Some Weekend Wine Tastings To Check Out

There's a lot of wine being tasted this weekend in LA, and I wanted to highlight some good options for you if you want to take advantage of the warming temperatures and sample some wines. It's so much more fun than going to a movie, so round up some friends and head on out to one of the following. And treat your designated driver to dinner afterwards!

Things kick off tonight, March 9, at Colorado Wine Company in Eagle Rock with their wine and cheese tasting that runs from 5:30-8:30. For $15 a person, you get five generous pours as well as a selection of cheeses from Auntie Em's marketplace. You need to RSVP for this event by contacting them at info@cowineco.com or by calling (323) 478-1985. On pour are: the 2005 Alouette Middleridge Ranch Vineyard Chardonnay, an unoaked beauty from Mendocino; the NV Ballet of Angels White from Connecticut; the Morgan Cotes du Crow from Monterey; Etims Old Vines Grenache from Spain; and the 2005 Santa Cruz Grenache. If you are tied up on Friday, they also have a tasting (no RSVP required) on Sunday from 1-4. They haven't posted this weeks selections yet, but you can check back on Saturday.

Mission Wine's Saturday Tasting in South Pasadena from 12-5 on Saturday is featuring three red blends along with two luscious whites. They are sampling the following 5 wines: 2005 Apremont Vieilles Vignes, a citrusy white from the Savoie; 2005 Blackjack Chardonnay "21"; 2005 Ludovicus, a red blend from Spain; 2005 Malm Cellars Cross Blend, another red blend; and the 2004 Aphillanthes Trois Cepages. As always, Mission Wine's tasting is $10 for 5 generous pours, or just $5 with the purchase of any bottle of wine from their diverse, and carefully selected, stock. Things will be hopping by 2 pm, and this tasting is always friendly, informal, and lively.

In LA the Wine Hotel, one of Los Angeles premier wine storage facilities, is holding their weekly Saturday casual tasting from 4-6. For $20 sample 5 wines and hors d'oeuvres. Reservations are a must for this--don't just show up, they always sell out--but it's a great venue, and while you're there you can check out their roster of wine classes, too. Call 323-937-9463 for reservations and further information.


Saturday evening, if you are still upright, Mel and Rose's Wine Room is kicking off a three-tastings series on Italian wines between 4 and 7 pm. They begin with Northern Italian wines, and if you attend all three in the series, and have your "passport" stamped, you receive a free bottle of Italian wine at the final tasting. It's $12, and no reservation is required.

Enjoy, and drive safely!