CLEVELAND, Ohio – Our weekly wine calendar includes a lot of events, from a Market District wine dinner to West Shore Wine Co. tastings, a fest in Medina and many others from Akron to Mentor and beyond. Have items to submit? Deadline is Thursday. Email mbona@cleveland.com:
FEBRUARY
Tuesday, Feb. 28: Pastina Rustic Italian restaurant will host Seven Brothers Distilling Co. 7-10 p.m. The night will feature Seven Brothers’ spirits made from Ohio products and include tastings, cocktail recipes, prizes and giveaways. Pastina is at 9354 Mentor Ave., Mentor. Details here.
MARCH
Thursday, March 2: Vaccaro’s Trattoria will hold a five-course dinner featuring Jigar Wines of Sonoma County, California. Cost is $60. Call for reservations, 330-666-6158. Vaccaro’s is at 1000 Ghent Road, Akron.
Thursday, March 2: West Shore Wine Co.’s tasting is themed Catch a Cab and features six Cabernet Sauvignons 6-8 p.m. Cost is $10. Call 216-712-6400. It’s at 21629 Center Ridge Road, Rocky River.
Friday, March 3: Heinen’s will hold a tasting of 40 wines perfect for spring. Tickets must be purchased at HeinensSpringFest.Eventbrite.com. Cost is $20 It’s at 900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland.
Friday, March 3: The Olde Wine Cellar will feature wines from Sonoma 5-9 p.m. Cost is $15 and includes six samples, tasting notes and cheese. The Olde Wine Cellar is at 7932 Main St., Olmsted Falls. Call 440-427-1222.
Saturday, March 4: Donzell’s Flower and Garden Center will hold its wine and orchids tasting 1-4 p.m. The garden center will have bottles for sale as well. Donzell’s is at 937 E. Waterloo Road, Akron. (For beer lovers, Hoppin’ Frog Brewery is 2 miles to the east on the same street.)
Saturday, March 4: Cedar Green Wine & Bar will hold its annual closeout wine show 7:30-10 p.m. It’s at 2179 S. Green Road, University Heights. Cost is $12.80. Call 216-381-5350.
Saturday, March 4: Heinen’s will hold the opening round of its March Merlot Madness Final Four tasting 1-4 p.m. Taste Merlots from California and the West Coast. Cost: $1 per sample. It’s at all Heinen’s locations.
About the March Madness tastings
Saturday, March 4: West Shore Wine Co.’s tasting is themed Catch a Cab and features six Cabernet Sauvignons 3-6 p.m. Cost is $10. Call 216-712-6400. It’s at 21629 Center Ridge Road, Rocky River.
Saturday, March 4: The Olde Wine Cellar will feature wines from Sonoma 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Cost is $15 and includes six samples, tasting notes and cheese. The Olde Wine Cellar is at 7932 Main St., Olmsted Falls. Call 440-427-1222.
Tuesday, March 7: Tartine Bistro will hold a Southern France wine dinner with Charlie Master of Le Charmel Winery. Cocktails are at 6 p.m. Dinner is at 7 p.m. Cost is $75 plus tax and tip. The restaurant is at 19110 Detroit Rd, Rocky River. Wine lineup:
* 2015 Mont Gravet Cote de Gascogne.
* 2014 Le Charmel Muscadet.
* 2015 Le Charmel Rose.
* 2014 Le Charmel Pinot Noir.
* 2013 Le Charmel Rhone Blend.
Friday, March 10: Table 45 will hold a Pacific Northwest Dinner featuring wine from Cutting Edge Selections. Cost is $90 plus tax and tip. Table 45 is in the InterContinental Hotel, 9801 Carnegie Ave., Cleveland. Wines:
* Four Graces Pinot Blanc, Dundee Hills, Oregon.
* Lemelson Dry Riesling, Yamhill, Oregon.
* Saint Innocent, Freedom Hill Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon.
* L’Ecole No. 41 Estate Merlot, Walla Walla, Washington.
* Woodward Canyon, Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla, Washington.
* Andrew Will Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley, Washington.
Friday, March 10: Heinen’s will hold A Taste of Spring featuring 15 wines, light apps and cheese 6-8 p.m. It’s at Brecksville. Call 440-740-0535.
Friday, March 10: Heinen’s is partnering with Cleveland Play House for a pre-show sparkling-wine tasting 5-8 p.m. Sip half a dozen sparklers prior to “How I Learned to Drive.” Cost is $10. It’s at 900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland.
