Paul Franson's

Each issue of NapaLife lists events for the next two weeks, and the last issue each month (and the online edition) lists events for the next year.

Wine and corkage survey published

Subscribers to NapaLife have received a bonus issue: A survey of the corkage and minimum wine prices of local restaurants.

It offers information on restaurants that offer free corkage, and when they do, the lowest cost glasses and bottles of wine, and more.

To subscribe to NapaLife, use the coupon at the top of the page to pay with a credit card of Pay Pal, or send a check for $50 to Paul Franson, 2035 Oak St., Napa, CA 94559.

The e-mail address is paul@napalife.com.

Mondavi Summer Festival lineup complete

The Robert Mondavi Winery has released its schedule of summer concerts.

The eclectic performances at the winery in Oakville:

July 4 Preservation Hall Jazz Band and fireworks

July 11 Ozomatli urban-Latino

July 18 Blondie

July 25 KC & the Sunshine Band

August 1 Smokey Robinson presented by Napa Valley Opera House

Tickets are $60 to $260 from general admission lawn seating to premier dinner seating.

Order from www.robertmondaviwinery.com or (888) RMW-JAZZ (769-5299).

Stars for fourth Festival del Sole

Festival del Sole has released details of its fourth season in Napa Valley, July 17 to 25.

The weeklong schedule includes world-class concerts, exclusive receptions, lunches and dinners, wine tastings, art exhibitions and free community concerts showcasing talented young performers.

Tickets for concerts range from $35-$125 with discounts for students and purchases by April 15.

Passes include gala lunches, dinners and other VIP events, and prime seating at performances. For information and purchases, visit www.festivaldelsole.com, call 888-337-6272 (888-FDS-NAPA) or write to info@fdsnapa.org.

Music in the Vineyards

Music in the Vineyards is a nationally acclaimed chamber music festival held each Aug. in the Napa Valley. The three-week festival Aug. 5-23 showcases world-class artists-in-residence performing new and classic chamber music repertoire in stunning winery settings.

With wine tastings at each intermission and breathtaking views of the Napa Valley, this combination of Wine Country ambiance and world-class talent allows artists and audiences alike to experience the intimacy of chamber music as it was intended to be performed.

Get details at www.napavalleymusic.org or call 258-5559.

Wine Country chefs fight childhood hunger

Wine Country’s hottest chefs, restaurants, and wineries will gather for Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation. It raises critical funds needed to support efforts to end childhood hunger in Napa County and across the nation.

This year’s event will be held on Monday, Aug. 17 at Silverado Resort with a golf tournament and lunch from 12 to 5 p.m., and a Grand Tasting and Auction beginning at 5 p.m.

Tickets for Taste of the Nation Napa Valley Golf Tournament with lunch and Taste of the Nation are $215.

Taste of the Nation food and wine reception are $100.

Buy tickets at (877) 26-TASTE (268-2783) or TasteOfTheNation.org.

Fresh Aire Festival

The Napa Fresh Aire Festival, a three-day celebration of healthy lifestyl is Aug. 28-30.

The fair focuses on health, wellness and renewal, with programs and activities featuring over 60 leading authorities and 75 sessions devoted to personal well-being and eco-conscious living.

Highlights include special guest speakers Dr Andrew Weil and Dan Buettner, a concert by two-time Grammy Award-winning “Wings” guitarist Laurence Juber, outdoor fitness programs and yoga classes, lessons on bio-dynamic food and wine, a free wellness area for sample treatments and demonstrations of health and healing modalities, and a free Expo featuring traditional and alternative spiritual health, fitness and recreation, and eco-conscious products and services.

The Festival will be at the Westin Verasa, with other activitiesnearby.

For information, visit www.napafreshairefest.com.

Harvest Stomp

Napa Valley Grapegrowers will hold Harvest Stomp, an authentic harvest celebration on Saturday, August 29, from 5-9 p.m. at the historic Gamble Ranch Vineyard in Yountville. The evening will feature diverse wines from throughout the Napa Valley, exhibition style cuisine, dancing, a raffle and a live auction filled with a limited number of select, one-of-a-kind Napa Valley experiences. For information call 944-8311 or visit www.napagrowers.org.

Napa Valley Opera House Gala 2009

The Napa Valley Opera House 2009 Gala will be titled Shaken, Not Stirred and will naturally feature the great retro Latin band Pink Martini.

It will be on Saturday, Oct. 3, and festivities begin at 4 p.m. with wine tasting and a martini bar reception, dinner and live auction in the a pink pavilion across from the Napa Valley Opera House.

The performance will be in the Margrit Biever Mondavi Theatre.

Call 603-2339 or e-mail cheryl@nvoh.org for tickets and more information.

For a free guide to public relations for wineries, restaurants and non-profit events, and for a guide to media in Napa Valley, click on the links or e-mail paul@napalife.com.