Taste of Monticello Wine Trail Festival Returns April 29-May 5

April 17, 2019 by evebushman

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Returning in just one month for a seven-day run following the success of last year’s expansion to a week-long event, the 2019 Taste of Monticello Wine Trail Festival presented by Mercedes Benz of Charlottesville will return to Charlottesville to celebrate the best of wines in the Monticello American Viticultural Area (AVA) of Virginia beginning Monday, April 29 through Sunday, May 5. Events will take place at Vault Virginia, multiple area wineries and restaurants, and Sprint Pavilion.

Tickets are on sale now and available at monticellowinetrailfestival.com and the Charlottesville’s Visitor Center on the downtown mall. Patrons will again have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of events available with optional VIP upgrades.

The Taste of Monticello Wine Trail Festival, an established spring tradition in Charlottesville, is a partnership between the Monticello Wine Trail, Sprint Pavilion and Vault Virginia, with presenting sponsor Mercedes-Benz of Charlottesville. The Monticello Wine Trail is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote quality grapes and wine produced in the Monticello AVA. Dynamic winemakers, who are creating a unique wine region that features wines with an authentic expression of place, shape the region. The high quality of these wines is often recognized with success in national and international wine competitions.

“The Taste of Monticello Wine Trail Festival is a great opportunity to experience all of what the Monticello AVA has to offer. Expanding the festival from three to seven days allowed us to schedule a wider variety of events so guests can create an itinerary that matches their personal tastes,” said MWT President George Hodson.

Participating Vineyards and Wineries

The 2019 Monticello Wine Trail Festival will feature 29 participating regional wineries and vineyards, including: Afton Mountain Vineyards, Barboursville Vineyards, Blenheim Vineyards, Burnley Vineyards, Cardinal Point Vineyard & Winery, Chestnut Oak Vineyard, Cunningham Creek Winery, Delfosse Vineyards & Winery, Early Mountain Vineyards, First Colony Winery, Flying Fox Vineyard, Gabriele Rausse Winery, Glass House Winery, Grace Estate Winery, Horton Vineyards, Jefferson Vineyards, Keswick Vineyards, Kilaurwen Winery, King Family Vineyards, Loving Cup Vineyard & Winery, Lovingston Winery, Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards, Reynard Florence Vineyard, Stinson Vineyards, Stone Mountain Vineyards, Thistle Gate Vineyard, Trump Winery, Veritas Vineyard & Winery and Wisdom Oak Winery.
2019 Schedule of Events & Ticket Information

Festival Kick-Off – Monday, April 29: Monticello Cup Awards
Vault Virginia
6-10 p.m.
An exciting event for the wine enthusiast to kick off this year’s Taste of Monticello Wine Trail Festival, taste award-winning wines from the 2019 Monticello Cup WineCompetition alongside the wine growers and winemakers who made them. The night ends with the competition results for the Top 6 wines and winner of the prestigious Monticello Cup for the overall highest scoring wine.
Tuesday, April 30 – Thursday, May 2: Winemaker Dinners
A series of collaborative dinners between local restaurants and wineries.
For event details and locations, visit monticellowinetrailfestival.com. Reservations are required for each dinner. Contact participating wineries. More dinners to be added.
- Wednesday, May 1 – Brasserie Saison Winemakers Dinner (Afton Mountain Vineyards & Jake Busching Wines).
- Thursday, May 2 – Taste of White Hall Winemakers Dinner (Grace Estate Winery, Stinson Vineyards, White Hall Vineyards)
- Thursday, May 2 – Going Rogue: A Most Peculiar Wine Tasting (Early Mountain Vineyards, Flying Fox Vineyards, King Family Vineyards, Lightwell Survey Wines, Veritas Vineyard & Winery)
Friday, May 3: The 3rd Annual Rosé Lunch
11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Call for event information: 434.245.4920
The 3^rd annual Monticello AVA Rosé Lunch will feature four rosés from the Monticello AVA perfectly paired with a seasonal menu.
Friday, May 3: Winery Tours and Tastings
For event details and locations, visit monticellowinetrailfestival.com. These events will have limited tickets available depending on location. Please contact participating winery for more information.
Friday, May 3: A Spirited Wine Trail Reception
For event details and locations, visit monticellowinetrailfestival.com.
Saturday, May 4: The Grand Tasting
Sprint Pavilion
1:30-5:30 p.m. (VIP ticket holders gain early entry at 12:30 p.m.)
Tickets (ages 12 and under are Free):
General Admission: $29 until Midnight April 15, $35 after April 15, $40 at gate
General Admission Designated Driver or Under 21: $10
VIP: $80
VIP Designated Driver or Under 21: $25
Tasting event at Sprint Pavilion featuring more than 25 local wineries and live entertainment. An exclusive VIP ticket is available and offers catered food and an opportunity for sampling exclusive wines from each winery.
Wine tastings will be limited to one flight of tastings per winery with the purchase of your ticket. Extra wine can be purchased by the glass or bottle.
Festival Finale – Sunday, May 5: The 4th Annual Sparkling Brunch
Veritas Vineyard & Winery
10 a.m.-Noon | Tickets are $25
Wrapping up this year’s Taste of Monticello Wine Trail Festival, the 4th Annual Monticello AVA Sparkling Brunch will be held at Veritas Vineyard & Winery and will feature sparkling wines from five area wineries. The ticket prices includes food and a tasting from each sparkling producer. Additional glasses, or bottles, of sparkling wine can be purchased for on and offsite consumption.

