Upcoming wine festivals and more

There are two wine festivals coming up next weekend. The eighth annual Ponte Vedra Beach Food & Winefest begins Friday, Nov. 6, and continues through Sunday, Nov. 8, at the Sawgrass Marriott. The weekend begins Friday with a four-course dinner paired with wines from Bodega Navarro Correas ($95); on Saturday, a grand tasting with more than 145 wines ($50); and on Sunday, a champagne brunch ($65). Tickets to all three events are $175. Call (904) 285-2004 or visit www.pontevedrawinefest. com for more information.

The sixth annual Festival d'Vine will be held from 6:30- 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, in San Marco Square. A fundraiser for Catholic Charities, the event will have more than 300 wines available for sampling with food from more than 20 restaurants. The Grotto in San Marco has coordinated with local wine distributors, and Bill Foley and Foley Family Wines will be the featured vinter this year. Tickets are $75 per person and can be purchased by calling Catholic Charities at (904) 354-4846, ext. 227, or at www.ccbjax.org. Tickets can also be purchased the night of the event.

Gluten free for the holidays

The holidays are often marked with food, and it seems cookies, fresh bread and pies are around every corner. These seasonal indulgences pose difficulty for those who have food sensitivities, including those who have trouble digesting gluten (found in flour), milk or those allergic to nuts.

A local mother whose son had special dietary needs has started a company that caters to those with such food restrictions. Last year, she opened a wholesale bakery called Cookie Momsters. All products are gluten-, casein- (a milk protein) and nut-free.

Initially, Lynn Yeager sold her products through the Internet or directly to stores, including Whole Foods, Native Sun and Grassroots Market. But last week, she opened a retail bakery at 5041 San Jose Blvd., just north of University Avenue. The bakery, featuring cookies, muffins, bread and other goodies, is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. The hours will be expanded as the holidays approach.

To learn more about the company or gluten-free cooking, plan to attend a cooking class hosted by Yeager at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Whole Foods. The class will feature tips, recipes and a taste of Cookie Momsters' products. The class is $5, and reservations can be made by calling (904) 288-1100.