Looking for a wine fest, beer event or other spirited fun? Here’s just a sampling of options. (Like everything else these days, these events are subject to change. Double-check details before you go.)
Sonoma Barrel Tasting Weekend: Friday-March 5, Sonoma wineries. Meet winemakers, learn a bit about the wine making process and buy “futures” of the wines you sample from the barrel at more than 60 wineries. Tickets ($75-$95) are available through Monday via wineroad.com/events/barrel-tasting-weekends.
First Friday Block Party: 3 to 7 p.m. Friday and the first Friday of every month, Donkey & Goat Winery, 1340 Fifth St., Berkeley. Donkey & Goat Winery’s monthly TGIF Block Party offers the many delights and delicious flavors of minimal intervention wines alongside tasty treats from local pop-ups, plus artists and live music. Free admission. bit.ly/ DonkeyGoatParty
Zin City Wine and Beer Social: 6 p.m. March 11, Tin City, 450 Marquita Ave., Paso Robles. Join winemaker Drew Nenow and brewer Patrick Wilson for a four-course meal crafted by chef Rachel Ponce celebrating Paso’s Tin City, ONX wine and Zin City, a Barrelhouse Brewing beer made with zinfandel grapes from the ONX Estate. $110. www.onxwine.com/events
Festival Napa Valley’s “Chopin’s Edges”: 4 p.m. March 12, Temescal Beach House, 6500 Broadway Terrace, Oakland. This genre-bending Festival Napa Valley program explores works related to fantasy through the lens of Liberace’s drawings in a multisensory live music-live drawing experience, followed by a wine reception. $85. festivalnapavalley.org/calendar/audrey-vardanega
Livermore Valley Barrel Tasting Festival: Noon to 4:30 p.m. March 18-19, Livermore Valley wineries. Chat with winemakers and sample wine straight from the barrels at 18 participating wineries — including Caddis, Murrieta’s Well and Retzlaff — during this fun, educational weekend in the Livermore Valley. Tasting fees range from $15-$25 and include at least four wine tastings. Find details at www.lvwine.org
Sonoma International Film Festival: March 22-26, 103 E. Napa St., Suite 2A, Sonoma. Discover the best in independent film from around the world at this annual event that combines film, food, wine and fun. $75 and up. sonomafilmfest.org
Spring Brews Festival: Noon to 4 p.m. March 25, Todos Santos Plaza, 2175 Willow Pass Road, Concord. The Brewing Network’s 12th annual Spring Brews Festival hosts more than 50 breweries and rounds out the festivities with live music, food booths and more. $60-$75. www.thebrewingnetwork.com
IPA 10K Brewfest & Beer Mile: 8 to 11 a.m. April 15, The Barlow, 6770 McKinley St., Sebastopol. Check out this one-of-a-kind celebration that combines running, craft beer and more. IPA 10K and 3K start with a beer and cider toast before taking runners on a scenic loop course north of The Barlow. After the races, browse the Brewfest, which features local craft brewers plus wine, food, bands and exhibitors. Free admission. ipa10k.com
Bay Area Craft Beer Festival: Noon to 4 p.m. April 15, 245 N. Court St., Martinez. Come out to Waterfront Park for a fun afternoon featuring drinks, live music and delicious food. This year’s festival includes more than 40 local breweries and 100 beers to sample, including a homebrew category. $60-$70. bit.ly/ MartinezBeer