Complete schedule of all events, information and menus available at monticellowinetrailfestival.com.

For more information on the Monticello Wine Trail Festival, visit monticellowinetrailfestival.com, and follow on: Facebook.com/TasteOfMonticelloWineTrailFestival, and Twitter@TasteMonticello.

37th Annual Santa Barbara Vintners Festival Returns to Santa Maria Valley

April 14, 2019 by evebushman

SANTA BARBARA, CA – 2019 – The Santa Barbara Vintners Festival, now in its 37th year, stands out in a world awash in wine festivals. Not only is it one of the largest wine festivals in Southern California, but it is often the actual winemaker or winery owner who is pouring for the public. Slated for May 4, 2019 at Rancho Sisquoc Winery, this festival sets itself apart as the wine festival put on by winemakers for wine lovers.

Novice and experienced oenophiles alike get the opportunity to ask their wine related questions during the weekend’s signature Festival Grand Tasting. Held the afternoon of May 4th, at majestic Rancho Sisquoc, the Festival Grand Tasting features over 70 wineries, many pouring newly released wines. Local food purveyors, live music, culinary and wine demonstrations, and a silent auction are a perfect pairing with the wine.

The Santa Barbara Vintners Festival allows wine lovers to taste over 70 varietals grown locally. No other wine festival in the world offers the opportunity to experience more local grapes. Santa Barbara is blessed with such great diversity because of its unique geography which includes a transverse valley. This east-west valley creates a quilt of micro-climates in the area, allowing for the wide range of grapes that thrive.

Drawing on the wealth of wine knowledge represented at the Festival, guests will get a behind-the-scenes look at how wine is made. There will be museum-like displays providing insight into the winemaking world, from watching a cooper make barrels, to seeing how wine actually gets in the bottle, to barrel-tasting at the winery itself.

During the weekend of the Festival, the Vintners Visa is also available. This $50 Wine Country Tasting Pass allows guests to pick tastings at 12 wineries in the county with over 40 wineries to choose from during the May 2-6, 2019 window. This pass is the most robust tasting ticket offered all year.

Several ticket options are available for the Santa Barbara Vintners Festival. Early Entry VIP access ($100), which allows holders access to the Festival Grand Tasting an hour before it opens to the public, General Admission ($75), Locals Only ($60) and Designated Drivers and Under 21 ($25).

This year the Festival returns to Santa Maria’s Rancho Sisquoc Winery, the beloved site of past Festivals. The winery is part of a 37,000 acre cattle ranch and farm purchased in 1952 by Mr. and Mrs. James Flood, who still own the property today. The ranch is part of an 1852 Mexican land grant and the Chumash Indians called this area “Sisquoc,” which meant “gathering place.” Today, Rancho Sisquoc remains a gathering place, this time for wine lovers.

The northern region of the Santa Barbara County, Santa Maria Valley, is renowned for world-class Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. The area boasts 34 tasting rooms, six unique AVAs, 13 beaches, and a growing selection of local breweries, all within a beautiful 30-minute drive. If you are looking for sand dunes, hiking trails, horseback riding, cycling, and authentic Santa Maria Style barbecue, you’ll find all in Santa Maria Valley. Santa Maria Valley is the perfect home base to eat, drink and do more for less. Guests who are staying at any Santa Maria Valley hotel receive a special pass that include tastings at Santa Maria Valley area tasting rooms.

Tickets for the festival are available online now, visit www.sbvintnersweekend.com for more information.

