Here, find a curated list of the best food and drink events in Santa Cruz County for the coming week. At the top, I share my picks of unmissable local happenings.
Seven representatives from the Monterey Bay region’s wine industry will speak at the Hay Barn at UC Santa Cruz for a summit on the State of the Grape this Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m. They’ll discuss how current vineyard growing techniques influence wine flavor, with a focus on soil health and canopy management, as well as a wide range of viticulture methods, including organic, regenerative and sustainable winemaking. The event will finish with a tasting of local wines. Tickets are $40.
Stroll through Aptos Village while tasting area wines at the Aptos Wine Wander this Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. This annual event is hosted by Wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains, an organization that supports the local wine industry and Aptos Village businesses. Businesses throughout the village host one or more wineries, so attendees can shop and sip their way across the town. Tickets are $50 at the event.
Best of Santa Cruz County food and drink events, Dec. 6-12
Here are some upcoming local food and drink events you might be interested in:
Friday, Dec. 6
- Teaching Kitchen Weekend: A Festive Weekend of Flavor, Wellness and Celebration | 2 p.m. @ 1440 Multiversity | $1,898
- Gingerbread Cookie Decorating | 5 p.m. @ Bear Creek Community Center
- Farm Discovery Holiday Party | 6 p.m. @ Cantine Winepub
- Edge of the West at Vino by the Sea | 7 p.m. @ Vino by the Sea
Saturday, Dec. 7
- Breakfast with Santa | 9 a.m. @ Chaminade Resort & Spa | $25
- Capitola Village Cookie Walk | 11 a.m. @ Capitola Candy Company | $20
- Le Creuset Day at Toque Blanche | 11 a.m. @ Toque Blanche
- Petal & Plate Holiday Pairing | 1 p.m. @ Aptos Vineyard | $29-39
- State of the Grape 2024 | 2 p.m. @ Cowell Ranch Historic Hay Barn | $40
Sunday, Dec. 8
- GF Bakery Pop Up | 9 a.m. @ Verve Coffee Roasters 41st Avenue
- Holiday Mother Daughter Tea | 11 a.m. @ 429 Pleasant Valley Rd., Aptos | $40-210
- Capitola Village Cookie Walk | 11 a.m. @ Capitola Candy Company | $20
- Aptos Wine Wander | 1 p.m. @ Aptos Village | $45
Monday, Dec. 9
- Holiday Tiki Cocktail Class | 5:30 p.m. @ Venus Spirits Tasting Room | $60
Wednesday, Dec. 11
- Downtown Santa Cruz farmers market | 1 p.m. @ Cedar Street & Lincoln Street
Thursday, Dec. 12
- Urban Wine Tour: Downtown Santa Cruz | 4 p.m. @ Downtown Santa Cruz | $125
- SolStice Foods Sip & Shop (Supporting SCC Animal Shelter) | 5 p.m. @ Balefire Brewing Company