Alcohol, taken in sufficient quantities, may produce all the effects of drunkenness. - Oscar Wilde

Nostra Spaghetteria Hosts Wine Tasting Seminar with Food Pairings

If you're quick, you can still nab a spot at tonight's wine tasting seminar with food pairings at Nostra Spaghetteria, the first in a new monthly series. This week's event will be hosted in the private dining room by chef-owner Alexander Alioto and master sommelier-wine director Nunzio Alioto, starting at 6:30pm. The exclusive experience is limited to a small number of guests at $50 per person for wine and bites. If you stay for dinner, you'll get $20 off the seminar. Make reservations now at 415.655.9510. // 280 Valencia Street (Mission); nostrasf.com

Trick Dog Releases New "Top Secret" Menu

Trick Dog's latest menu officially debuted last Friday, and it's full of conspiracy theories. "Top Secret" is inspired by well-known myths from around the world (think: Elvis sightings and Bigfoot reports) and looks like a classified government file, complete with redacted details and mysterious photos. We won't spoil the entire mystery for you, but we will tell you that the Chemtrails are real… delicious. // 3010 20th Street (Mission); trickdogbar.com

SanFranPisco Hump Day at Hawthorn

Folks in the Financial District hoping to get over hump day will find exactly what they need at Hawthorn, thanks to San FranPisco Wednesdays. During happy hour—from 5 to 9pm—you'll find $5 pisco sours, pisco punch, and pisco negronis. And you'll love the lounge-like atmosphere. At these prices, we can promise your pocketbook will thank us on Thursday, even if your pounding head does not. // 46 Geary Street (FiDi), hawthornsf.com

Celebrate Winter WINEland in Sonoma County

Winter rains bringing you down? Head north to Sonoma County this weekend for Winter WINEland, where 120+ wineries along Wine Road are ready to welcome you into their warm embrace with wine and snacks. Purchase a $60 ticket for the weekend, or a $45 ticket for Sunday at any one of the participating wineries in Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Healdsburg, Geyserville, and beyond. Map your own route based on what each winery is offering. Designated drivers ($10 ticket) will be offered non-alcoholic beverages to go with their snacks. // Northern Sonoma County, wineroad.com/events/winter-wineland

Small-Batch Cider Tasting at Causwells

The Winemaker's Tasting Series at Causwells is going to the apples this week, featuring Colin Davis from Shacksbury Cider  in Vermont on Tuesday, January 19, from 5 to 7pm. He will be pouring several of his small production ciders, including Lost and Found, which is made with foraged heirloom apples and is fermented in the bottle with wild yeast. Causwells will be offering one of his ciders on draft and three or four more in the bottle. If you ask nicely, Davis might even tell you how he makes it. // 2346 Chestnut Street (Cow Hollow); causwells.com

Send drinking suggestions to renee@grassrootspr.com.