SANTA BARBARA VINTNERS

The Santa Barbara Vintners (Santa Barbara County Vintners Association) is a non- profit 501 (c) 6 organization founded in 1983 to support and promote Santa Barbara County as a world-class, authentic wine producing and wine grape growing region. The Association includes winery members whose annual production is at least 75% Santa Barbara County (or sub-AVA) labeled, winery associates, vineyards, vineyard management companies, hospitality, and industry associate members. The Association produces festivals and wine country weekends; educational seminars and tastings; provides information to consumers, trade, and media; and advocates for the Santa Barbara County wine and grape industry. www.sbcountywines.com

17TH ANNUAL SAN FERNANDO VALLEY FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL, APRIL 27, 2019

April 13, 2019 by evebushman

SYLMAR, CA – The Los Angeles Mission College (LAMC) Foundation will be hosting the 17^thAnnual San Fernando Valley Food & Wine Festival on Saturday, April 27, 2019.

This signature event raises crucial funds for our scholarship programs which provides a local financial support system for students and has awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships, thanks to the success of events like this. It will be an exciting and fun-filled day to include exquisite cuisine prepared by our award-winning Culinary Arts Institute, wonderful wines, a silent auction, live entertainment and much more!

“San Fernando Valley Food & Wine Festival is a yearly must-attend event for the San Fernando Valley.”

This year’s Annual Food & Wine Festival is expected to draw hundreds of guests in the beautiful Los Angeles Mission College Culinary Arts Institute Building on the afternoon of April 27^th from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

With a theme of “International Cuisine” attendees will enjoy cuisine from around the world, pared with wines to complement each dish. In addition, we will be hosting a silent auction, pastry pavilion, and live entertainment provided by local artists.

Meet our amazing faculty and staff of master chefs, including Culinary Arts Department Chair, Chef Louis Eguaras. His past experience includes: Executive Chef of Presidential Culinary Services; Author of bestselling book “101 Things I Learned in Culinary School,” and former White House Chef at Camp David Presidential Retreat and The White House cooking for Presidents Bush Sr and Bill Clinton, dignitaries like Nelson Mandela, John Majors and Brian Mulroney and celebrities like Tom Hanks, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore and more.

General admission tickets are $65 and VIP tickets are $150. All tickets will include a beautiful souvenir stemmed wine glass to commemorate the event.

To purchase tickets, please visit http://sfvfw.com/ or call: 818 364-7600 ext. 7111

About the Los Angeles College Foundation:

The Los Angeles Mission College Foundation is the support arm of the college, made up of community members and civic and business leaders.

The mission of Los Angeles Mission College Foundation is to raise funds and provide stewardship for funds already raised, through annual scholarship drives, special events, grant applications and business partnerships. Our goal is to provide a local financial support system to needy and deserving students entering and continuing their education at Mission College. Our vision is to improve the quality of life in our community by providing support for individuals from diverse backgrounds to pursue quality accessible educational programs and services.

22nd Annual Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival Announced for May 17-19

April 3, 2019 by evebushman

Anderson Valley, CA – The Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association is pleased to announce that the 22nd annual Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival will take place May 17, 18 and 19, 2019. Wine lovers are invited to sip, sample and savor Anderson Valley Pinot Noir (plus rose and sparkling wines) from more than 50 producers, enjoy mouth-watering food pairings by the region’s best chefs and local caterers, and listen to live music while bidding on exquisite auction lots for local charity.

The much-anticipated weekend’s events range from educational seminars to a live music BBQ, grand tasting, winemaker dinners and free winery open houses – all hosted amidst the spectacular beauty of Anderson Valley’s vineyards and towering redwood trees. Music lovers will be happy to learn about an added bonus – this year Camp Navarro will host a concert on Saturday evening. The events have achieved a loyal following for being distinctively uncrowded and unpretentious, with an array of Pinot Noir styles that serve as the ideal introduction (or refresher course!) to the Anderson Valley.

“We could not be more thrilled to celebrate the 22^nd annual Pinot Noir Festival,” says Kristy Charles, President of the Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association and Owner of Foursight Wines. “Our aim is that revelers will leave the festival with a deeper connection to our vineyards and an appreciation for the caliber of wines coming out of Anderson Valley.”

A full list of events can be found below, as well as at avwines.com/pinot-noir-festival.
Tickets are available for individual events as well as for weekend packages. Discounted ticket packages are available when booked together, and limited. Winemaker dinners will be announced on Friday, March 15 at noon and often sell-out quickly. Sign up for the AVWA mailing list to be informed of event updates. Tent and cabin accommodations at Camp Navarro are available Thursday through Sunday on their website: campnavarropresents.com/anderson-valley-pinot-festival.