Friday, March 10: Fleming’s will hold a Southern Hemisphere wine dinner at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $99. Details to be announced. Fleming’s is at 4000 Medina Road, Akron.
Saturday, March 11: Heinen’s will hold the opening round of its March Merlot Madness Final Four tasting 1-4 p.m. Taste Merlots from France and South America. Cost: $1 per sample. It’s at all Heinen’s locations.
Saturday, March 11: Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad will hold a Grape Escape Wine-Tasting ride. Theme is celebrity wines. Sample five wines, paired with chef-prepared appetizers. Commemorative glass included. It’s 7-9 p.m. at Akron Northside station. Tickets start at $60.
Tuesday, March 14: H2 Huth & Harris Wine Merchants is holding a tasting featuring great wines with cool labels. Each of six wines from Tramonte & Sons will be paired with appetizers. Cost is $40. Reservations are required and limited; call 330-815-4959. H2 is at 221 S. Court St., Medina.
Wednesday, March 15: Chez Francois will hold a California Zinfandel tasting featuring Robert Biale Vineyards. Wines will be paired with courses. Cost is $85 plus tax and tip. Chez Francois is at 555 Main St., Vermilion. Lineup:
* Zinfandel Black Chicken, Biale, Yountville Napa Valley, 2014.
* Zinfandel Old Kraft, Biale, St. Helena, Napa Valley, 2015.
* Zinfandel Monte Rosso, Biale, Sonoma Valley, 2014.
* Zinfandel Rockpile Vineyard, Biale, Sonoma County, 2015.
* Petite Sirah Thomann Station, Napa Valley, 2014.
* Proprietory Red Basic Black, Biale, Sonoma County, 2014.
* Petite Syrah Port, Biale, Napa Valley, 2013.
Thursday, March 16: Market District Portage Crossing will hold a Pasqua wine dinner 6-8 p.m. The Italian wines will be paired with food. Cost is $35. It’s at 2687 State Road, Cuyahoga Falls. Call 330-849-2467.
Saturday-Sunday, March 18-19: The level-2 Wine and Spirits Education Trust certification program will be available. The WSET program is geared for beginners and professional students alike. It’s 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at Parker’s Downtown, at East 9th Street and Euclid Avenue, Cleveland. Cost for level 2 is $725. Call 855-513-9738.
Saturday, March 18: Heinen’s will hold a March Merlot Madness Final Four tasting. Semifinals are California vs. West Coast and France vs. South America. It’s 1-4 p.m. Cost: $1 per sample. It’s at all Heinen’s locations.
Thursday, March 23: Kitchen 216 will have a chocolate and wine event. Joel Fink, owner of Fantasy Candies in Lyndhurst, will lead the tastings. It’s 6-8 p.m. Four wines will be paired with gourmet chocolate. You’ll learn why they pair well as well as the history of chocolate. Cost is $40. Kitchen 216 is at 2800 Euclid Ave., No. 100, Cleveland.
Wednesday, March 23: Chez Francois will hold a European wine dinner at 6:45 p.m. Wines will be paired with courses. Rebecca Rhode of Frederick Wildman & Sons will co-host. Cost is $110 plus tax and tip. Chez Francois is at 555 Main St., Vermilion. Lineup:
* Spumante Rose Dolce, Cavicchioli 1928, Emilia-Romagna, Italy, NV.
* Gruner Veltliner Grooner, Monika Caha Selections, Kremstal, Austria.
* 2015 Rioja Blanco, El Coto, Rioja, Spain, 2015.
* Sancerre Les Caillottes, Pascal Jolivet, Loire Valley, France, 2015.
* Rioja Reserva, Coto de Imaz, Rioja, Spain, 2011.
* Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripassa, Santi, Veneto, Italy, 2013.
* Primitivo Artas, Castello Monaci, Salice Salento, Italy, 2012.
* Cotes-du-Rhone, Vidal- Fleury, Southern Rhone Valley, France, 2013.
* Douro Estate Red, Churchill Douro Valley, Portugal, 2013.
* Brunello di Montalcino, Fattoria dei Barbi, Tuscany, Italy, 2011.
* Porto 10 Year Tawny, Churchill’s, Douro Valley, Portugal, NV.
Friday, March 24: Western Reserve School of Cooking will hold Date Night: Spanish Food and Wine 6-9 p.m. Cost is $200. Recipes are from the book “Curate” by chef Katie Button, owner of the Asheville, North Carolina, restaurant of the same name. It’s at Kitchen 216, 2800 Euclid Ave., No. 100, Cleveland.
