What To Swirl, Slug and Swallow This Labor Day Weekend

SONOMA- The 2010 Sonoma Wine Country Weekend is going to be hot, hot, hot for the next three days; but luckily you'll be drinking, not working at one of the many winemaker events to be held all over the county. If you'd like to partake in a winemaker dinner, options are waning. Check availability here asap, as they're selling at Hapa Ramen pop-up speed. Or go big at the 31st Annual Taste of Sonoma from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m on Saturday. It's your usual food and wine tent tasting extravaganza with 160+ wines and over 60 chefs, but it's in Sonoma on MacMurray Ranch, which is special. Up the ante with one of eight different sommelier-led tours with themes like "aromatic white wines" or "cellar favorites." [EaterWire]

SONOMA EXTRA - The atmospheric Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves will have Steve Pile playing blues rock on the grounds, Gerard's Paella and wine tastings included in the $15 admission this weekend, which could be a nice, less pricey alternative to the Taste frenzy. [EaterWire]

LIVERMORE - Livermore's Wente Vineyards is hosting a music discovery festival on Saturday with three different stages featuring local bands and food options from the property's 1000-square-foot garden. There's also this huge Livermore Wine Valley event: the 29th Annual Harvest Wine Celebration goes down on Sunday and Monday with shuttle transportation between various wineries. [EaterWire]

BRUNCH WIRE - Look out for brunch options across town on Monday. Maverick will be offering its regular goods: duck hash, andouille sausage benedict, pecan-crusted French toast, etc. from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. And Nopa will kick off its brand new brunch service on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., complete with boozy weekend lubrication. See Madame Hopper's drool-worthy rundown of liquid and solid menu items. [Tablehopper, EaterWire]

BRUNCH EXTRA - Our two other new brunch entrants, Spire and Cafe Des Amis, will be open for brunch service on Monday as well. And if you find yourself in Silicon Valley, Sakoon will be dishing up a labor day Indian brunch buffet from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for $13.95. [EaterWire]

Know of any other notable Labor Day excursions, libations or edibles? Please do share with the class here in the comments section.

[Photo: Eric the Epicure]