Event tickets are limited and will sell out, so early purchase is strongly recommended. For more information, please call 707.895.9463 or visit avwines.com/pinot-noir-festival.

About Anderson Valley
Anderson Valley, located less than 100 miles north of San Francisco, is an area blessed with a temperate cool coastal climate. Classified in viticultural terms as a Region 1 growing area, this designates it as the coolest climate in which grapes may be commercially grown with any success. Cutting laterally through the coastal range rather than lying between ridges, the west or “deep end” of the Anderson Valley is only a few miles from the cold Pacific Ocean, while the town of Boonville is some 20 miles to the east. The combination of warm sunny days and cool foggy nights and mornings allow the grapes from this region to mature slowly and to develop to the height of their varietal character. The planted acreage in the Anderson Valley consists primarily of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, and Riesling. There are also small acreages of other varietals such as Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Merlot.

In addition to producing superb Pinot Noirs and Alsace varietal wines, the valley is home to three methode champenoise sparkling houses.

About the About the Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association
The Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association (AVWA) is a not-for-profit trade group created in 1983 to promote the grapes and wines of the Anderson Valley winegrowing appellation. The AVWA is supported through the dues paid by its membership, generous sponsorships, and proceeds from the festivals and events the association produces each year.

Along with promoting the Anderson Valley as a viticultural region, AVWA also works to build its community. To date over $400,000 has been donated to local community groups such as the Anderson Valley Health Center, Anderson Valley Housing Association, Anderson Valley Ambulance, the Anderson Valley Fire Department, as well as the Community Foundation of Mendocino County Disaster Fund for the most recent fire relief and recovery efforts. For more information on the AVWA, please visit www.avwines.com.

Effervescence, a Champagne and Sparkling Wine Festival, returns to Los Angeles May 3-5, 2019

April 1, 2019 by evebushman

LOS ANGELES, CA. —Effervescence, America’s leading epicurean event centered solely around Champagne and sparkling wines, is coming back to Los Angeles May 3-5, 2019. The three-day festival will kick off on May 3rd with a once-in-a-lifetime dinner hosted by Krug and will pour into the weekend with grand tastings featuring top Champagnes and sparkling wines from around the world, and master classes taught by leading experts. An exclusive gala dinner at Jar and a sparkling wine brunch for collectors, winemakers, and enthusiasts will be hosted by celebrity chef, Nancy Silverton. Tickets for individual events are available at www.effervescencela.com.

The three-day festival will include:

Effervescence LA returns to Los Angeles May 3-5, 2019

Krug Collector Dinner
Friday, May 3rd at 7:00 p.m.
Effervescence will kick off the 3-day festival with a once-in-a-lifetime dinner for Champagne collectors, hosted by Krug Champagne, at 71 Above in downtown Los Angeles, located at 633 W. 5th St. Winemaker Jérôme Jacoillot of the distinguished Krug Champagne will share stories and insight into the legendary house. Current releases as well as very rare library bottlings will be paired with a special menu prepared by Chef Vartan Abgaryan. Seating is extremely limited. $1,750 per person.
Grand Champagne Tasting
Saturday, May 4th from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Hosted at The Line Hotel, located at 3515 Wilshire Blvd. in LA’s trendy Koreatown district, the walk-around Grand Champagne Tasting will offer guests an opportunity to taste and converse with the winemakers, owners, and brand ambassadors from renowned Champagne houses. Master classes will be led by Champagne experts, focusing on the terroirs of Champagne. $250 per person.
Gala Dinner with chefs Nancy Silverton and Suzanne Tracht
Saturday, May 4th at 7:00 p.m.
Renown female chefs Nancy Silverton, the first woman to win the James Beard Foundation’s Outstanding Chef Award, along with her dear friend, Chef Suzanne Tracht, owner of Jar restaurant, will host this year’s not-to-be-missed Effervescence LA Gala Dinner. Winemakers will bring their own special bottles of Champagne and sparkling wines to share over the course of this special and intimate dinner. Diners are encouraged to bring a favorite bottle to share. Jar is located at 8225 Beverly Blvd. in Los Angeles. $500 per person.
More Bubbles Brunch at Hedley & Bennett with Chef Nancy Silverton
Sunday, May 5th from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The popular More Bubbles Brunch melds a walk-around tasting of sparkling wines from Italy, Spain, USA, England, New Zealand, South Africa and beyond with a sumptuous brunch menu prepared by Chef Nancy Silverton. Guests will experience the diversity of grapes and sparkling wine styles from around the world, amidst the colorful and contemporary indoor and outdoor space of Hedley & Bennett, a woman-owned and operated apron factory on the border of the Fashion District in downtown Los Angeles, located at 3864 S Santa Fe Ave. in Los Angeles. $125 per person.

