Meet Baja’s star winemakers at weekly event in Bankers Hill

If you’re like us and you can’t wait for Baja’s Valle Food & Wine Fest Oct. 5-7 — what’s sure to be the all-star culinary event of the year — here’s a glass of good news.

San Diegans can get a taste for the talent of the Valle de Guadalupe’s winemakers at a weekly event at Franco on Fifth in Bankers Hill. The Meet the Winemaker series will feature several tastes, paired with bites, from a winery participating in the festival.

Even if you’re not heading south, this is a delicious way to discover one of the trendiest — and best — wine regions in the world.

The schedule:

Aug. 14, El Cielo;

Aug. 21, Cava Maciel;

Aug. 28, Torres Alegre;

Sept. 4 Finca La Carrodilla and Lomita;

Sept. 11, Bodegas F. Rubio;

Sept. 18, Alximia;

Sept. 25, Vena Cava.

Meet the Winemaker

7 p.m. Tuesdays. Franco on Fifth, 3334 Fifth Ave., Bankers Hill. $35 at the door or through Eventbrite, bit.ly/2OnG8nV (service charge applies). (619) 888-8033. facebook.com/Francoon5th

If you are headed south for the Valle Food & Wine Festival, here’s are the participating chefs from both sides of the border (when buying tickets, mention CHEF15 for a 15 percent discount):

Visiting chefs from the U.S.:

Rick Bayless (Frontera Grill, Topolobampo, Leña Brava), Nancy Silverton (Mozza Restaurant Group), Dominique Crenn (Atelier Crenn); Jonathan Waxman (Barbuto, Adele’s); Michael Mina (The Mina Group); Ori Menashe (Bestia, Bavel); Walter Manzke (République, Petty Cash); Nancy Oakes (Boulevard); Chandra Gilbert (Gracias Madre, Cafe Gratitude); Dahlia Narvaez (Mozza Restaurant Group); Ryan DeNicola (Chi Spacca).

San Diego chefs:

Brian Malarkey (Herb & Wood); Andrew Spurgin (Bespoke Event Styling); Martin San Román (Dobson’s); Trey Foshee (George’s California Modern, Galaxy Taco); Jason McLeod (Ironside Fish & Oyster, Born & Raised); Jason Knibb (Nine-Ten Restaurant and Bar); Flor Franco (Franco on Fifth) and Claudia Sandoval (Claudia’s Cocina).

Local Baja chefs:

Javier Plascencia (Finca Altozano, Misión 19); Benito Molina and Solange Muris (Manzanilla); Drew Deckman (Deckman’s en el Mogor); Miguel Ángel Guerrero (La Querencia, La Esperanza Baja Med);) David Castro Hussong (Fauna); Sheyla Alvarado (TrasLomita); Giannina Gavaldón (Olivia El Asador Del Porvenir); Angelo Dal Bon (TreGalline); Denise Roa (Rancho La Puerta); Adria Montaño (Don Ramen, Azarosa); Ruffo Ibarra (Oryx Capital, Pancracia), Marco Marín (Latitud 32); and Bianca Castro-Cerio (Biscotti’s).

michele.parente@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @sdeditgirl