WINDSOR
Celebrating roots of Russian River AVA: As part of the 18th annual Grape to Glass celebration, there will be a 30th anniversary party for the Russian River Valley American Viticultural Areafrom 4 to 9 p.m. Aug. 17 at Richard's Grove and Saralee's Vineyard in Windsor.
The theme of the party is "Back to Our Roots," with several members of the Russian River Valley Winegrowers in attendance and more than 50 wineries from the Russian River region represented.
The walk-around tasting event also features small bites from local chefs and a barbecue feast with all the fixings. The Vineyard Academy Culinary Arts Department at Windsor High will make one of the largest apple pies ever, baked at Costeaux French Bakery and delivered by the local fire department.
Silent and live auctions and music by Urban Oasis round out the evening. Tickets are $85 and may be purchased at rrvw.org./event-grape-to-glass.
FORESTVILLE
Farmhouse Inn voted among top U.S. hotels: Readers of Travel + Leisure magazine have ranked the Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant in Forestville as No. 3 among the best inns in the U.S. and No. 38 among the best hotels in the world.
The inn is owned by sibling team Joe and Catherine Bartolomei, fifth-generation Sonomans who offer a relaxing spa, farm-to-table breakfasts and a Michelin-starred restaurant with an award-winning wine list culled by a master sommelier.
This was the first year that the Farmhouse Inn achieved a rating in the reader survey, which took place from Dec. 1, 2012 to April 1, 2013. The survey rated hotels and inns on rooms, location, service, restaurants/food and value.
"Our guests can see and feel the love that has gone into our boutique inn," said Catherine Bartolomei. "The recent accolades from Travel + Leisure are just more evidence that we're doing something quite special."
The inn is at 7871 River Road. Details: farmhouseinn.com.
SEBASTOPOL
Zazu has new name, new home at Barlow: Zazu restaurant owners Duskie Estes and John Stewart have moved from their former home in a west Santa Rosa roadhouse to The Barlow in Sebastopol, where they are opening the new Zazu Kitchen + Farm today.
In their new home, the couple will work side by side in a bigger kitchen to produce Zazu's farm-to-table plates as well as Stewart's cured meats and gelato.
The new restaurant features a full bar offering artisan cocktails created by mixologist Michael Cecconi, along with signature snacks such as the Black Pig Bacon Caramel Corn.
"At our new bigger kitchen, you can watch John cure Black Pig Meat Co.'s bacon and salumi, or sip cocktails featuring infusions from our own farm," Estes said.
As an added bonus, diners can now pick some of their own organic ingredients from the restaurant's garden beds before dinner.
Zazu Kitchen + Farm, located at 6770 McKinley St., is open Wednesday and Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Sunday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Monday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Closed Tuesday. 523-4814, zazurestaurant.com.
The Barlow, a shiny new complex located on the site of an old apple cannery just east of downtown, includes a wide range of artisan food producers, from a craft distiller and coffee roaster to a baker, butcher and ice-cream maker. Winery tasting rooms include Kosta Browne, La Follette and MacPhail Family Wines. Details: thebarlow.net.
ST. HELENA
Heritage Fire returns to Napa Valley on Sunday: Cochon 555's Heritage Fire event returns to the Napa Valley at 4 p.m. Sunday with the live-fire cooking of all kinds of heritage-breed animals at the Charles Krug Winery, 2800 Main St., in St. Helena.
As part of the Cochon U.S. Tour, the event includes 25 chefs and butchers demonstrating live fire and other cooking technique with 2,000 pounds of meat, from pigs and lamb to goat and game birds.
There will also be craft beers and wines served from more than 20 wineries. Tickets are $125. For reservations and updates, go to cochon555.com.
FORT BRAGG
Make a weekend of it at annual Winesong: Tickets are on sale for the 29th annual Winesong, a two-day benefit for the Mendocino Coast Hospital that takes place Sept. 6 and 7 in various Mendocino Coast venues.
The weekend kicks off from 1 to 4 p.m. Sept. 6 with an Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Celebration hosted by the Little River Inn in Little River.
A Wine & Food Tasting in the Mendocino Coast Botanical gardens takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 7, featuring wine, food and live music. Following the tasting, the weekend culiminates with a silent and live auction from 2 to 5 p.m., with Bay Area food personality Narsai David as the master of ceremonies, and a luncheon prepared by celebrity chef Bradley Ogden with help from Karin's Catering.
General admission tickets to the wine and food tasting plus festival seating at the auction are $100. VIP tickets including reserved seating at the auction, luncheon and wine and food tasting are $200. Admission to the Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Celebration is $50. To reserve, go to winesong.org.
SONOMA COAST
Timber Cove Inn picks new executive chef: The historic Timber Cove Inn has named William Oliver executive chef of Alexander's restaurant and of all food experiences at the inn.
Oliver has worked at a series of wineries in Sonoma and Napa counties, including Folie a Deux, Clos Pegase, Mayo Family Winery and Arista. He has also worked at Cook St. Helena and the Farmhouse Inn in Forestville.
Oliver has already retooled the restaurant menu, adding items such as an Asian Pear Salad with Feta Cheese and Candied Pecans ($10); Creole Shrimp with Grilled Bread ($11); Sous Vide Lamb Sirloin ($39); and Sonoma Coast Cioppino ($25).
Located cliffiside on the rugged Sonoma Coast, Timber Cove Inn offers 50 guest rooms. The restaurant features indoor and outdoor ocean-view dining.
For more information, go to timbercoveinn.com or call 847-3231.
Compiled by Staff Writer Diane Peterson, who can be reached at 521-5287 or diane.peterson@pressdemocrat.com, and Peg Melnik, who can be reached at 521-5310 or peg.melnik@ pressdemocrat.com.
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