The idea for Effervescence was inspired by Olivier Krug, a sixth-generation member of the Krug family and director of the Champagne house. “Olivier was visiting Los Angeles and was so impressed with our city’s culinary diversity and thirst for bubbles that he suggested we hold an event to celebrate both. Because of his enthusiasm, we decided to pop the cork on this festival in a big way and are thrilled for what the 2nd annual event will bring,” says Dan Perrelli, founder of Effervescence and owner of First the Wine, a Los Angeles wine shop.

About Effervescence LA
Effervescence is an annual series of events celebrating Champagne and sparkling wine. Taking place in Los Angeles on May 3-5, 2019, Effervescence brings together serious Champagne collectors, luxury consumers, and adventurous aficionados of bubbles, providing an extraordinary opportunity to taste and learn about the world of Champagne and sparkling wine. Participating wineries will experience a unique and intimate opportunity to deepen their connections with an eager audience of wine lovers.

Follow on Social Media
#effervescenceLA #morebubbles
Facebook: Effervescence LA
Twitter: @EffervescenceLA
Instagram: @EffervescenceLA
Website: effervescencela.com

America’s Best Wine Festival* Returns to Sonoma with 40 Garagiste Winemakers, April 13th

March 9, 2019 by evebushman

PASO ROBLES, Calif. (PRWEB) – The Garagiste Wine Festival, which was named America’s Best Wine Festival by USA Today in 2018, returns to Sonoma with 40 micro-production winemakers from Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lodi, Sierra Foothills, and more, on April 13th. The internationally renowned festival showcases innovative winemakers who handcraft under 1,500 cases of wine and who, in most cases, don’t have tasting rooms, offering a one-of-a-kind opportunity to taste a range of cutting-edge wine discoveries, with limited attendees, all under one roof.

The non-profit event will be held at the Sonoma Veterans Building near Sonoma’s historic downtown plaza and includes a tasting seminar on the new West Sonoma Coast AVA, featuring Sonoma winemakers Andy Peay from Peay Vineyards and Carroll Kemp from Alma Fria Wines. Tickets are on sale at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-garagiste-festival-northern-exposure-tickets-52724183452

“We know that wine lovers can tire of over-crowded, over-priced festivals that offer supermarket wines masquerading as ‘boutique’ offerings. This is why The Garagiste Festival is dedicated to bringing these fantastic, hard-to-find winemakers (and it is only the winemakers themselves who pour at Garagiste) to our audience in a setting where they can share their stories with attendees across the table. There’s really no other event like it,” said Garagiste Festival Co-founder Doug Minnick. “More than 90% of the wineries do not have tasting rooms, and can’t be found on “wine country” maps, so this is a unique opportunity to discover hidden treasures. Quality, not quantity, is our mantra and we love the uncrowded interaction that our Sonoma event offers – an opportunity for both fun and appreciation far from the usual madding festival crowd!”

Dubbed “tasting nirvana”, ‘strange and wondrous’, and “one not to miss” by the LA Times, the Garagiste Festivals are known for high quality wines, first-time and ‘soon-to-break-out’ discoveries, diverse grape varieties, a ‘no snobs allowed’ policy and a renegade and fun-loving spirit. The non-profit Garagiste Festivals are the only festivals in the US dedicated to micro-production winemakers and have introduced hundreds of outstanding artisan winemakers to thousands of passionate wine consumers, members of the trade and media, raising the profiles of many of the winemakers nationally for the first time, and raising thousands of dollars for the education of future winemakers.

“We are so pleased to be back in the heart of Sonoma wine country for the second year. While we love every one of our venues, there is something completely different and special about Sonoma, and we were overwhelmed by the positive reception we received last year,” said Garagiste Festival Co-founder Stewart McLennan. “We have an extraordinary line-up of winemakers you may have never heard of — but who you will fall in love with. These winemakers take their craft and their terroir very seriously, and we look forward to exploring this with a deep dive into the treasures of the West Sonoma Coast AVA in our tasting seminar, which kicks off the festival.”

