If it's January, it must be time for ZAP. That's the tag by which the giant zinfandel tasting -- hosted by the Zinfandel Advocates & Producers organization at Fort Mason in San Francisco every year -- is known.

In recent years, ZAP has also hosted seminars and other zinfandel-focused dinners and gatherings in the Bay Area, leading up to the granddaddy of all wine tastings in a pair of cavernous buildings on San Francisco Bay. More than 300 zinfandel producers will be on hand Saturday to offer samples from the 2004 harvest, ranging from barrel samples to newest releases, as well as a number of library wines.

One of the preview events, "Good Eats & Zinfandel," is taking place tonight from 6 to 9 in Herbst Pavilion at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco. It's a dine-around extravaganza with four dozen zinfandel producers teaming up with restaurants and purveyors to offer fine-tuned food and wine pairings. Tickets are $100 for non-ZAP members and $75 for ZAP members. No tickets will be available at the door for this event.

On Friday night, "An Evening with the Winemakers" takes place at the Mark Hopkins Inter-Continental Hotel on San Francisco's Nob Hill. Start with a taste of the 2004 Heritage Vineyard zinfandel; proceed to a walk-around reception at 6:30 p.m. and then dinner prepared by executive chef Clayton Van Hooijdonk. Following dinner, auctioneers Fritz Hatten and Tom DiNardo will preside over a collection of 25 one-of-a-kind lots including lifestyle packages and rare zinfandels. Tickets are $250 for non-ZAP members and $200 for members. No tickets will be available at the door.

On Saturday, it's the big kahuna -- the 15th annual Zinfandel Advocates & Producers Tasting at the Festival and Herbst Pavilions at Fort Mason Center. Attendees will be able to explore the depth and breadth of zinfandel as producers pour both current releases and barrel samples. From 1:30 to 5 p.m., they can roam the two pavilions tasting zinfandels of their choosing releases and barrel samples. Then, from 1:30 to 5 p.m., they can roam the two pavilions tasting zinfandels.

Tickets are $50 for non-ZAP members and $40 for ZAP members. A limited number of tickets will be available for purchase at the door for $60.

Tickets for ZAP events can be purchased by calling 530-274-4900 or logging online at www.zinfandel.org.