Copia’s singing wine guy Burke Owens has announced he’s taken a new job with Bonny Doone Vineyard in the Santa Cruz mountains. Owens, who has shared his vocal talent as well as his wine expertise at many a Copia event, will be leaving the Copia staff at the end of March but will be back for special events at Copia.

Wine educator and author Karen MacNeil has launched WineTasteTV, her new online channel devoted to wine and food. For a taste, log onto www.winetastetv.com. MacNeil is the author of “The Wine Bible” and chairwoman of the wine studies program Rudd Center at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone.

PlumpJack Winery has releases its 2004 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. Made from estate grapes grown in the Oakville region, this limited production vintage retails for $72 per bottle.

PlumpJack winemaker Anthony Biagi describes the 2004 release as having aromas of Bing cherry, blackberry puree, vanilla beans and menthol followed by flavors of chocolate, soy, raspberries and sage. The wine was aged in 75 percent new French oak cooperage for 20 months.

PlumpJack Winery is at 620 Oakville Cross Road, Napa, 945-1220. The winery is open daily for tastings and retail sales.

Casa Nuestra Winery & Vineyards is offering the two newest releases of their special interest wines, available for tasting and purchase only at the their winery or through their wine club.

The 2006 Dry Chenin Blanc is produced from their St. Helena estate vineyards planted in the early 1960s. Every year, since the first production in 1979, it has earned an impressive collection of medals and accolades. Matt Kramer of the Wine Spectator has written in “New California Wine” this wine is “very likely it is California’s finest and truest chenin blanc.” The 2006 harvest yielded only 196 cases.

The 2005 Tinto Classico was produced from the winery’s 1.6 acre, Oakville vineyard. This hillside vineyard was planted in the early 1940s by an Italian immigrant for a wine for himself, produced in a vineyard style, now almost extinct, called “field blending.” Allen Price, Casa Nuestra’s winemaker calls the vineyard “living history,” because it is one of the few remaining field-blend vineyards. An estimated nine varietals are planted side-by-side, picked, fermented and bottled together, as if it were one varietal. Casa Nuestra has fought to preserve this historic vineyard and produces the wine using gentle pressing techniques and small oak barrels; 324 cases were produced.

Casa Nuestra welcomes visitors, including picnickers and well-behaved canines, to the winery at 3451 Silverado Trail North in St. Helena Monday through Saturday by appointment, for tasting, tours and barrel sampling.

Info, 866/844-WINE or www.casanuestra.com.

The UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology will host a special tasting of 24 vintage 1980 California cabernet sauvignon wines March 22, 5-7:30 p.m., in the Memorial Union on campus.

The wines, all cabernet sauvignon, from 24 different producers, have been stored under identical conditions for over 20 years. Internationally known wine expert and merchant, Darrell Corti will lead the tasting of wines from the Napa, Sonoma, Alexander Valley, Central Coast and Sierra Foothill appellations. The wines were originally assembled as a memento symbolic of 75 years of achievement by UC Davis.

“This is a rare find and we are delighted to share this piece of California history with our alumni, other California winemakers, the press and the wine loving public,” said Andrew Waterhouse, interim chairman of the department. “The crafting of wines has changed during the past 20 years and this is a chance to get a good perspective of winemaking at that time, as well as the ageability of those wines.”

Seating is limited; the cost is $125 per person. Register, conferences.ucdavis.edu/1980swinetasting.

Info, wineserver.ucdavis.edu or (530) 752-0198.

UC Davis is also offering a new Web site, iv.ucdavis.edu, which features up-to-date information about viticulture programs, research projects and a wide variety of other material about grape growing. Subjects are far-ranging and include grapevine breeding and worker safety. Photos and links to publications, people and online resources are available, along with instructional videos which can be downloaded, and a calendar of viticultural seminars and events.

The Napa County Farm Bureau and the Napa County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office present “A Day at the Farm,” an educational fair for children showcasing Napa County agriculture. This year’s event, Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., will feature more than 30 attractions, including a farm animal petting zoo; farm equipment and sheep sheering demonstrations; and “Sharpie,” the giant glassy-winged sharpshooter. Napa County 4-H Club members and Future Farmers of America will also be on site to lend a hand and show their support for the future of Napa County agriculture.

“A Day at the Farm” is geared toward elementary school children grades 3-6, but is open to the general public. Scholarships are available for Napa County elementary school grades 3-6 that are unable to fund transportation to and from the event. Interested parties should contact Cheryl Lauritsen at 224-5403 ext. 18.

Copia hosts a Winemaker dinner with wines from the Michel Schlumberger Wine Estate Wednesday beginning at 6:30 p.m. The format follows that of the popular Taste of Copia lunches, with a wine tasting and a three-course dinner presented in the Meyer Food Forum. The cost is $75 ($65 for Copia members). For reservations, called 259-1600.

Cartlidge & Browne Winery is beginning a series of free events at the winery on the second Saturday of every month, featuring entertainment and specialized foods. Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m the Consorcio Jazz Quartet will play and the culinary accompaniment will be breads, dipping sauces and spreads from Bistro Blends as well nuts from the Red Barn Walnut Company.  The winery’s current releases are 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2004 Merlot, 2005 Pinot Noir, 2004 Syrah, 2005 Zinfandel, 2005 Sauvignon Blanc, 2005 Chardonnay, and 2004 Rabid Red.

Cartlidge & Browne Winery is  at 205 Jim Oswalt Way in American Canyon . Driving directions are at www.cartlidgeandbrowne.com or call 552-5199. The winery is open Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,and Friday-Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

Martini House in St. Helena hosts a Wine Geeks and Mushroom Freaks Dinner March 21. Order the full tasting menu with the wines paired or select a mushroom item or two to try. Connie Green of Wine Forest Mushrooms, purveyor to Martini House, and Chef Todd Humphries and Chef Christopher Litts will be on hand along with retired master sommelier Larry Stone, who will share stories about the historic RubiconWinery once Inglenook and then Niebaum-Coppola.

The four-course menu is $75, $140 with wine pairing. Reservations, 963-2233 ext. 1 or www.martinihouse.com.

Submit items to Sasha Paulsen at spaulsen@napanews.com