Like wining and dining? There’s another way to do it aside from booking a table at a restaurant and driving from one winery to another. Event’s like the Taste of Yountville, part of the Yountville Live! extravaganza, give you the chance to nibble and tipple in the confines of a few city blocks.

Recently I ventured into the heart of the wine country and a culinary mecca — Yountville is home to the famous French Laundry — for a walk-around tasting of local wines and locally prepared foods.

Among the highlights of the afternoon included a fantastic pate from Bistro Jeanty, which paired wonderfully with a Clos du Val Chardonnay. I also had a soft spot for Bouchon’s truffled fries, which were paired up with a silky Cab from Newton Vineyards. Other top-notch wines included Trefethen’s Pinot Noir, drinking beautifully, and a Cabernet and unoaked Chardonnay from Alpha Omega — both knockouts.

It’s always fun to visit Yountville, but I’ve never really done so much of it on foot. If you go — this annual event occurs every March — bring your appetite … and a hat!