The 32nd Annual Napa Valley Marathon course is fast, certified and a Boston qualifier. Racing southward along the fabled Silverado Trail, the terrain rolls gently and mostly feels downhill or flat. The scenery is just gorgeous, past the many wineries amidst wild mustard blooms, with cows and roosters and mist on the hills.

The route is largely closed to traffic and the atmosphere is friendly and relaxed. Always brilliantly organized, the race has a mass of volunteers to aid runners. Proceeds support local charities and schools, and sponsors are generous, which makes the goody bag very cool!

To run or volunteer, or watch and cheer, visit the event website for full information. Be sure to check maps carefully.

The 26.2-mile race starts in Calistoga on Saturday, March 7 at 7 AM sharp, and the finish line in Napa means it’s time for a fabulous lunch from one of the valley’s gazillion fine eateries.

Some of the best jazz artists in the Bay Area will be touring through with music ranging from solo flamenco guitar to Chapman Stick to full bands. Check the event website for full information on the acclaimed musicians performing at multiple venues.

The jazz is free, wine tasting is $25 per person for one-day (10 tastings), $40 (and 20 tastings) for both days. For online tickets and a 10% discount, click here.

The festival fills the weekend of March 6-7, 1-6 PM. Call 707-942-6333 for more information, or else just get yourself to Lincoln Avenue in downtown Calistoga and the fun will find you - click here for directions.

Bring your wide-eyed children to the Lincoln Theater and get ready for some eye-popping times yourself. You’ll be on the edge of your seat as the circus presents its unparalleled death-defying acts. Russia’s cultural heritage dazzles in a mix of ornate costumes and backdrops, music and dance, beautiful artistry and funny clowns that has wowed audiences of children and adults worldwide.

Moscow Circus comes to the world-class Lincoln Theater for just one day, in a beautiful 1,200 seat venue in the heart of Napa valley.

The date is Sunday, February 28th, at 3 PM. Tickets are $29-$39 with $12 tickets for kids 12 and under. Click here to buy online.

Lincoln Theater is at 100 California Drive in Yountville, click here for directions from our hotel.

Watch the judges go through their paces too as they guess the county, year, barrel program, blend, price point and AVA of each wine.

Last month in the test of Zinfandels, Napa won by one point, although the public score favored Sonoma. Maybe this time the judges will agree with you.

The event is on Sunday, February 21st from 4-8 PM, in Rutherford’s historic social hall. Cost is $10 per person. Cheese plates are available for $5. Also dinner for $8 (must be pre-ordered by email here).

Call 707-254-9773 or see the Sibling Rivalry website for more information and click here for directions from our hotel.

Beringer Vineyards is out to prove this very thing with yoga instructor and wine enthusiast Suzi Potts, creator of the Sip & Stretch program, a unique blend of yoga and wine education.

Experience wine and yoga in a setting that fosters fun and relaxation. Breathing, basic Hatha yoga poses, wine education and tasting will be woven together to create the perfect practice. All levels of practitioners are welcome.

The event is on Sunday, February 21st, from 11 AM - 12:30 PM. Please arrive 15 minutes early and bring your own yoga mat. Beringer will supply the wine!

Cost is $30 with advance registration, and space is limited so click here to sign up. It all happens in the Beringer Vineyards Old Winery Fermentation Room in St. Helena. Click here for directions from our hotel.

The practical purpose of barrel tasting is the sneak preview that allows the buyer to discover the potential legend in the making, and to order future delivery of a wine that may become limited or impossible to find.

Merryvale Vineyards is holding a barrel tasting this Saturday featuring six wines sampled directly from their French oak barrels. They’ll also offer pre-release, current release and a selection of library wines, along with light fare. Cost is $25 per person for Profile Club members and $45 for non-members.

The event is in the Cask Room at Merryvale, this Saturday, February 20th, from 1-4 PM. For more information and to RSVP click here. For directions from our hotel click here.

Over a dozen galleries team up with St. Supéry Winery and Hall Winery to present A Weekend of Fine Art. All through the weekend of February 6th-7th, the galleries will feature special exhibits and presentations.

On Saturday evening at St. Supéry the event’s featured artists will appear at a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception, at 5-7 PM. Hall Winery will host an artist’s reception on Sunday at 1-3 PM.

This year’s official Mustard Festival work of art, Reverie by Thomas Monaghan, has already opened bidding at silent auction, and will be on display at Hall Winery through the season.

All events are free and open to the public. For more information click here, or call (707) 938-1133 ext 106.

St. Supéry is at 8440 St. Helena Hwy, Rutherford, 23 miles from our hotel. Click here for directions.

Winemakers tell us Cabernet Sauvignon has a complex flavor that dramatically reflects the space it was grown in. It can change even in different sections of the same vineyard.

You can taste this for yourself at Girard Winery’s sneak preview of three 2007 Cabernet Sauvignons from different growing areas.

Watch a short video clip of winemaker Zach Long discussing the characteristics of each here:
• 2007 Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon
• 2007 Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
• 2007 Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2007 Mountain Series Cabernet Sauvignon Sneak Release Party happens on Saturday, February 6th, at Noon-5 PM. Tickets including gourmet snacks are $25 (complimentary to Wine Club members).

The Girard Winery Tasting Room, 6795 Washington Street in Yountville, is about 18 miles from our hotel. Click here for directions.

ZD Wines figures it’s good health all the way by combining chocolate with red wine, well known as a fighter of heart disease. The winery releases its 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon this month, in a “Chocolate and Cabernet” special event.

ZD Wines is also a pioneer in organic growing practices in the Valley - all of its bottlings are certified organic. The release event features its fruity, aromatic Cabernet, and chocolate EVERYWHERE - chocolate bars, chocolate fountains, even chocolate-dipped bottles of wine.

The event is on Saturday, January 30th, 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM. Tickets are $25 per person ($20 for First-Taste members). Get tickets here, more information at the ZD Wines web site.

ZD Wines is located in Rutherford on the beautiful Silverado Trail, about 25 miles from our hotel. Click here for directions.

Accompanied by Whitney Crist on piano, Ms. Swenson will honor the tradition of Luisa Tatrazzini, the world-famous Italian soprano who graced the Opera House stage in the early 1900’s.

The party in the Café Theatre will offer festivities, dessert, sparkling wine and a display of rarely seen historic photos and memorabilia.

The celebration is January 30 at 7 PM. It’s $75 for the performance only, $130 to include the party. Remember the Opera House has been selling-out crowds since January, 1880, and click here to book your tickets and for more information.

The Napa Valley Opera House is at 1030 Main Street in Napa. It’s just 9 miles from our hotel, click here for directions.