Family Winemakers of California’s annual Southern California tasting

The announcement for various wine events and tastings usually comes in so early, I’ll stash the release away, planning to write about the event a couple of weeks before it takes place. Now I’m finding out that’s all wrong, because tickets sell out fast, especially to the events that don’t require mega-bucks to attend.

So here it is: Tickets went on sale a couple of days ago for Family Winemakers of California’s annual Southern California tasting. This year -- the fifth -- it takes place Saturday, March 9, and Sunday, March 10, and shines the light on 175 producers from small, family-owned wineries. General admission is $60 (groups of 10 or more get a $5 reduction). And if you want access to the special reserve area where winemakers will be pouring their best, i.e., wines that retail at $75 or more, add $25 to that general admission price for a grand total of $85.

I like this: A designated driver pass is $0, as in free. Purchase tickets online at www.familywinemakers.org.

The beautiful thing is that you don’t necessarily have to drive to get there. Do the easy thing and take Amtrak from LAX to the Solana Beach Station, less than 2 miles from the venue where the event is held, Del Mar Fairgrounds. For departure times and tickets visit: www.amtrak.com.

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