SeeCalifornia.com

For beer drinkers the rip-roaring Anderson Valley’s Boonville Beer Festival (avbc.com) really put the region on the map 19 years ago. However, the unique climate slightly inland from the Pacific coast creates ideal conditions for wine grapes, especially great for Alsace style white wines. This weekend Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association (avwines.com) celebrates with its annual International Alsace Varietals Festival held at the Mendocino Fairgrounds in downtown Boonville. Wines to be poured include Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Muscat at the Feb. 7, 2015 festival where 100 wines are featured. Look for names — Castella di Amorosa, Claiborne & Churchill, Greenwood Ridge Vineyards, Husch Vineyards, Lazy Creek Vineyards, Navarro Vineyards, Philo Ridge Vineyards and many others. Later you may want to return for another tasty event, Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival May 15-17, 2015 or the Anderson Valley Barrel Tasting Weekend July 25-26, 2015. But sandwiched between these signature wine events is Boonville Beer Festival May 2.