Morsels: Sample wine from Spain, sip mezcal in Monterey or go for some hard cider.

Plates, a new concept from restaurateur Mikey Nguyen (Chopstix) opened recently, filling a familiar space at 1988 Fremont Blvd. in Seaside. Yep, that was home to the first Chopstix. With Plates, look for a nod to traditional Vietnamese family and comfort fare. 394-7653. 

Friday, May 18, brings the Monterey Bay Tequila and Mezcal Tasting to Lopez Restaurante y Cantina. The Monterey Mexican spot presents the monthly tasting from 6-8pm, featuring a sampling of tequila and mezcal purveyors, small bites, and live music. $10.

The 12th annual Santa Lucia Highlands Gala is Saturday, May 19 from 12-3pm. More than 40 wineries will pour. Taste unique selections from Caraccioli Cellars, Morgan, Kosta Browne, Siduri

, Hahn, Belle Glos, McIntyre, ROAR, and Pisoni. Meet the winemakers and enjoy bites from popular local chefs and restaurants, including Bernardus Lodge, the C restaurant + bar, Jeninni Kitchen + Wine Bar, La Balena, Tarpy’s Roadhouse, Village Corner, and more. The gala marks one of the rare occasions when Mer Soleil Winery is open to the public. $120, round-trip shuttle from MPC for $35, tickets via Eventbrite.

Join Big Sur Vineyards for the first of “Wine Education Night” for the spring and summer series on Saturday, May 19 from 7-8:30pm. Hosted by Kerry Winslow at the vineyards’ Carmel Valley tasting room, explore Rhône-style wine and taste Big Sur Vineyards’ 2017 Rosé, 2015 Big Sur Red, and 2015 Syrah against their Rhône counterparts. $35, available via Eventbrite.

Ratel Cider turns two with an anniversary party at Melville Tavern on Monday, May 21 from 7-10pm. Enjoy complimentary tastes of Ratel’s three flagship hard ciders: premium dry-hopped, semi-dry Bright, and dry-hopped apricot sour.

An update on that trio of openings in downtown Pacific Grove: Wild Fish is going strong with seafood selections including wild-caught king salmon (limited availability), from chef Steven Patlan. (545 Lighthouse Ave., 373-8523, wild-fish.com). The Monarch Pub & Restaurant opened last week (617 Lighthouse Ave.). And stay tuned for Poppy Hall, a new California soul food restaurant from Big Sur veterans Philip Wojtowicz (Big Sur Bakery) and Brendan Esons (Big Sur Roadhouse) (589 Lighthouse Ave., 204-9990, poppyhallpg.com).

Osteria Al Mare serves up seaside seafood on Monterey’s Coast Guard Pier, replacing the shuttered Massaro & Santos. The new seafood-centric Italian spot comes from chef Maurizio Cutrignelli, from Maurizio’s Italian restaurant in Morgan Hill. Antipasti selections include seafood staples, like mussels in tomato sauce ($12), and clams in garlic-white wine broth ($12). The menu also includes a number of pastas ($15-23) and  entrees like veal saltimbocca ($24), beer-braised pork shank ($26) and more. Look for cocktails from bartender Amy Magill (formerly of Restaurant 1833) and a large selection of Italian and California wines by the glass. (32 Cannery Row, Monterey, 920-2833, osteriaalmare.com)

Holman Ranch has debuted its new tasting room in downtown Carmel. The tasting room is on Seventh, between San Carlos and Dolores, and is open noon-6pm Sunday-Thursday and until 7pm on Friday and Saturday.

Slowly but surely, new owners Fabrice and Jennifer Roux are putting their signature spin on Fifi’s Bistro. Look for the debut of a new bar and craft cocktails. Current selections include an Old Fashioned, barrel aged with walnut bitters, the Fifi’s Sour with bourbon and Port, and the Menage A Trois with tequila and watermelon (all $12). Sunday brunch brings a Bloody Mary cart for tableside cocktails. Next, the Rouxs plan to remodel the interior to create a Parisian lounge feel.