32nd Annual Winesong event on the Mendocino Coast

Tickets Now on Sale for Annual Event to Benefit Mendocino Coast District Hospital

— Lowell Herrero Named 2016 Artist of Year in Memoriam —
— Grace Family Vineyards Named as 2016 Honored Winery —

FORT BRAGG, CA –  Tickets are now on sale for the 32nd Annual Winesong event—a spectacular weekend of award winning wine, fabulous food, fine art, music, merriment, and charitable giving. Produced by the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation, the main event takes place at the gorgeous Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens on Saturday, September 10th, with A Pinot Noir Celebration at the nearby Little River Inn on Friday, September 9th. Mendocino wines are building a reputation for excellence, and Winesong allows attendees the opportunity to explore the local vintages connoisseurs have already discovered, alongside fine wines from elsewhere around the world. It’s also the perfect opportunity to sample culinary delights from locally-based purveyors and take in world-class artwork. Winesong aims to create harmony between one of the most breathtaking vistas on earth and all of your other senses, and there’s a reason it’s considered to be Mendocino’s premier food and wine event—there’s no better way to savor what this stunning stretch of the Pacific Coast (and beyond) has to offer, all while raising money for the Mendocino Coast District Hospital.

Revered artist and long-time Winesong supporter, the late Lowell Herrero, has been announced as 2016’s Artist of the Year. A WW II vet and California native, Lowell’s joyous works exalt the bountiful and bucolic lifestyle that Winesong supports. Every year from 1997 through 2015, the Herreros contributed special pieces to the Charity Auction, and every year bidders were whipped into a frenzy by his offerings (oftentimes depicting large, brightly attired people picking overly large, juicy grapes, ripe olives, and lush lavender). Janet Herrero has been generous enough to donate one of her late husband’s classic images, Garvey Grape Harvest, to grace the cover of the auction catalog and appear in posters and other materials. It will also be etched on a 3-liter of wine from Grace Family Vineyards, the Honored Winery of 2016. In addition, a giclee print on canvas will be offered for auction. In all of these ways, Winesong will bring Lowell’s sublime vision to our community one more time to honor the memory of this magnificent man.

This year’s Honored Winery is Grace Family Vineyards. As humanitarians with a compassionate world-view and as vintners creating world-class wines, Dick and Ann Grace personify the very best of philanthropy and stewardship of the land. Grace Family Vineyards has been a cornerstone of Winesong every year since 1992, and by donating annually and attending frequently, Dick and Ann Grace stood by their personal commitment—“Wine as a catalyst toward healing our planet.” For the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation, that “healing” came in the form of quality medical treatment that the Graces helped to provide for countless Mendocino residents. The Graces have also directed their humanitarian efforts around the globe, in the form of relief work in Nepal, India, and Katmandu, and have had the pleasure to host Unsung Heroes of Compassion in years past, which is presided over by His Holiness, the 14th Dali Lama. Like the Herreros, the Graces have been cornerstones of the Winesong community, and it is a profound privilege to honor them this year.

Here’s a quick overview of what you can expect at this year’s Winesong event. Tickets to each event are available for purchase at: https://winesong.ejoinme.org/purchase-tickets-winesong-2016.

A Pinot Noir Celebration: Meet the Winemakers

Friday, September 9, 2016 | 1 to 4 p.m.

The weekend kicks off with a prestigious Pinot Noir tasting, presented by Winesong and hosted by Little River Inn. Attendees will enjoy Pinot Noir from renowned Anderson Valley, along with wines from other award-winning pinot regions, alongside tastes of Little River Inn’s finest culinary offerings. General Admission Tickets for A Pinot Noir Celebration: Meet the Winemakers are $75 per person.

Wine & Food Grand Tasting in the Gardens

Saturday, September 10, 2016 | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Stroll through the lush Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens while enjoying vintages poured by world-class wineries from Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, and beyond. Sample beer, spirits, and food from 50 of Mendocino County’s finest purveyors. The tasting is accented by various musical groups performing a variety of styles including jazz, classical, blues, calypso and folk rock. General Admission Tickets with festival seating at auction and access to wine and food tasting are $125 per person for Early Responders; $150 per person after June 1st.

Silent & Live Auctions

Saturday, September 10, 2016 | SILENT: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; LIVE: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The centerpiece of Winesong weekend is the Charity Auction, featuring both a silent and live auction. More than 200 lots will be on offer, featuring spectacular wines from the world’s most prestigious wine producers, rare vintages, large format bottles and special vertical and horizontal collections, as well as original art from acclaimed California artists (including Lowell Herrero) and highly coveted international and domestic vacation packages. Auction Reserve Tickets with assigned seating under the auction tent (w/catered lunch) and access to wine and food tasting are $225 per person for Early Responders; $250 per person after June 1st.

For further information, please visit http://winesong.org or call (707) 961-4688.

About Winesong & the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation

Winesong is produced by the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for the Mendocino Coast District Hospital. Its mission is to help the small rural Hospital provide the best possible medical care to residents as well as the many visitors to the Mendocino Coast. Winesong proceeds have enabled the Hospital to purchase chemotherapy equipment, portable ultrasound machines for the Emergency Room as well as a state-of-the-art Diagnostic Imaging Center,, Cardiology Equipment, and most recently, a Bedside Medicine Verification System.