Stave Wine Lounge, the downtown Napa automated wine tasting venue, celebrates its first anniversary with a party March 9, 6-9 p.m. Stave will be serving free samples of its new savory Wine Bites menu at the party.

The Wine Bites menu includes a caviar tasting, cheese plate, charcuterie, mixed olives and spiced nuts. These savory items expand the offerings beyond desserts.  Cheeses and charcuterie are chosen to complement the wine lineup and will vary periodically. The caviar tasting consists of three types of domestic caviar, crème fraiche and toast points. 

Stave Wine Lounge is at 1149 First St., on the corner of First and Coombs in Napa. It is open Tuesday through Saturday 3-10 p.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m. Visit Stave on the Web at  www.stavewinelounge.com. Info, 259-5411.

The Napa Valley College Viticulture and Winery Technology Foundation board of directors is looking for two community representatives. The board consists of seven people, two tenured VWT faculty members, three from the college board of trustees and the two community members. Napa Valley College is applying for a bond for the Napa Valley Vintners Teaching Winery on the campus, and the foundation will be the entity that administers winery bond business matters.

For information, contact Dr. Stephen Krebs at 253-3259, or e-mail skrebs@napavalley.edu.

The Viticulture and Winery Technology department is also looking for two new employees, an assistant in the teaching winery and an assistant in the student vineyard.

Applicants can now obtain material at www.napavalley.edu, using the “jobs” and “classified” links to find application forms and job descriptions. The material also can be picked up at the college human resources office (room 210-K), or have it sent to you by calling Jobline at 259-8020 and leaving a message, or e-mailing jobline@napavalley.edu.

 Both jobs are 20 hours per week, 10 months per year, with health and retirement benefits.

Luna Vineyards is introducing a new tasting program, the Reserve Wine & Food Experience, which will pair limited production wines with artisan cheese, paté or a chocolate truffle.

The program will be offered at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, starting this weekend. Cost is $55 per person and advanced reservations are required. For information, call 255-5862, ext. 22.

Croatia-born Miljenko “Mike” Grgich believes everyone should enjoy the luck of the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. So, every customer at Grgich Hills Estate winery on March 17 will get the chance to draw a shamrock that could allow them to win a free tasting, an official Mike Grgich bobblehead or another great prize. Even if they don’t draw one of these prizes, everyone gets a cabernet-filled chocolate at the end of their tasting.

This St. Patrick’s Day celebration is included in the usual tasting fee of $10 per person, which includes a souvenir Grgich Hills 30th Anniversary glass. The winery at 1829 St. Helena Highway in Rutherford is open 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Info, www.grgich.com

Makers of Little Pengiun wine in Australia are encouraging fans to adopt a real-life Little Penguin.

 Its “Adopt A Penguin” program aims to preserve the charming, real-life Little Penguins of Phillip Island in Southeastern Australia. Fully-grown at 13 inches tall, the Little Penguins of Phillip Island are the smallest breed of penguin in the world and are known for their big personality and carefree attitude.

Proceeds from each adoption go to the Penguin Foundation in Australia and are used to build Little Penguin nesting boxes. Participants receive an adoption certificate, thank you note and a photo of your new addition, membership in the Penguin Foundation, e-newsletter updates on the progress of the penguin colony and Penguin Foundation projects and an invitation to the Penguin Foundation Members’ Open Day, where guests can take a special behind-the-scenes tour of the world famous Penguin Parade at Phillip Island.

To help generate awareness of the “Adopt A Penguin” program, the Little Penguin winemakers continue the “Year of the Penguin” contest. Consumers can enter online at www.thelittlepenguin.com/adopt  to try to win one of 365 Little Penguin adoptions. At the end of the contest, one proud parent will receive the Ultimate Penguin Party in their hometown. The “Year of the Penguin” contest ends June 30.

 Tom and Laurie Shelton of Joseph Phelps Vineyards are honorary chairs for Ann Arbor Art Center’s 25th Winefest, which will feature Phelps’ 2004 Fogdog Pinot Noir, 2005 Fogdog Chardonnay and the 2001 syrah. WineFest, the nation’s oldest wine auction outside California, attracts more than 600 wine and food enthusiasts from across the country. It takes place May 5. Info, (734) 994-8004 or visit www.annarborartcenter.org.

Winemaker Charlie Tsegeletos of Cline Cellars hosts a Spring Winemaker Dinner March 16, 7-10 p.m. The evening begins with appetizers on the Flagstone patio at the Adobe Mission, and goes onto tour the vineyards and winery before enjoying a three-course feast paired with Cline’s wines. The cost is $125 per person ($100 for Wine Club Members).

Reservations are required. Call 940-4025 or e-mail specialevents@clinecellars.com.

 Robert Craig Winery will celebrate the remodeling of its Napa tasting room with an open house March 10, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The facility was under three feet of water during the 2005 New Year’s Eve flood and, although it remained open during the past year, the renovation has been a key goal, according to Rachel Miller, director of wine club and retail sales.

The refurbished tasting room reflects the winery’s emphasis on cabernets from Napa Valley mountains and hillsides. The event will showcase the new release of 2004 Affinity, Robert Craig’s flagship Bordeaux-style cabernet sauvignon blend. Wine and food pairings, music, a barrel tasting of 2005 Affinity and older vintages will be featured. Tickets are $10 a person credited toward purchase (free for Cabernet Club members).

A map and directions to the tasting room at 880 Vallejo St. can be found at www.robertcraigwine.com or by calling 252-2250, ext. 1, Monday through Saturday.

Barrel tasting in Sonoma Country has become so popular, it now has its own month. The first annual barrel tasting month is this March when wineries will offer a variety of opportunities for visitors including winemaker dinners, exclusive tours, live music and other special events. 

Barrel tasting is a growing trend that gives visitors a chance to experience young, unfinished wines before they’re released to the general public. Those willing to gamble on the outcome can buy bottles that may become difficult to find later and also collect vintages from small family wineries as well as large producers.

During March, wineries will offer samples of future releases. For many, tasting the raw, unfinished wine compared to the final product offers an education in distinguishing different characteristics of wine.

For the winemaker, it’s an occasion to provide a sneak preview and interest wine lovers in what’s to come.

During Barrel Tasting Month, some facilities will offer wines that will stay in the barrel for an additional year or more, while others will have wines that are just a few weeks from bottling.

Visitors can get information from the Sonoma County Barrel Tasting Web site, www.scbarreltasting.com, which includes a comprehensive calendar and links to wineries and events.

 Submit items for Wine Notes to Sasha Paulsen, spaulsen@napanews.com