May 1-3
Paso Robles, CA—Sixteenth Annual Hospice du Rhône
This annual event is known as the world's largest tasting of Rhône varietals. This year's edition will be centered at the Paso Robles Event Center. Event highlights include A Rhône Fête Feast, Rhône-n-Bowl, and Dine Around. Be the first to secure a spot with the Weekend Package that includes two continental breakfasts, four seminars, two luncheons, the Rhône Rendezvous Tasting, the Grand Tasting and the farewell BBQ. For more info, visit www.hospicedurhone.com.

May 3
Santa Monica, CA—15th Annual Uncork A Wish Wine Tasting and Auction
The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Los Angeles will host the 15th Annual Uncork a Wish Wine Tasting and Auction fundraiser at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2008. This year's theme is "Moulin Rouge", and more than 1,500 guests are expected to come. The evening features wine tastings as well as the auction of fine wines, artwork, trips, sports and entertainment memorabilia, and one-of-a-kind packages. Proceeds from the event will be used to fulfill wishes of children in Los Angeles County who are living with life-threatening medical conditions. The Barker Hangar is located at 3021 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica, Calif. 90405. Tickets are $150 pre-sale and $175 at the door. Visit www.wishla.org for tickets or call 310-788-9474.

May 7-10
Charlotte, NC—Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend
Indulge in wine and food while helping community charities. The Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend, which is held in the spring of each even-numbered year, attracts guest winemakers and winery owners from all over the world. This year's official Champagne is Veuve Clicquot; Participating wineries include Bouchaine Vineyards, Flora Springs Winery & Vineyards, Honig Vineyard & Winery, Tablas Creek Vineyard and Treana Winery. Enjoy vintner dinners, wine seminars and tastings and live music. The weekend ends with the invite-only Grand Live Auction & Gala. For tickets and more information, call 704-338-9463 or visit www.charlottewineandfood.com.

May 8-10
Washington, DC—Ninth Annual Heart's Delight Wine Tasting & Auction
Master winemakers and top chefs gather to play and bid at the yearly wine tasting and auction that benefits The American Heart Association. Thursday will offer intimate wine dinners with an international flair all over the city. Then get ready for Friday where the Vintner Dinner will highlight the wines of Premier Grand Cru followed by a live auction led by Sotheby's Jamie Ritchie. The wine weekend then rounds out with a virtual tour of Bordeaux, a seated tasting of more than twenty 2005 Bordeaux, seminars, food, and live and silent auctions. For more information, contact Heidi Arnold at the American Heart Association office 703-248-1720, email Heidi.Arnold@heart.org or visit www.heartsdelightwineauction.org.

May 10
Carmel, CA—Château Julien Spring Winemaker Dinner
Dine under the stars at the new bistro-style restaurant and peruse the Great Hall wine bar. Dessert is followed by an evening in the cellar with the Winemaker. Sunset dinner seating is at 5:30 p.m. and moonlight dinner seating is at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $100 per person. Visit www.chateaujulien.com for more information.

May 14-18
Nantucket, MA—Nantucket Wine Festival
The nation's whaling capital will become a wine mecca at this twelfth annual event. This festival attracts the major movers and shakers of the wine, food and restaurant scene. The festival includes an opening reception where the Nantucket community greets winemakers and sips elegant flutes of Champagne. There will be winemaker symposiums/luncheons, wine and food seminars, a charity gala, an auction dinner and the Grand Tasting where more than 150 wineries will be pouring their wines. Winemakers that attended last year include: Justin Baldwin of Justin Vineyards & Winery, Bill Easton of Domaine de la Terre Rouge, Laurent Drouhin of Maison Joseph Drouhin, Jean-Luc Thunevin of Chateau Valandraud. From the culinary world, attending chefs include Jimmy Bradley (The Red Cat and The Harrison, New York City), Chris Schlesinger (East Coast Grill, Cambridge), Jean-Louis Gerin (Restaurant Jean-Louis, Greenwich) and Barbara Lynch (No. 9 Park, Boston). For more information, call 508-228-1128 or visit www.nantucketwinefestival.com.

