Pour Thing

Francois Zanni Jr. has remade the bar at the family’s Le Rendezvous restaurant in Newbury Park to make room for an expanded wine collection, with more than 50 wines by the glass.

The list, now 25 pages, includes Italian, New Zealand, Argentine and Spanish wines among the new offerings.

“I wanted people to be able to compare similar grape varietals from all around the world,” Zanni said.

The idea is to provide enthusiasts--new and experienced--an opportunity to discover their own tastes and preferences among the many styles of wines in the world.

Wines by the glass are available in 2- and 6-ounce pours. Zanni has also devised a series of “wine flights,” a suggested smorgasbord of sorts. Five different wines in 2-ounce samples are poured, all with something in common--maybe the type of grape, a particular winery, country of origin or method of production. You can also draft your own sampling.

Here is an example: Chardonnay Flight No. 2 offers Chateau Souverain Alexander Valley, Calif. (1997); Lindemans Padthaway, South Australia (1997); Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley, Wash. (1997); Sonoma Cutrer, R.R.R. Sonoma, Calif. (1997); Gilles Noblet, Pouilly-Fuisse Burgundy, France (1996).

Or the Red Blend Flight:

Chateau Ducla Bordeaux, France (1996); Grove Street Mendoza, Argentina (1997); Torres, Coronas Penedes, Spain (1995); Chateau Gueydon Bordeaux, France (1997); Chateau de Campuget Rhone Valley, France (1994); Chateau du Moulin Bordeaux, France (1996).

There are eight wine flights in all, ranging in price from $8.25 to $11.50.

“Bottom line, I’m just trying to educate people and help them learn a little more about wine,” Zanni said. “You can get away from the zinfandels, chardonnays, cabernets, merlots and try something new and be a little more adventuresome without purchasing the whole bottle.”

To complement the new wine bar, Zanni expanded the restaurant’s appetizer menu. And coming soon: wine-tasting classes.

DETAILS

Le Rendezvous is at 1282 Newbury Road, Newbury Park. Hours: Monday through Thursday, 5 to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5 to 11 p.m; Sunday, 3 to 9 p.m. Call 498-1019.

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A group will gather Thursday at Padri in Agoura Hills to enjoy fine Italian food and repartee.

Want to join in? You are welcome as long as you are single and a professional. The event is an installment of West Coast Supper Club’s Single Gourmet dinner series. The 500-member club includes participants from Santa Barbara, Ventura County and the San Fernando Valley. Dinner events normally attract 20 to 40 participants.

“The idea is to have a sophisticated avenue to meet other professional singles,” club owner Sondra Sanders said. “Being around gourmet food is always a nice event.”

The Camarillo-based club offers single men and women--mostly in their 30s, 40s and 50s--an alternative to singles bars and personal ads, she said. Among other activities, the club offers a table-for-six format--three men, three women matched by similar age group, preferences and interests.

You do not have to be a club member to take part in dinner events. Sanders said she meets with each prospective participant to discuss their interests and background before placing them in an activity.

DETAILS

West Coast Dinner Club will hold an installment of its Single Gourmet dinner series Thursday at Padri in Agoura Hills. $59 members; $69 nonmembers. RSVP by Tuesday. To register, call (805) 388-5589 or (800) 787-WCSC. More information about the club is available on the Internet at http//www.wcsclub.com.

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Benefit Bingeing: Casa Pacifica, a temporary home in Camarillo for abused and neglected children, will hold its sixth annual Food & Wine Festival on Sunday at the Pierpont Inn in Ventura. More than 40 area establishments will offer food, wine and microbrew samples. Among them are Jonathan’s at Peirano’s, Pastabilities, the Chart House, Ash Street Gardens, Eric Ericsson’s, Capistrano’s and Yasmeen’s.

Some of the wineries represented at the event will be Arciero Winery, Firestone Vineyard, Fetzer Vineyards, Stone Creek, Piper Sonoma, R.H. Philips, Wild Horse, Rosemont, Benziger Family Winery and Curtis Winery. Beer samples will include Black Dog, Firestone Brewery, High Falls, New Amsterdam and Sierra Nevada.

Gastronomy aside, live music will be by provided the Drifters and Sonny Mone. A silent auction will offer bidders a chance to nab a week in Hawaii, plus assorted gifts and prizes.

DETAILS

Casa Pacifica will hold its annual Food & Wine Festival from 2 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Pierpont Inn in Ventura. Admission: $40. Call 445-7879.

Rodney Bosch writes about the restaurant scene in Ventura County and outlying points. He can be reached at 653-7572, fax 653-7576 or by e-mail at: rodney.bosch@latimes.com.