hen foodies and Zinfandel groupies meet, you just know that something good is going to happen. Restaurants and wineries from all over Northern California carefully paired fine wines and cuisine to spectacular results at this year’s Good Eats & Zinfandel Pairing event, Thursday January 27 during the 14th Annual Zinfandel Festival in San Francisco.

The large gregarious group who gathered for Thursday’s event enjoyed extra elbow room not found later by Saturday’s Zinfandel orgy. Winery stars as diverse as Acorn Winery, recent Sweepstakes winner at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair, wild thing Carol Shelton and awe-inspiring Niebaum-Coppola held court. Acorn worked with Zin Restaurant of Healdsburg for one of the best pairings, Pork in a Spicy Dry-Chocolate Oaxacan Molé Sauce. Bacar Restaurant & Wine Bar of San Francisco scored big on flavor and finesse with their Sumac Lamb and Cipollini Onion treat. This is one of San Francisco’s best wine and food tickets of the year. If you missed it, get it on calendar now for next year.