May 16-17
Monterey, CA—Cooking for Solutions
More than a dozen noted chefs from every region of the United States will act as ambassadors of sustainable dining at Cooking for Solutions. The focus will be on great cuisine from sources that protect the health of the oceans and the land. Celebrity chefs will create memorable gourmet dishes, host one-of-a-kind food and wine adventures and present cooking demonstrations that feature sustainable seafood. Darina Allen (Ireland) and Alton Brown (Atlanta), both chefs and authors, will be honored this year. The roster of culinary greats include: John Ash (Fetzer Vineyards, Santa Rosa), Michelle Bernstein (Michy's Restaurant, Miami), Andrew Brown (White Dog Café, Philadelphia), Joël Chenet (Mill Bay Coffee and Pastries, Kodiak), Sam Choy (Choy's Diamond Head Restaurant, Honolulu), Douglas Katz (Fire, Cleveland), and others. For details call 831-647-6886 or visit www.montereybayaquarium.org. Tickets can be purchased by calling 866-963-9644.

May 16-18
Paso Robles, CA—Paso Robles Wine Festival
Taste award-winning wines from Paso Robles wineries pouring their top bottles at this 26th annual event. Located close to mountains, beaches and deserts, this rural area is known as one of the country's finest wine-growing areas. Local vendors will provide the food and live entertainment. For more information, call 805-239-8463 or visit www.pasowine.com.

May 17
Los Angeles, CA—Culinary Evening with the California Winemaster
Benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, this nineteenth annual celebration takes place at the "Midwest Street " set lot at Warner Brothers in Burbank. More than 65 wineries and 45 celebrity chefs across the nation will tantalize the over 1,200 expected guests. A single ticket costs $350 and the event lasts from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. For further details, call 323-655-8525 or visit www.californiawinemasters.org.

May 17-18
Mountain View, CA—A La Carte & Art
The Bay Area's bustling festival season kicks off in Mountain View at this vibrant springtime celebration featuring savory ethnic and classic American foods, premium wines and microbrews, cooking demonstrations, a juried art show, lots of music and fun for kids. Downtown will be transformed into a moveable feast of strolling people and colorful tents. Get your fill of gourmet sausages, crêpes, marinated artichokes, barbecue chicken, fresh fruits, organic produce and more. Located on Castro Street between Church Street and Evelyn Avenue, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. each day. Admission is free. For more information, call 650-964-3395 or visit www.miramarevents.com.

May 21-25
New Orleans, LA—17th Annual New Orleans Wine and Food Experience
Experience the rich cultural heritage of New Orleans through its local cuisine, paired with wines from around the world. This five day vinicultural and culinary experience kicks off with Vintner Dinners held at some of the city's premier restaurants, including Stella!, with prices ranging from $85-$125 per person. At the center of the event are the Grand Tastings, featuring extensive offerings from local chefs and a variety of domestic and international wines, as well as a cooking demonstration stage. Seminars include "Red, White & Fin," a seafood and wine pairing with Chef John Besh, and "Wild About Game & Wine!" featuring Kendall Jackson wines with samplings of stuffed breast of pheasant, braised Creole duck and venison wiener schnitzel. Not to be missed is the Royal Street Stroll, an evening outdoor event showcasing the lively city's art scene and architecture along with live jazz and wine offerings. For tickets and more information, call 504-529-9463 or visit www.nowfe.com.

May 31-June 1 & June 7-8
Santa Cruz Mountains, CA—Vintners' Festival: A Taste of the Mountains
The Santa Cruz Mountain region has won acclaim for its local wineries since the 1800's; now there are over 40 small, family-owned wineries in the region that are a part of the Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers' Association (SCMWA), which includes vineyards such as Beauregard, Bonny Doon and Glenwood Oaks. This association will host a two-weekend event that includes attractions such as tastings of special wines, food, music, art exhibits, winery tours and barrel tasting. It's a great opportunity to purchase regional wines from Santa Cruz. The cost is $30 in advance or $35 at the door. The event lasts from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. with restaurants closing at 4 p.m. Call 831-685-VINE or visit www.scmwa.com for more information.