Looking for a quick wine country getaway, especially after being cooped up from this weird weather? You've got a couple of new options.
Klinker Brick Winery in Lodi will be celebrating the opening of its new tasting room from 2-7 p.m. May 28. The festivities include a sausage barbecue and live music, plus complimentary tastings of old vine zinfandel, 2009 Farrah Syrah and a brand new rosé.
Look for the Klinker Brick tasting room at 15887 N. Alpine Road in Lodi, and it'll be open Thursdays through Mondays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information: www.klinkerbrickwinery. com.
Also in Lodi, you'll find a new tasting room for Watts Winery, which moved from Vino Piazza in Lockeford to 17036 N. Locust Tree Road. Watts Winery has traditionally fared well in competitions, including gold medals from the California State Fair and San Francisco Chronicle wine competitions.
The tasting room is open noon to 5 p.m. from Fridays through Sundays. Information: (209) 727-3751; www.wattswine. com.
Musical chairs
Lots of personnel changes are going down on the local wine and spirits scene.
Chris Dooley, who left Ella Dining Room and Bar late last year to start the cocktail program at Pause Lounge & Kitchen and Roseville, recently left Pause. Dooley helped pour at a Yamazaki whiskey tasting at Ella in late April, but no word yet if he's coming back to Ella for good.
Dominique Gonzales, a popular mixologist formerly of Zócalo, has split to join the Shady Lady crew, while Kara Sheffield is back as a sommelier at 58 Degrees and Holding Co. after a stint as a server at Ella. Sheffield tells "Wine Buzz" that she's happy to be focusing on wine once again.
We recently wrote about Jeffrey DeVore returning to The Market at Pavilions as its wine director, a gig that he started in 2008 but eventually left for other pursuits. Well, DeVore has left The Market once again but look for him starting in June at L Wine Lounge & Urban Kitchen. DeVore's going to head the L's wine club program, and you can check his wine-tasting notes at www. jeffreydevore.com.
"We're going to make it a little more hands-on," said DeVore about the wine club. "We're going to have more fun and games, and the L is a perfect venue for this."
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