I think the question I get asked the most when people find out that I spend several hours a day drinking and then writing about wine is: how can I learn more about wine? My answer is always the same: taste a lot more. Of course I usually go into details as to exactly how an interested consumer might do that, and one of my suggestions is always to go to large public wine tasting events.

Even if you consider yourself fairly knowledgeable about wine, and familiar with the wines of various wine regions, public tastings focusing on a single wine region are incredible opportunities to get a read on the overall range of flavors offered by the region, as well as the quality of the recent harvest.

That’s why I’m going to be attending the upcoming Mendocino Wine by The Bay tasting in San Francisco. Sure, I’ve had my share of Anderson Valley and Mendocino County Pinot Noir and Syrah, but in the space of a few hours, I’m going to be able to more than triple my tasting knowledge of these wines. This is the first time the Mendocino Wine and Winegrape Commission has held such an event.

Taking place at the Embarcadero Hyatt Regency hotel on Saturday, September 15th, this wine tasting will feature more than 200 Mendocino wines for tasting, along with food from various Bay Area restaurants and Mendocino food purveyors.

Fees from the tasting will go to benefit CUESA, the educational organization that runs the Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market and also runs the group called Friends of Children, a mentoring program that is committed to helping high-risk children in San Francisco.

Mendocino Wine By The Bay Tasting
Saturday September 15th, 12:00 Noon to 4:00 PM
Hyatt Regency Embarcadero Center
5 Embarcadero Center
San Francisco, CA 94111

Tickets are $35 in advance, $45 at the door, and can also be ordered online.

The usual tips for public tastings apply: come with a mostly full stomach; wear dark clothing; drink lots of water; and if you actually want to learn anything, SPIT!