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C. Donatiello to pair wines, local cheeses

C. Donatiello Winery is launching a new wine-and-cheese pairing starting June 5 that will match four local cheeses with four single-vineyard estate chardonnays and pinot noirs.

Each seasonal cheese plate will feature a Sonoma County creamery and include locally produced condiments and fresh cuttings from the winery's organic aroma garden.

For the spring, the featured creamery is Bellwether Farms in Petaluma. The cheese pairing includes Bellwether's Crescenza, a soft, cow's-milk cheese; Carmody, an aged, semi-firm cow's-milk cheese; San Andreas, a raw sheep's-milk cheese; and Pepato, a raw, aged sheep's-milk cheese dotted with peppercorns.

The wines in the current pairing include the 2008 809 Clone Chardonnay, the 2007 Orsi Chardonnay, the 2007 Russian River Pinot Noir and the 2008 Floodgate Block 15 Pinot Noir.

Guests can enjoy the pairing on a patio overlooking the vineyards or in a private room overlooking the redwood grove and shade garden.

All of the items featured in the pairing are available for purchase in the tasting room. The wine and cheese pairing costs $20. Reservations are required 24 hours in advance for groups of four or more.

C. Donatiello's tasting room is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, at 4035 Westside Road, Healdsburg. 431-4442.

Canvas Ranch CSA program set to begin

Canvas Ranch, a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm, is welcoming new subscribers to its delivery program, which starts up the week of June 7.

In addition to vegetables, Canvas Ranch offers add-ons such as fruit, free-range eggs, organic bread, organic butter, flowers, artisan cheeses, meat and chicken humanely raised from local farms.

The CSA bags are delivered to central drop-off points in Mill Valley, Corte Madera, San Rafael, Fairfax, Novato and Petaluma. The cost is $24 a week for a four-week trial, with discounts for full- or half-season participations.

In the spring, the bags include greens and cool-season vegetables. As summer heats up, there will be beans, corn, squash and more than 20 varieties of dry-farmed heirloom tomatoes.

For more information, go to canvasranch.com.

It's a chocoholics' dream come true

Calling all chocolate aficionados and addicts — you know who you are. Taste and experience more than 25 artisan chocolates from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 6 at the first-ever Napa Luxury Chocolate Salon at the Yountville Community Center's Community Hall.

Participants include chocolatiers, confectioners, wineries and other culinary artisans: Saratoga Chocolates, Sterling Confections, The Tea Room chocolates, TCHO, Guittard Chocolate Company, Amano Artisan Chocolate, Dove Chocolate Discoveries, Gateau et Ganache, Punk Dog Wines and Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate Vodka and Chocolate Liqueur.

Salon highlights include chocolate tastings, chef and author talks and wine tasting. The salon is hosted by TasteTV's Chocolate Television program.

Tickets are $17.95, $10 kids 6 to 12. To reserve, go to napachocolatesalon.com. The community center is located at 6516 Washington St. in Yountville.

C CASA taqueria joins Oxbow Market

C CASA, an innovative taqueria, has opened its doors at the Oxbow Public Market in Napa, offering unique tacos, housemade white corn tortillas and chips, chile-crusted rostisserie meats, fresh salsas and nutritious salads.

Owner Catherine Bergen has hired the talented Jacinto brothers to run the kitchen. Erasto and Pablo Jacinto have cooked in some of the finest kitchens in Napa Valley, including Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen.

C CASA is open from 11 a.m. to 8p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. It is located at 610 First St. in Napa. 722-7700. myccasa.com.

Got a hankering to milk a cow?

McClelland's Dairy in Petaluma is offering springtime farm tours at 1p.m. June 12 and 19 at the historic family ranch.

You can pet baby calves, watch the cows being milked and even try your hand at milking a cow, with a little help from farmer George McClelland.

The dairy milks 800 grass-fed cows and sells their milk to Clover-Stornetta. It also makes its own all-natural, artisanal butter in small batches.

The tours cost $10 for those age 13 and over; $7 for kids 4 to 12; free for kids 3 and under. McClelland Dairy is located at 6475 Bodega Ave. To reserve, go to mcclellandsdairy.com.

35 wineries join forces for Taste weekend

Taste your way through Alexander Valley on June 4 through 6. The annual wine and food event, called Taste Alexander Valley and hosted by Alexander Valley Winegrowers, encourages guests to roam through the valley, with more than 35 wineries hosting parties on June5 and 6. The festivities are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, with wineries featuring wine, food, entertainment and discounts. Tickets are $65 and you can purchase them at www.alexandervalley.org. For more information, call (888) 289-4637.

Gloria Ferrer hosts Tapas on the Terrace

You don't have to travel to Spain to embrace its culture. Simply partake in Tapas on the Terrace at Sonoma's Gloria Ferrer on June 4. Listen to Spanish flamenco music and sample tapas paired with Gloria Ferrer's sparkling and still wines. The event is 5:30 to 8 p.m. and tickets are $35. To reserve a spot, call 933-1999. The winery is at 23555 Carneros Highway (Hwy. 121), Sonoma.

Zazu's cooking up brunch on weekends

Zazu restaurant in Santa Rosa is now open for brunch from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

The brunch menu includes sweet entrees such as Cornmeal Waffles with Strawberries and Dutch Baby Pancakes, along with savory selections such as Johnny's Corned Beef Hash and a Fried Green Tomato BLT “Benedict.”

A selection of hot and cold beverages and side dishes such as Black Pig Bacon and Crispy Spuds round out the menu.

The restaurant has also launched a Monday Night Farm Supper, featuring three courses for $39 before beverages, tax and tip.

For menu information or reservations, call 523-4814 or go to zazurestaurant.com. Zazu is located at 3535 Guerneville Road, Santa Rosa.

Compiled by Staff Writers Diane Peterson, who can be reached at 521-5287 or diane.peterson@pressdemocrat.com, and Peg Melnik, who can be reached at peg.melnik@ pressdemocrat.com.