-- Jan. 13 to Jan. 22, 2006. Events range from free admission to C$175, details at www.niagarawinefestival.com.
8. California
If you hold romantic notions of winemaking as an artisan craft practiced by simple farmers, the Napa Valley may not be for you. If, on the other hand, you like your wines big and your tannins bigger, then you'll have hit the jackpot. Vineyards are status symbols here, fashion accessories to be worn proudly. And no one does it with more bling than Napa's neighbor, the Sonoma Wine and Food Festival, in the height of summer.
Nearly all the events here are al fresco, ranging from tutored tastings of the various appellations to barrel auctions of unreleased wines, both of which offer the chance to taste some of the more rarefied of the state's cult wines. Held at various wineries, the program leads up to an open-air concert by the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, complete with fireworks finale. Brash, flash and expensive, but five-star entertainment, and a hands-on insight into the glorious vanity of California's wine scene.
-- July 14 to July 16. Events US$80 to US$160, details at www.sonomawine.com.
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