McLennan, who hosts the popular The Garagiste Show on KRUSH 92.5FM, moderates this year’s tasting seminar: “What Defines an AVA? An Exploration of the New ‘West Sonoma Coast’ Appellation and Why the Distinction Matters,” which kicks off the festival. Attendees will learn (and taste) what makes the ‘West Sonoma Coast’ AVA special (and distinct from the wider Sonoma Coast), and why it was necessary for them to pursue this separation. With Andy Peay from Peay Vineyards and Carroll Kemp from Alma Fria Wines. The seminar is available as part of the VIP ALL-DAY TICKET, which also includes a Wine Country Box Lunch – prepared by local favorite The Girl and The Fig – and early access to the Grand Tasting.

Saturday continues with the main event, The Grand Tasting from 2-5pm showcasing 40 winemakers
pouring 150+ wines and 15+ unique varietals. All tickets include unlimited tastes, cheese (courtesy of Cabot Cheese) & charcuterie, gourmet food samples and a souvenir Stolzle crystal wine glass.

For full Garagiste Festival: Northern Exposure 2019 schedule details, go to http://californiagaragistes.com/

Tickets are very limited for the Sonoma festival and Garagiste Festivals always sell out. To buy tickets, go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-garagiste-festival-northern-exposure-tickets-52724183452. For breaking festival news and special discounts, sign-up for our free newsletter, The Dirt at http://garagistefestival.com/sign-up/ or follow us on Twitter (@GaragisteFest) or Facebook.

Among the 40 winemakers already scheduled to pour are:

Adron Wines, Alma Fria, Benevolent Neglect Wines, Betwixt Wines, Bluxome Winery, Boonville Road Wines, Calstar Cellars, Camlow Cellars, Chenoweth Vineyards, Cobden Wini Wines, Crux Winery, Cutruzzola Vineyards, DB Cellars, DeWitt Vineyard, Fallon Place Wines, Fields Family Wines, Gondak Cellars, Gordenker Wines, Greyscale Wines, Kendric Vineyards, Kitson Wines, March Wines, Mastro Scheidt, Merisi Wines, Montagne Russe, Mountain Tides Wine Co., Nowell-Smith Wines, Old County Cellars, Olivera Wines, People’s Wine Revolution, Perri Jaye Vineyards, Powicana Farm, Sosie Wines, St. Romedius, Tom Mackey Cellars, Urban Legend Cellars, Wander Must Wine, Weatherborne Wine Co. and Witching Stick Wines.

Sponsors include: Bank of Marin, ETS, AEB, Laffort, Digital Dogma, Hanover Insurance, Farm Credit, mWEBB Communications, Glenn Burdette, G3, WIVI, House Copper

For sponsorship info, email info(at)garagistefestival(dot)com.

About The Garagiste Wine Festival
The Garagiste Wine Festival (http://www.garagistefestival.com), named the ‘Best Wine Festival in the US’ in 2018 in USA Today’s 10Best Readers Choice Awards, is the first and only wine festival dedicated to the undiscovered and under-recognized American artisan ‘garagiste’ producers who are making some of the best, most exciting, handcrafted small-lot production wines in the world. Founded by fellow garagistes Stewart McLennan and Douglas Minnick, the Garagiste Festivals are committed to discovering the best and most innovative limited-production winemakers and promoting and showcasing them to a broad audience of discerning wine consumers. In addition to its flagship annual festival in Paso Robles, CA, the Garagiste Festival line-up includes Garagiste Festival: Southern Exposure, featuring Santa Ynez Valley garagistes; the Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure, in Los Angeles; the Garagiste Festival, Northern Exposure, in Sonoma; winemaker dinners, a newsletter, garagiste profiles and more.

In addition to being named the US’ Best Wine Festival, the Garagiste Festival was named one of the ‘Top Nine Incredible Epicurean Vacations’ in the world by ABC News, “one of the premier wine events of the year,” by the LA Times and “Best Festival” by Sunset Magazine’s ‘Best of the West.’ The festivals are produced by Garagiste Events, a non-profit dedicated to furthering the education of future winemakers and those training for employment within the wine industry. Proceeds from the festivals support the Garagiste Festival Scholarship fund of the California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo Wine and Viticulture Department.

*The Garagiste Wine Festival was named America’s Best Wine Festival by USA Today in 2018.

**Garagistes (garage-east) is a term originally used in the Bordeaux region of France to denigrate renegade small-lot wine makers, sometimes working in their “garages” (anything considered not a chateau), who refused to follow the “rules,” and is now a full-fledged movement responsible for making some of the best wine in the world. The Garagiste Festivals were the first to shine a light on the American garagiste winemaker in 2011.

