Spring fever? Head out for one of these wine events next weekend

California wine regions continue to roll out the wine festivals. If you could pick a best time to visit the wine country, this is it: Late spring, before the throngs of wine lovers taking summer vacations arrive.

These three mid-May wine events promise to be both interesting and fun. You’ll have to choose, though, since all three take place the same weekend.

Paso Robles Wine Festival

For the 32nd year, Paso Robles hosts its annual wine festival at City Park. The event takes place May 15-18. This year, in order to make sure everyone has a great time, the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance has decided to limit attendance by selling 10% fewer tickets than in previous years. More elbow room, the better to get in there to taste the offerings from more than 40 local wineries at the “Reserve” or more than 60 at the Grand Tasting in the park.

A lot goes on that weekend, including the expected winemaker dinners, but also a seminar on shapes of glasses and their effects on experiencing a wine. Tickets for the festival on May 17, are $65 ($20 more if you want to start tasting an hour ahead of everybody else) and $45 for locals. Designated driver tickets are $20. See the festival website for winemaker dinners and other events and to buy tickets.

Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival

That same weekend, the 17th annual Pinot Noir Festival will be celebrated in the Anderson Valley in Mendocino County. It kicks off with a welcome dinner on Thursday, May 15, in Philo. Friday is devoted to a technical conference on all aspects of Pinot Noir followed by a barbecue ($50) that evening at Bones Roadhouse in Gualala. The Grand Tasting ($105) is on Saturday at Goldeneye Winery in Philo, where 45 producers will be pouring Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, Blanc de Noirs and Pinot Noir rosés. Food and live music is also involved, of course.

Participating wineries include Champ de Reves, Copain, Husch Vineyards, Navarro Vineyards, Roederer Estate, Scharffenberger Cellars and Twomey. Many of them will hold open houses on Sunday. Tickets are available online. The Grand Tasting is almost sold out, but there are still tickets for the winemaker dinner at Handley Cellars on Saturday ($125).

The Chardonnay Symposium

Also that same weekend is an event a tad closer to home, the fifth annual Chardonnay Symposium in Pismo Beach. If this is your grape, then this is your festival, which shall be known as TCS from this point on. The annual event brings together winemakers, sommeliers, wine writers and food and wine enthusiasts to celebrate and learn about the white grape.

No reds? No reds at all?

The symposium kicks off with a wine dinner at Dolphin Bay Resort with each course paired with a domestic or international Chardonnay ($150). Saturday is reserved for a seminar and panel discussion ($95) followed by the Grand Chardonnay Tasting ($80) and silent auction. Bring a bottle or two to the Share Your Chard party Saturday night at Tolosa Winery in Edna Valley ($65). That Sunday many Central Coast wineries will be holding open houses or other events. More information and tickets, available online.