Bottoms Up

I’ve got a stock pile of cool events coming up in the Bay Area for those who like to sip for a good cause. Here are some highlights.

Angove Nine Vines Dinners at Orson: Select dates from Jan. 26-March 24

Angove Family Winemakers is one of the oldest family-owned wine producers in Australia. Each year, they do a series of winemakers dinners to benefit San Francisco’s Project Open Hand. This year, 30 percent of ticket sales from the four-course dinners will go this charity.

Dinners are $75 per person and are Jan. 26 (Orson); Feb. 24 (Betelnut); March. 24 (Scala’s Bistro). For tickets, go to www.ninevinesevents.com.

Benefit: Project Open Hand

Dutcher Crossing’s Blending for a Cause: 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 8, 2010

Each year, winery owner Debra Mathy of Dutcher Crossing Winery in St. Helena creates a small-lot tribute wine in honor of her late father, who died of melanoma in 2007.

Join Mathy and winemaker Kerry Damskey as they blend this year’s wine, a Cabernet Sauvignon from Mountain Terrace Vineyard on Mt. Veeder in Sonoma Valley. Only 150 cases will be produced. Price of wine is unknown at this time. 8325 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg. To RSVP, call Kate at 707-433-4173.

Benefit: Melanoma cancer research

Second Annual WORDUP Wine Tasting: 2 to 5 p.m.  Feb. 21, 2010

WORD UP is possibly the coolest acronym in the wine world. It stands for Winemakers of the Richmond District, Upper Panhandle, and Presidio. Join more than 20 San Francisco winemakers, including AP Vin, Carica, and Renard, as they pour their wines made from some of the best vineyards in California. Fort Mason Conference Center, Fort Mason, San Francisco. $50. For tickets, go to www.friendssfpl.com.

Benefit: Friends of the San Francisco Public Library’s Neighborhood Library Campaign.