America’s Best Wine Festival Returns to One of America’s 10 Best Small Historic Towns: Garagiste Festival Comes to Solvang February 8th – 10th

January 26, 2019 by evebushman

PASO ROBLES, Calif. (PRWEB) – The Garagiste Wine Festival, which was named America’s Best Wine Festival by USA Today, returns February 8th – 10th to Solvang, which was named One of America’s 10 Best Small Historic Towns by USA Today. Tickets are now on sale.

This marks the seventh year that the Garagiste Festival: Southern Exposure has showcased the wines of some of California’s best small production winemakers in one of California’s most charming small towns, which is celebrating its 107th anniversary this year. Solvang is in the heart of the renowned Santa Ynez Valley wine country, just north of picturesque Santa Barbara, California.

“America’s best wine festival meets one of America’s best historic small towns for the seventh year in a row…what could make for a better wine country weekend?” said Garagiste Festival Co-founder Doug Minnick. “There is a special place in our hearts for Solvang, and for the amazing small production winemakers who pour at this venue. Solvang, and the beautiful Veteran’s Memorial Hall, lend such a charming and intimate setting for attendees to chat and taste with the winemakers and owners who will be pouring their hard-to-find wines. We love the diversity of the wines poured here, with multiple micro-climates, grape varieties and innovative blends represented.”

Over 40 winemakers from Santa Barbara County and across California converge at Solvang’s Mission-style Veterans’ Memorial Hall to pour over 150 wines over three days of events which include the continuation of the festival’s ‘Original Garagiste’ seminars, moderated by Garagiste Festival Co-founder and KRUSH radio host, Stewart McLennan, and, this year, featuring Central Coast winemaking legend Ken Brown of Ken Brown Wines.

“We are proud to lead off our main event with a one-on-one discussion and tasting with Ken Brown – a true original ‘garagiste’ many years before micro-production winemaking became a movement,” said McLennan. “Ken was one of the first to recognize the cool climate potential of this region back in the 70s and to craft delicious wines from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay right here in Santa Barbara. We are looking forward to an informative and inspiring conversation as we taste some of his delicious wines.”

Brown, whose Ken Brown Wines focuses on very small lots of Pinot Noir from the finest vineyards of Sta. Rita Hills, is recognized as one of Santa Barbara County’s pioneering winemakers and innovators. Not only was he among the first vintners to realize the tremendous promise for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Santa Barbara County, but he was also the first winemaker to introduce the Syrah grape, as well as Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc, to the region. He was founding winemaker at Zaca Mesa Winery and spent 20-years at Byron Vineyard and Winery which later sold to the Robert Mondavi family. In this seminar, attendees will learn how he helped shape the Santa Barbara wine scene and why he ultimately returned to small-lot winemaking.

The Garagiste Festival: Southern Exposure 2019 kicks off on Friday, February 8th from 6:30-9:00pm with the very popular “No Repeats, Rare & Reserve,” where attendees can get up close and personal with the winemakers as they share limited Club Only, Library and Pre-Release bottles and Barrel samples, and enjoy a BBQ buffet from local favorite Tim’s BBQ. On Saturday, the seminar with Ken Brown, “Original Garagistes: A Deep Dive & Tasting,” runs from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm and includes a Wine Country boxed lunch (VIP/Weekend pass ticket holders only). The day continues with the main event, the Grand Tasting, from 2-5pm showcasing over 40 winemakers pouring 150+ wines and 20+ unique varieties. All tickets include unlimited tastes, complimentary cheese and charcuterie and a souvenir Stolzle crystal wine glass – plus a Silent Auction full of enticing wine packages which benefits The Garagiste Scholarship at Cal Poly. On Sunday, Garagiste Passport Day returns, offering discounts and special offers to festival attendees at area wineries.

The festival also announced that it will return to Sonoma California for its 2nd Annual Sonoma Garagiste Festival the weekend of April 13, 2019. Said Minnick: “We are very excited to return to Northern California in April. The reception we received last year was fantastic and we already have an exciting group of No Cal micro-production wineries signed up. Stay tuned!”

Dubbed “tasting nirvana”, ‘strange and wondrous’, and “one not to miss” by the LA Times, the Garagiste Festival is renowned for its renegade spirit, passionate winemakers, handcrafted wines and rules-breaking, ‘no snobs allowed’ ethos. Launched in Paso Robles in 2011, the festival features the wines of commercial garagiste* winemakers who make under 1500 cases at festivals across California, including Solvang, Sonoma, Los Angeles and Paso Robles. Over 350 different wineries have poured over 3,000 wines for over 10,000 wine lovers at Garagiste Festivals since inception and the festival has raised over $125K in support of The Garagiste Scholarship at Cal Poly.

