Wine and Chocolate, Beer and Benefits for Healdsburg's Steelhead Weekend

What a weekend is in store, with many events surrounding the Wild Steelhead Festival as well as the scent of romance in the air (Valentine’s Day is Tuesday).

Saturday

continues Saturday (8 p.m.) and Sunday (2:00 p.m.) at the . Next weekend is the show’s last.

Also, the fourth annual three-day comes to town this weekend.  On Saturday, you can find the in the , with informational exhibits, kids events, food, beer, wine and music. It’s free but there’s always something to purchase, and funds go to support river conservation. Starts at 10 a.m., runs till 4 p.m.

Also Saturday, another in Healdsburg, this one with music. , just off Westside road on the west side of the 101 overpass, offers the perfect pairings for your Valentine. Adam Lieb will play an electric and acoustic concert in the tasting room on Magnolia, and specialty chocolates from John Kelly Chocolates paired with the winery’s zinfandels. Tickets $10 at the door, free to wine club members.

its seventh annual exhibition by showcasing three gallery artists: Luke Damiani, Mary Jarvis and Hamlet Mateo. There’s an opening reception at their new space, corner of Mill and East in that ivy-covered building, 132 Mill St. It’s at 6 p.m. this evening, and it’s free. 

For those with deeper pockets, starts Saturday at 6 p.m. Yes, it’s in Santa Rosa, but it’s a benefit for, hosted by winemaker . The $150 ticket  includes a silent auction and cocktail hour, sit-down dinner and a rousing live auction featuring a “plethora” of items. Veritably.  Details on this website.

Sunday brings us for the Healdsburg Wild Steelhead Festival. It’s at the Warm Springs Dam Visitor’s Center at the very tippy-top of Dry Creek Rd., from 10 to 3 midday. The Healdsburg High Jazz Band will play, and there are lots of free and informative features for fans of fresh-water fish.

If you live in Healdsburg you probably like the idea of combining wine with romance. starting at 1 p.m., is right up your alley. Winemaker Marcus Topel will be joined by Ziggy “The Wine Gal” Eschliman at for a winemaking adventure as you craft your own cuvée from the varietals grown at the estate vineyards. Then take home a bottle of your specially blended wine with a personalized “Love & Meritage” label.  $75/person; $100/couple.  Call  707-433-4116 for reservations (required!).

How about some poetry with your romance? Check out the on Sunday afternoon. Fourteen local poets will be reading their selections at , 2 p.m. Coffee and chocolate will be served along with the verse; a chapbook with these love poems will be available for purchase.

If your idea of romance involves beer, meet the new women “rock stars” of brewing in the movie “The Love of Beer” at the.  Producer Alison Grayson will be on hand to answer questions after the screening, which starts at 7 pm. Not only is this the California premier of this movie, but it’s the filmmaker’s birthday!  (If you miss it, they’re down at Lagunitas in Petaluma the next day.)