Saturday, March 25: Heinen’s will hold a March Merlot Madness Final Four tasting. Finals pit the California-West Coast winner against the France-South America winner from the previous week. It’s 1-4 p.m. Cost: $1 per sample. It’s at all Heinen’s locations.
APRIL
Saturday, April 8: Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad will hold a Grape Escape Wine-Tasting ride. Theme is Ohio wines. Sample five wines, paired with chef-prepared appetizers. Commemorative glass included. It’s 7-9 p.m. at Rockside station. Tickets start at $60.
MAY
Thursday, May 4: For those who love large-scale tastings and don’t mind a drive, the 15th Pittsburgh Wine Festival is being held in Heinz Field, Art Rooney Drive, Pittsburgh. VIP tasting is 5-7 p.m. ($250). Grand tasting is 7-9 p.m. ($125). Two-for-one tickets are available.
Friday-Saturday, May 5-6: Wine ‘n Bloom is scheduled at 15 to 17 Northeast Ohio wineries. Hit the Vines & Wines Wine Trail to sample wines, enjoy appetizers and collect flower-themed items at participating wineries. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. both days. Tickets are $45 ($60, couple). Go to ohio.org/events/wine-n-bloom for details.
Saturday, May 6: Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad will hold a Grape Escape Wine-Tasting ride. Theme is Spanish wines. Sample five wines, paired with chef-prepared appetizers. Commemorative glass included. Assigned seating. It’s 7-9 p.m. at Akron Northside station. Tickets start at $60.
Friday-Saturday, May 12-13: Wine ‘n Bloom is scheduled at 15 to 17 Northeast Ohio wineries. Hit the Vines & Wines Wine Trail to sample wines, enjoy appetizers and collect flower-themed items at participating wineries. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. both days. Tickets are $45 ($60, couple). Go to ohio.org/events/wine-n-bloom for details.
Friday, May 19: Details are in the works for Grapes & Ale, the annual fundraiser for Our Lady of the Wayside at Progressive Field in downtown Cleveland. Dozens of wines and beers will be available for sampling.
JUNE
Saturday, June 3: Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad will hold a Grape Escape Wine-Tasting ride. Theme is summer wines. Sample five wines, paired with chef-prepared appetizers. Commemorative glass included. Assigned seating. It’s 7:30-9 p.m. at Rockside station. Tickets start at $60.
Saturday, June 24: Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad will hold a Grape Escape Wine-Tasting Train ride. Theme is Napa Valley, California, wines. Sample five wines, paired with chef-prepared appetizers. Commemorative glass included. Assigned seating. It’s 7:30-9 p.m. at Akron Northside station. Tickets start at $60.
JULY
Saturday, July 15: Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad will hold a Grape Escape Wine-Tasting ride. Theme is Italian wines. Sample five wines, paired with chef-prepared appetizers. Commemorative glass included. Assigned seating. It’s 7:30-9 p.m. at Rockside station. Tickets start at $60.
Friday, July 21: The first of the two-day rain-or-shine Uncorked Medina Wine Festival is 3-9 p.m. Tickets are $25 (advance), $30 (at the door), $10 (designated driver) and $100 (twilight dinner). The event will include wine and craft beers, food, music and culinary demonstrations. The twilight dinner has limited seatings Friday. Proceeds benefit Friends of Medina County Parks. It’s at Buffalo Creek Retreat, 8708 Hubbard Valley Road, Seville.
Saturday, July 22: The second of the two-day rain-or-shine Uncorked Medina Wine Festival is 1-9 p.m. Tickets are $25 (advance), $30 (at the door), $10 (designated driver). The event will include wine and craft beers, food, music and culinary demonstrations. It’s at Buffalo Creek Retreat, 8708 Hubbard Valley Road, Seville.
AUGUST
Friday-Saturday, Aug. 4-5: Vintage Ohio is 1-10 p.m. Sample wines from Ohio wineries. Wines range from Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc and Riesling to fruit wines made from fresh strawberries, blackberries, peaches and raspberries. Includes food, cooking-school demonstrations, three stages of live music, artisans, shopping and Friday fireworks. It’s at Lake Metroparks Farmpark, 8800 Euclid Chardon Road, Kirtland.
Saturday, Aug. 5: Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad will hold a Grape Escape Wine-Tasting ride. Theme is Australian wines. Sample five wines, paired with chef-prepared appetizers. Commemorative glass included. Assigned seating. It’s 7:30-9 p.m. at Rockside station. Tickets start at $60.
Our editors found this article on this site using Google and regenerated it for our readers.
