Café plans spring schedule

Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Café, 2879 Grand Avenue, Los Olivos, has announced its spring Tuesday and Wednesday events.

Understanding Your Pallette will be offered on Tuesdays.

The monthly class includes wine tasting and hors d’oeuvres, beginning at 5 p.m.

Upcoming classes are Feb. 19, Rhone Tasting Journey; and Mar. 18, Tuscan Tasting Journey.

The Wednesday classes are scheduled weekly from 5 to 6 p.m. and include wine tasting and hors d’oeuvres. Classes and dates are Jan. 30, Gary Burke, Costa D’Oro; Feb. 6, Norm Becko, Cottonwood Canyon; Feb. 13, Norm Huber, Huber Cellars; Feb. 20, John Falcone, Rusack Winery; Mar. 5, Jeanette, Montia Wines; Mar. 19, Ariel La Vie, La Vie Winery; Mar. 26, Whitcraft Winery; Apr. 9, Ken Brown, Ken Brown Wines; May 7, Michael Grace Wines; and May 14, Ross Jay Rankin, Imagine Winery. For more information call 688-7265.

 

Restaurant receives awards

Two awards were given to Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Café, 2879 Grand Avenue, Los Olivos, in 2007 by wine publications, Wine Spectator, and Wine Enthusiast.

The restaurant received the Wine Enthusiast’s American’s Best Wine-driven Restaurants 2007 Award of Unique Distinction, and Wine Spectator’s Best Restaurants for Wine Award for the second year in a row.

The restaurant offers more than 500 wines, as well as wines from uncommon varietals and emerging wine regions.

It also has weekly by-the-glass specials for several high-end wines, which are typically only available by the bottle. Its wine program includes a wine club, monthly wine specials, quarterly winemaker dinners, and weekly themed tastings.

The company is the official tasting room for Bernat Wines, a winery established by café owner Sam Marmostein.

 

Dog clinic, competition planned

Cappy Pruett, a Colorado-based stock dog trainer, will host a dog clinic at Rancho Oso Guest Ranch on Paradise Road Feb. 2-3.

The clinic is held held in conjunction with the Stock Dog Trials Competition, set for Feb. 8-10 at the ranch.

The competitions include herding sheep and cattle and offer cash prizes.

The entry fee is $50, and entry forms are available at www.rancho-oso.com.

Call 683-5686 for more information about the clinic and races.