Wally's Central Coast Wine and Food Celebration: Worth It

You can drink for charity almost any weekend during the summer. However, the events that make even the jaded feel privileged to be there are relatively few. This is one of them.

Launched in 2004 to fund a UC Davis scholarship in the department of Viticulture and Enology, it's named for Michael Bonaccorsi, the Spago sommelier and winemaker who died that year at the age of 44. Wally's pitches a big tent next to its Westside store and lot of really fine winemakers pour a lot of really good wine. The local restaurants always bring their A-game, too; last year's contributors included Campanile, Grace, Hitching Post (yep, the steakhouse from "Sideways") and a lot more. All that goodwill brings a good crowd; tickets are $95. It's worth it. For tickets, call (310) 475-0606 or click here.