Truffles, saki, and reds out West

SAN DIEGO

San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival: This extravagant five-day event showcases wines and food from all over California, the West, and the Southwest. More than 170 wineries and spirits companies will participate, along with a wide range of celebrity chefs and TV cooking show contenders. Classes with alluring titles such as “Totally Truffles,’’ spirits tastings such as “Saki & Sushi,’’ and wine tastings combined with food such as “Brandt Beef and Big Red Wines’’ are among the highlights. Chefs include Paul Bartolotta of the eponymous seafood restaurant in Las Vegas, Teruya Noriyoshi of Nobu San Diego, and Michael Antonorsi of Chuao Chocolatier in Carlsbad, Calif. Cost of events runs from $20 for a Pellegrino water tasting to a $175 Grand Tasting VIP. www.worldofwinesevents.com

DEC. 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CALIF.

The Bracebridge Dinners: Christmas takes on a historical mantle at the park’s grand Ahwahnee Lodge. Under 50-foot ceilings and with a view of the snow-covered mountains, diners will celebrate the season, Renaissance style, serenaded by singers and an actor portraying Squire Bracebridge, the character in Washington Irving’s “Sketch Book,’’ which is the inspiration for the festivities. The seven-course dinners will include a fish course of Dungeness crab, tenderloin of beef with oxtail pastry, pudding, and wassail. Packages for one- and two-night stays and dinner range from $1,238-$1,720 a couple; dinner only is $375. 801-559-5000, www.bracebridgedinners.com

NOV. 21-22

WAIHEKE ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND

Waiheke Island Olive Festival: This island off Auckland has plenty of beautiful beaches, surf, and water sports. But it’s also big enough to sprout olive groves and wineries. Each year, summer here gets started with an olive festival at Rangihoua Estate that showcases the island’s olives, olive oil, and other foods, such as oysters and locally roasted coffee. Waiheke Island wines will also be available for tasting. Cost of entry is $5. www.rangihoua.co.nz

NOV. 27-29

WILLAMETTE VALLEY, ORE.

Wine Country Thanksgiving: This wine valley celebrates its vintages the weekend after Thanksgiving. More than 140 wineries will be open for visitors. There will be tastings of new releases and older wines, barrel tastings, and sales of limited quantity wines. Specialty foods will be offered, and many of the winery owners will be on hand to greet guests. Participating wineries include Alloro Vineyards, Beaux Freres, Boedecker Cellars, and Carabella Vineyard. The tours are self-guided; some wineries will charge a tasting fee. To receive a map and list of activities, contact the Willamette Valley Wineries Association. 503-646-2985, www.willamettewines.com

PLAN AHEAD

JAN. 20-24

TAOS, N.M.

Taos Winter Wine Festival: Combine skiing with wine tasting at the 24th Taos festival. Tastings, dinners at local restaurants, and seminars are held in the vicinity of the magnificent Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Seminars include “Great Wines of the Veneto’’ and “Spottswood Estate Cabernet Vertical.’’ A reserve tasting will include fare from a dozen restaurants and more than 75 wines. Costs range from $60-$75. Dinner prices vary. 505-438-8060, www.skitaos.org.

ALISON ARNETT

Events are sometimes canceled, rescheduled, or sold out; check online. Alison Arnett can be reached at alacarte59@aol.com.