputed largest wine grape producer among America’s counties from sea to shining sea.
The other is in the rolling foothills celebrating the golden era of the Sierra foothills when civilization settled in after the world rushed in following a shiny nugget being retrieved from the American River 177 years ago in January.
First, the Lodi offering.
The Tempranillo Festival at Bokisch Vineyards
Bokisch Vineyards is hosting the first-ever Tempranillo Festival from Thursday, Nov. 14, through Sunday, Nov. 17.
It celebrates the King of Spanish Grapes with four days of wine, food, live music, and autumn festivities dedicated to this beloved varietal.
Markus and Liz Bokisch were pioneers in planting Tempranillo in Lodi, and this festival honors their flagship red wine.
The festival includes:
* Thursday (International Tempranillo Day): The festival kicks off with an exclusive tasting experience, featuring five different styles of Bokisch Tempranillos, including the highly anticipated new vintage of the 2018 Gran Reserva. The event is free but reservations are required.
* Friday Happy Hour: From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. cozy up by the fire pits with a complimentary taste of the new Gran Reserva Tempranillo, savor charcuterie boards, and watch the sunset over the vineyard. The event is free but reservations are required.
* Saturday Taco Pairing: Three unique taco creations matched with Tempranillo wines, blending Spanish wine with Mexican flavors for an inspired culinary experience. It begins at 11 a m. and ends at 2:30 p.m. The $30 tickets must be pre-purchased.
* Sunday Finale with Live Music: Enjoy live music on the lawn while soaking up the fall colors of Terra Alta Vineyard, with an exclusive Tempranillo Cocktail in hand. The cost is $15.
Make your reservations at bokischvineyards.com or by calling the Tasting Room at 209-642-8880.
Bokisch Vineyards Winery, Tasting Room, and Hospitality Grounds are located at 18921 Atkins Road in Lodi.
The tasting room welcomes guests seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. offering tableside bottle service, reserve tastings, an outdoor bar, and vistas overlooking the Terra Alta Vineyard.
The 80-acre expanse of organically grown, oak-studded vineyards graces the rolling hills.
Victoria Christmas Feast in Columbia
For over 40 years, the iconic City Hotel Restaurant in Columbia State Historic Park just north of Sonora off Highway 49 has celebrated the holidays by recreating a 150-year-old banquet melodrama with a cast of colorful characters, minstrels, great food, and wonderful wine.
Travel back in time to the late 1800s.
Join George and Margaret Morgan, proprietors of the Columbia City Hotel, at their holiday table for an enjoyable evening of sumptuous dining and merry making with friends.
Tom Bender, one of the original creators and once long-time manager of the City Hotel, returns as the Morgan’s bumbling butler.
The Morgans are portrayed by returning actors Maryann Curmi and Frank Silva. And the Mirth and Glee Carolers, along with pianist Gail Johnson, will fill hearts with yuletide song as they have for decades.
To match the ambiance of the City Hotel and add to the fun, guests are encouraged to dress for dinner in period costume or black tie, although it’s not required.
The $150 tickets are available now with the price per person increasing to $160 on Nov. 15.
This year’s Victorian Christmas Feast will be celebrated on four evenings in December: Dec. 5th, 6th, 13th, (sold out) and 15th, with seats for 50 guests each evening. Festivities begin at 6:30 p.m.
The event includes entertainment throughout the evening, a champagne toast upstairs in the City Hotel parlor, a four-course dinner with wine pairings, tax and gratuity.
To secure tickets, contact Leslie Davis at CCHCCBoard@gmail.com or (209) 559-7723 for the link to purchase tickets online, or for more information regarding the event.
The restaurant and saloon are open to the public five days per week, Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Call 209-396-1981 for reservations. The website is columbiacityhotelrestaurant.com.
