Where in Orange County to Go, Just for the Taste of It

Some people enjoy a glass of wine with dinner, but it takes more than tastebuds to fully understand the art of the vine. Fortunately, the Orange County Wine Society offers a solid education for the curious. This nonprofit organization, formed in 1976, hosts meetings on the second Friday of each month at the Hilton Costa Mesa, with mini-tastings scheduled throughout the year at members’ homes. The society is also active in the community, awarding scholarships to students of enology, viticulture, culinary arts and restaurant/hotel management. Its next event is the Fruit Wine Making Interchange on Saturday at the Orange County Fairgrounds. Orange County Wine Society, P.O. Box 11059, Costa Mesa, (714) 708-1636; www.ocws.org.

In a similar vein, the Robert Mondavi Wine & Food Center refers to itself as a “hospitality center”--a place where people come to learn about wine, food and the culinary business itself. With a selection of wines from around the world, the Mondavi Center not only holds wine tastings and evening seminars but also lets patrons hone their kitchen skills in participation cooking classes. After its Valentine’s dinner tonight, events begin again the first week of March. Robert Mondavi Wine & Food Center, 1570 Scenic Ave., Costa Mesa, (714) 327-8300.

Other Orange County wineries offer tastings on a weekly basis. At Hi Time Cellars, doors are open every weekend, with French wines usually served Thursdays, everyday ones Fridays and cult specialties Saturdays. Bread is also available to clear the palette. Hi Time Cellars, 250 Ogle St., Costa Mesa, (949) 650-8463. Wine tasting Thursdays and Fridays, 4:30-8 p.m.; Saturdays, 2-8 p.m. $20-$150.

More on the eclectic side is Wine Exchange, which hosts thematic tastings from Spanish to Italian to French, with complementary appetizers to match. This winery has been in Orange County for 19 years and strongly recommends reservations. Wine Exchange, 2368 N. Tustin St., Orange, (714) 974-1454. Wine tasting Saturdays, noon-5 p.m.; most Thursdays, 5-7 p.m. $8-$45.

Beverages & More, with locations in Brea, Irvine and Orange, offers a “wine school” Saturdays in which participants sample wines from around the globe. Of course, if wine isn’t your favorite cold one, the Irvine location also offers beer tasting every Friday. Beverages & More, 15315 Culver Drive, Irvine, (949) 551-3377; 875 E. Birch St., Brea, (714) 990-2060; 2000 N. Tustin St., Orange, (714) 279-8131. Wine tasting every Saturday, noon-4 p.m.; beer tasting every Friday at Irvine, 4-7 p.m. 50 cents for wine at Irvine; 25 cents for wine and beer at all other locations.