Celebrate the 2008 summer solstice with Raymond Vineyards from 4:30 to 7 p.m., Saturday, at their Rutherford winery.

At the newly renovated tasting room they’ll be pouring samples of the recently released Raymond Small Lot series of wines, made in limited supply and available only at the winery. Featured wines will be the 2007 Rosé of Merlot, 2007 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay, 2005 Petite Sirah and 2005 Meritage Red Wine, paired with epicurean bites.

For reservations, e-mail hospitality@raymondvineyards.com or call (800) 525-2659.

Fourth of July celebration at Martini

For the past 12 years the Louis M. Martini family has been opening their doors to friends and family every July 4 for an evening of festivities, wine tasting, food and fireworks.

Martini wines will be poured with an all-American family-style dinner, accompanied by live music and activities for children in the winery garden, followed by fireworks.

Doors open at 6:45 p.m. and the celebration is from 7 to 10 p.m. The winery is at 254 South Highway 29. Tickets are $95 for the general public and $80 for Founders Wine Club Members. For more information or to reserve tickets, all (866) 549-2582 or visit www.louismartini.com.

Rutherford wineries host ‘Solarbration’

An inaugural “Solarbration” is from 5:30 p.m. to sunset on Saturday at three Rutherford wineries: ZD Wines, 8383 Silverado Trail; Honig Vineyard and Winery, 850 Rutherford Road and Peju Province Winery, 8466 St. Helena Highway.

The wineries are hosting a solstice celebration, including special wine tastings, sustainably grown gourmet cuisine and live entertainment. Guests are invited to behind-the-scene tours of the wineries’ solar array systems that power the wineries.

Tickets are $50 per person and includes wine, appetizers, live entertainment and tours. Purchase tickets through the participating wineries. Proceeds will be donated to the Land Trust of Napa County.

 

Winemaker dinner

A five-course meal, prepared by Solage Calistoga’s Executive Chef Brandon Sharp, will be paired with T-Vine Cellars wine at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the resort’s restaurant, Solbar.

Sharp’s menu includes a Dungeness crab fritter with Haas avocado mousse and cucumber-jalapeno ice, goat cheese bocconcini, crispy neck of Pozzi Farms lamb with Ratatouille en Presse, American Kobe beef cheek burger and a dessert.

Cost is $95 per person and $85 for Club Solage members. Advance reservations are required and may be made by calling Nathan Davis, 226-0851 or sending an e-mail to ndavis@solagecalistoga.com. Solage Calistoga is at 755 Silverado Trail.

Taste of Howell Mountain

More than 30 wineries will be pouring their wines at Saturday’s Taste of Howell Mountain event, from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Charles Krug Winery, 2800 Main St., St. Helena.

Wines of the Howell Mountain Appellation range from Atalon Winery to White Cottage Ranch. Wine tasting with hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction take place until 5 p.m., when the live auction begins, accompanied by dessert and fine wines. Proceeds benefit the Howell Mountain Elementary School. Tickets are $95 per person in advance and $125 at the door and are available by calling 965-2665 or online at www.howellmountain.org.

Growers face vintners in softball

The Napa Valley Grapegrowers and the Napa Valley Vintners face off again for the fourth annual Grower/Vintner Softball Challenge at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the St. Helena High School girls softball field.

Harking back to a tradition from the early 1980s, the softball game is a cherished industry event, where growers and vintners put business aside and “batter up” for the evening with a hot dog and cold drinks. The game features local celebrity umpires, and a special surprise guest always throws the first pitch.

Currently the vintners hold the title, but the growers are well-positioned to take back the trophy. The Growers team captain is Eric Titus, while Tracy Skupny and Ed Matovcik are co-captains for the vintners.

NVG Harvest Stomp

Napa Valley Grapegrowers host an authentic harvest celebration Saturday, Sept. 6, 5-9 p.m., at the Round Pond Estate in Rutherford.

Proceeds from the inaugural Harvest Stomp will fund education and outreach programs for the organization’s nearly 500 grapegrowers and associated businesses.

Tickets for the evening event are $100 per person. Grower luncheon tickets are $300 per person and include the evening celebration. For ticket information, visit www.napagrowers.org or call 944-8311.