Hip Sips
Breathtaking views, wine tasting and sizzling jazz! Rodney Strong Vineyards presents its 18th annual “Jazz in the Vineyard” summer concert series with an impressive array of musicians more than six separate weekend dates. Surrounded by acres of beautiful vineyards, guests at Rodney Strong Vineyards are treated to some of the top acts in contemporary jazz, as well as the occasional crossover artist. Concerts are performed on the Green providing an intimate venue experience along with picnicking and wine tasting. This year’s schedule is highlighted by appearances from Bay Area favorite Boz Scaggs, five-time Grammy Award winner Michael McDonald, chart-topping trumpeter Chris Botti and many others. Performing on Saturday, July 5th is contemporary jazz supergroup Fourplay. Tickets begin at $45 per person. For more details, call (949) 360-7800 or visit www.rodneystrong.com. FYI: For an additional $25, upgrade to a VIP ticket which includes a reserved seat in front of the stage and a glass of Rodney Strong Vineyards’ wine. 
Hot Spot
Spend more time enjoying wine and less time traveling between tastings by experiencing several hand-selected wineries in one location! During the entire weekend of July 12th, one of Wine Country’s friendliest and most informative tasting rooms, Wineries of Napa Valley, is featuring their newest wines and pairing them with tempting summertime appetizers. Situated in the heart of downtown Napa, this worthy side-street tasting room boasts a comfortable outdoor patio, indoor seating, free concierge service and state-of-the-art Wi-Fi access. Wineries of Napa Valley is next to the Visitors Center in the Napa Town Center. Cost is only $10 per person. Call 1-800-328-7815 or go to the website at www.napavintages.com to learn more.
Blues and ‘Q
Sierra Knolls is a small family-owned and operated vineyard and winery located in the Sierra Foothills, between Auburn and Grass Valley. This dynamic Gold Country winery specializes in producing uncommonly small lots of exceptional wines with an obsession of detail throughout the entire winemaking process. Every step is attended to by owners, John and Linda Chase and Steve and Brenda Taylor. Wines are aged in French and American oak barrels in the facility’s 50 foot barrel cave and, for those who appreciate green farming practices, the winery is operated using 100 percent solar power. Beginning with the first vintage in 1999, Sierra Knolls has been recognized for wines of consistently high quality, robust fruit, big noses and long satisfying finishes. Besides the excellent wines, the winery rewards visitors with beautiful views, vineyards, barrel cave and friendly tasting staff. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy on the patios or picnic areas while enjoying the magnificent view of the valley, coastal range and ponds. A good time to take a look at this family winery is Saturday, July 5th, when Sierra Knolls hosts its ultra-popular summer barbecue and blues extravaganza. Cost is only $25 per person, which includes food and wine, or $15 if you bring your own picnic. Attendance is limited, so call (530) 268-9225 or visit www.sierraknollswinery.com to purchase your tickets.
Island Hopping
Moove and groove between Valley of the Moon Winery and Kenwood Vineyards to put you into a Caribbean Island spirit. During the weekend of July 12th, both wineries will be featuring live classic Latin and Afro/Cuban music and theme-appropriate decor. This Island Hopping event also showcases ethnic dishes paired with wines from these two Sonoma Valley “sister” wineries. Cost is only $20 per person. To participate, simply go to the wineries. For details, visit or call  www.ValleyOfTheMoonWinery.com or (707) 939-44510; www.KenwoodVineyards.com or  (707) 833-5891.
Winery Buzz
If demand was ever more vocal for the next generation of hot California winemakers, Silenus Vintners, fashionably answers the call. From the ashes of the former Koves-Newlan winery emerges the phoenix, Silenus Vintners, who progressively blends trend-setting cool with high-society chic. Taking its cue from the latest trend of housing multiple small-lot producers under one roof, Silenus Vintners recently opened their showroom quality tasting lounge with no less than twelve stellar winemakers, including major up-and-comers as: Ahnfeldt, Juslyn, Renard, and Robert Williamson, to name just a few. In every sense of the word, Silenus Vintners has raised the bar of aspirational wine tasting, connecting savvy consumers with cult-like winemakers in a ever-so hip wine tasting environment. Large picture windows from floor to ceiling frame the enchanting views of vineyards and production facilities, and several cozy studio chairs (tastefully removed from the hordes) invite you to visit with friends, sip wine and relax by the open fireplace. A 60" flat panel above the mantelpiece provides high-definition programming to watch while enjoying your wines! Because they are a collective of small-lot winemakers, the wines of Silenus Vintners tend to go quickly, and can often be difficult to find, so I strongly recommend signing up with their wine club. It’s easy to find Silenus Vintners. From Napa on Highway 29, turn left onto Oak Knoll Avenue. Turn right on Solano Avenue. Drive one mile until you see the Silenus Vintners’ sign. For more information, call (707) 299-3930 or visit them online at www.silenusvintners.com.    
Upcoming
“Grape To Glass” is an unforgettable journey through the heart of Sonoma County – the Russian River Valley. Take this opportunity to experience an amazing list of unique and educational wine tours and panel discussions, go behind-the-scenes through beautiful vineyards and wineries and meet some of the Russian River Valley’s most respected growers and winemakers. Commencing August 15th through the 17th, Grape To Glass includes cinema screenings, balloon rides, spa treatments, kayaking on the river, barbecue and a whole lot more. Complete weekend packages begin at $450 per person, individual events start at $35. Tickets just went on sale and will sell out. To purchase, go to www.rrvw.org  or call (707) 521-2535.