Our next event is planned, and it’s for Sunday, 11/7, from 10:30AM to 2:30PM.

Why so early, you ask?

I’ve often heard complaints that there aren’t enough places to get a casual brunch around the Hancock Park area. In fact, I’ve often been the one complaining. It was time for me to stop complaining and do something about it. And after a great event with the Lardon Truck a few weeks back, it became clear what needed to be done.

Bacon, bubbles, brunch…

Join us on 11/7 for all of the above, or whichever of the above suits your fancy. You can pre-purchase the tasting flight or the Bacon Bento a la carte, or together as a package, each for at least 15% savings over same-day prices. Advance sales will be complete on Friday, 11/5.

We’ll have some tables and chairs set up in the store. Please note, wine must remain in the tasting area within the shop and can not be taken outside.

Just a reminder, the Hospice du Rhone Twitter Taste Live event is tonight. You can taste along with me, Dr. Debs of Good Wine Under $20, Thea of Vinquire/Luscious Lushes, Jason Haas of Tablas Creek, Joe White of Table for Joe and many more bloggers by going and signing up at the new site, Taste Live.

Also, I’m happy to report that the Anne Willan event is oversold. If you want to be on the wait list, let me know. Otherwise, maybe I’ll be able to convince Anne to do another class in the future.

Finally, I have a third event for May 1st in the works, a tasting with Italian producer Cantine A Casa. Details to follow later today or early next week, this will be a very budget-oriented evening in the $15 to $20 range, with the winemaker present. Check back soon for more info.

I’m very excited to announce that domaine547 will be presenting a cooking class with master chef Anne Willan, on Sunday, April 26th. The class will focus on elegant entertaining in uncertain times, and will feature an array of hors d’oeuvres recipes from Willan’s James Beard Award-winning tome “The Country Cooking of France.” It will also provide a peek into the private kitchen of a renowned chef, taking place in Willan’s own Santa Monica home.

Of course, entertaining involves not just food, but wine. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to pair each of the recipes in the class with some of my recent wine discoveries — though, honestly, I feel a little bit like Anne Hathway (pre-Oscar nom) to Willan’s Meryl Streep. Whatever the case, I expect to rise to the occasion!.

This should prove to be both an informative and delicious afternoon, not to mention a unique opportunity. Space is limited to twelve students.

We just got word about some of the wines that will be poured at the Wine & Spirits event on the 22nd of May, at Culver City’s MODAA gallery. We played no role in selecting the wine — that was all done by editors and staffers from Wine & Spirits, but we have to say we’re excited about what they’ve chosen.

Some of our favorites are represented, including the d’Arenberg d’Arry’s Original Shiraz-Grenache blend, the Quinta de Vesuvio 2005 Vintage Port, and a couple from the Dr. Loosen family. We see some wines on the list that would make even Alice Feiring happy, such as the 1997 Rioja rosé from Lopez de Heredia. We see some that would make Sonadora drool, such as the Roederer Estate NV Anderson Valley Brut; a Cava from Segura Viudas that would make Catavino proud; and a few from Bastianich that would please Jack and Joanne of Fork & Bottle. Something for everybody, indeed!

So fork over $75, part of which benefits the Surfrider Foundation’s water conservation efforts, and swing on by to taste some great wine. We’ll be there, as will Dr. Debs from Good Wine Under $20.