Quick! Stop that wine! Come Nov. 11 to 12, get a taste of “illegal” wine blends at Paso’s Garagiste Wine Festival, held each year in Paso Robles. OK, so these wines aren’t wanted by the law, but many of these renegade offerings would be looked down upon in France for their independent spirit and defiance of Old World ways! This year’s speaker will be Adam Lazarre, one of the creators of popular wines Rex Goliath and Cycles-Gladiator (get all the info at californiagaragistes.com) … Harvest on the Coast is here! Nov. 4 brings chatter about the origins of wine in SLO County presented by Niven Family Wine Estates and a talk on terroir, brought to us by Winemaker Fin du Fresne of Chamisal Vineyards. On Saturday, gear up for a grand tasting and auction at Avila Beach Resort featuring local wineries, restaurants, music, and more. On Sunday, surf’s up! Check out free tastings at select locations included with your Saturday grand tasting ticket (more info at slowine.com). 

You don’t say?

Heart warming, hunger killing: Must! Charities recently reached a historic milestone, hitting the $1 million mark! The local nonprofit works with the wine industry to invest in area organizations that serve the youth in SLO County in real and lasting ways. Since beginning humbly in 2015, these do-gooders have worked to provide 200,000 meals for needy children, which is no small feat (see all the good news and find out how you can get involved at mustcharities.org) … Riboli Family Wine Estates of Paso Robles is proud to announce its presence on the cover of The SOMM Journal, October/November 2016 issue. Congrats! Proprietor and winemaker Anthony Riboli is the first of the fourth generation to join the family business, which dates all the way back to 1917 Los Angeles (taste this rich history at sanantoniowinery.com). People have been making wine since time began, and for good reason!

Nibbles

Say your beer goodbyes: Firestone Walker Brewing Co. recently said farewell to a few of its classic beers, including its 10th Anniversary Ale, Rufus, and PNC Imperial Buckwheat Stout. Don’t be sad, though! This month also saw the debut of the Paso brewery’s seasonal Oaktoberfest, which is mighty delish and available in cans now (firestonebeer.com) … Summer lives on at Milestone Tavern in SLO! They’ve got a killer Lilikoi Margarita made with fresh passionfruit, citrus, and laid-back Hawaiian vibes! Head to this new hangout and check out the long craft beer list (milestonetavern.com) … Looking for a way to use up that hearty leftover squash? Here are a few quick ideas that will stick to your ribs … Sweet: bake it into a pie. Comfort style: puree it with cheese. Easy: toss chunks into a wintery salad. Best ever: sauté with pasta, sage, and butter. Long live winter leftovers!
So good. 

Hayley Thomas Cain is all about the sage butter. She can be reached at [email protected].