Grape Expectations : The tasting and display will offer enthusiasts a chance to sample expensive vintages and some that aren’t readily available.

Wine enthusiasts will have an opportunity to taste the cuvees of more than a dozen California vineyards at the Olivas Rancho Winefest on Nov. 15 in Ventura.

The tasting and display will be held in the courtyard of the Olivas Adobe Historical Park and will feature premium varietals, among them Chardonnays, merlots and pinot noirs. Current releases will be joined by older vintages, according to organizer Skip Robinson.

“Each vineyard will showcase one of their special wines and also bring out a variety of other selections,” said Robinson, a coordinator with the Ventura Parks and Recreation Department. “This is a good opportunity to sample some of the more expensive or not widely available wines from these wineries.”

Area winemakers will be well represented. Participating are Old Creek Ranch Winery (Oak View), Rolling Hills Winery (Camarillo) and Leeward Winery (Ventura). Others will trek in from Santa Barbara, Paso Robles and Woodland Hills. Delicato Vineyards is coming down from Manteca in Northern California.

Gourmet food samples will be available and included in the price of admission. From Ventura, Berto’s Ristorante, Frullati-Cafe della Riveria, China Bay Surf & Taco, Rosarito Beach Cafe, and others will do the cooking.

“It’s an enjoyable event in a picturesque setting,” said Brooks Painter, Leeward Winery’s winemaker. “It can be quite informative for people who want to delve into the process of winemaking. Particularly when you have a situation of tasting wines comparatively.”

Side-by-side sipping of Chardonnays, for example, can be revealing. “We draw distinctions from the wines by discussing how grapes are grown in differing microclimates and stylistic influences of winemaking,” Painter said.

Winemaking aside, Painter said, the wine festival is also a good opportunity to learn how to match wines with particular foods.

Tickets for the event, to be held from noon to 3 p.m., have been on sale for about two months, Robinson said. Though available at the door, consider purchasing tickets soon. “Tickets are limited to 400 people,” he said. “We want it to remain comfortable for everyone.”

Festival-goers will be entertained with live flute and acoustic guitar music and receive a commemorative wineglass.

The event is a fund-raiser for the park. Admission is $22 in advance and $25 at the door. Tickets in advance can be purchased at Ventura Parks and Recreation offices or by calling 658-4726.

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The Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Assn. will host a children’s jack-o’-lantern carving contest at Ventura’s Saturday produce bazaar. Sign-ups begin at 8:45 a.m., and the contest will begin at 9:30 a.m. Prizes will be awarded to the top three carvers in two divisions--ages 12 and under and 13 to 17. Entry fee is $1, and carving tools and pumpkins will be provided. For more information, call 529-6266.

Note: Beginning today, the Thousand Oaks Farmers’ Market will switch to its winter schedule. The market will operate from 4 to 7 p.m. until spring.

SHOWCASE VINTAGES

The following is a list of some of the special wines each winery will showcase besides their current releases:

Leeward Winery (Ventura), ’89 Reserve Chardonnay; Baron Vineyards (Paso Robles), ’90 Chardonnay; Corbett Canyon Vineyards (San Luis Obispo), ’91 Chardonnay; The Daume Winery (Woodland Hills), ’90 Fume Blanc; Delicato Vineyards (Manteca) ’91 Chardonnay; Firestone Vineyard (Los Olivos) ’89 Merlot; Fratellit Perata (Paso Robles), ’90 Cabernet Sauvignon; Old Creek Ranch Winery (Oak View), ’88 Cabernet Sauvignon; Rolling Hills Winery (Camarillo) ’90 Pinot Noir; Santa Barbara Winery (Santa Barbara), ’90 Chardonnay Reserve; Creston Vineyards (Creston), ’90 Merlot.