What better way to enjoy a summer evening than picnicking in a vineyard, sipping wine and listening to opera?

Livermore Valley Opera’s annual Opera in the Vineyard events sell out every year and it’s no wonder. It is an evening of opera in a relaxed, casual setting nestled among the vines. And because of the event’s mass popularity, LVO is once again hosting two events this summer. The first is Sunday, June 24 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Nella Terra Cellars, 5005 Sheridan Road, Sunol. The second is Sunday, July 15, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Retzlaff Vineyards, 1356 S. Livermore Ave., Livermore.

Tickets are $50 each in advance, $55 each at the door. Tickets can be purchased online on the Livermore Valley Opera website at www.livermorevalleyopera.com. All ticket levels will have table seating. Tables of eight are available for purchase in advance for $360.

While wines will be available for purchase from each winery, no outside wine is permitted. Guests are encouraged to carpool.

Visit LVO’s website www.livermorevalleyopera.com for more event information.

The two events offer a chance for the community to enjoy arias from classic operas performed by professional singers in an informal setting. It is a “bring-your-own-picnic dinner” event where guests can purchase the wines of Nella Terra Cellars or Retzlaff Vineyards while enjoying performances by professional opera singers.

Performers for the June event at Nella Terra feature four singers, most who have performed with LVO in the past including favorite baritone Eugene Brancoveanu, with mezzo soprano Molly Hill and soprano Shawnette Sulker. Tenor Dane Suarez, a resident artist with Opera San Jose, will make his debut with LVO at this June event. Pianist Chun Mei Wilson will accompany the singers.

The July event at Retzlaff Vineyards will offer a different program of musical selections again with Brancoveanu, Suarez and Hill performing but adding soprano Erin O’Meally with LVO’s Music Director Alexander Katsman at the piano.

Both events will offer the extremely popular “Arias a la carte” portion of the program when guests have the opportunity to purchase songs from a “menu of delectable arias” for the singers to perform at the purchaser’s table or seating area.