For full Garagiste Festival: Southern Exposure 2019 schedule details, go to http://californiagaragistes.com/2019-syv-fest/

Tickets are very limited and Garagiste Festivals always sell out. To buy tickets, go to: https://bit.ly/2Bcs0ck. For breaking festival news and special discounts, sign-up for our free newsletter, The Dirt at http://garagistefestival.com/sign-up/ or follow us on Twitter (@GaragisteFest) or Facebook.

Among the over 40 winemakers already scheduled to pour are:
Ascension Cellars, Bodega de Edgar, Bolshoi Family Wines*, Cloak & Dagger Wines, Copia Vineyards, Cordon Wines, Cutruzzola Vineyards, D. Volk Wines, Dascomb Cellars, Hoi Polloi Winery, Kaleidos Winery, Kimsey Vineyards*, Lepiane Wines, Metrick Wines, Montemar Winery, RF Fine Wines*, Ryan Cochrane Wines, Sycamore Ranch, Temperance Cellars*, Tercero Wines and Westerly Wines.*

*First time pouring at the Solvang Festival.

Sponsors include:
AEB, California Winery Advisor, City of Santa Ynez Valley, Digital Dogma, Distinctive Glassware, ETS Laboratories, Farm Credit West, Glenn Burdette, G3 Enterprises, Hamlet Inn, The Hanover Insurance Group, House of Copper, Laffort U.S.A., mWEBB Communications, Wine Industry Insight, Wine Reach App, WiVi Central Coast Conference & Tradeshow.

For sponsorship info, email info(at)garagistefestival.com.

About The Garagiste Wine Festival
The Garagiste Wine Festival (http://www.garagistefestival.com), named the ‘Best Wine Festival in the US in 2018 in USA Today’s 10Best Readers Choice Awards, is the first and only wine festival dedicated to the undiscovered and under-recognized American artisan ‘garagiste’ producers who are making some of the best, most exciting, handcrafted small-lot production wines in the world. Founded by fellow garagistes Stewart McLennan and Douglas Minnick, the Garagiste Festivals are committed to discovering the best and most innovative limited-production winemakers and promoting and showcasing them to a broad audience of discerning wine consumers. In addition to its flagship annual festival in Paso Robles, CA, the Garagiste Festival line-up includes Garagiste Festival: Southern Exposure, featuring Santa Ynez Valley garagistes; the Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure, in Los Angeles; the Garagiste Festival, Northern Exposure, in Sonoma; winemaker dinners, a newsletter, garagiste profiles and more.

In addition to being named the US’ Best Wine Festival, the Garagiste Festival was named one of the ‘Top Nine Incredible Epicurean Vacations’ in the world by ABC News, * “one of the premier wine events of the year,” by the LA Times and “Best Festival” by Sunset Magazine’s ‘Best of the West.’ The festivals are produced by Garagiste Events, a non-profit dedicated to furthering the education of future winemakers and those training for employment within the wine industry. Proceeds from the festivals support the Garagiste Festival Scholarship fund of the California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo Wine and Viticulture Department.

*Garagistes (garage-east) is a term originally used in the Bordeaux region of France to denigrate renegade small-lot wine makers, sometimes working in their “garages” (anything considered not a chateau), who refused to follow the “rules,” and is now a full-fledged movement responsible for making some of the best wine in the world. The Garagiste Festivals were the first to shine a light on the American garagiste winemaker in 2011.

2019 PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY EVENTS

January 24, 2019 by evebushman

Paso Robles, CA – Tickets for Paso Robles Wine Country’s marquee events are on sale at www.pasowine.com. The annual celebration of Paso’s heritage variety, Vintage Paso: Zinfandel Weekend is scheduled for March 15-17, 2019. Paso Robles’ signature wine event, the Paso Robles Wine Festival celebrates its 37th year on May 16-19, 2019. Now is the time to plan, for Paso Wine, in 2019.

Vintage Paso: Zinfandel Weekend begins on Friday, March 15 with Zinposium, a Zin-focused seminar in downtown Paso Robles at the Paso Robles Inn Ballroom. Moderated by iconic winemaker, Neil Collins, owner and winemaker of Lone Madrone, a panel of winemakers will discuss dry farming Zinfandel and Zin blended wines. This seated tasting is guaranteed to be educational and entertaining.

In the evening, the ballroom transforms into a lounge atmosphere for Z After Party. Join up to 20 Paso wineries for a savory walk-around Zinfandel tasting, complemented by a fantastic selection of desserts and live jazz. This intimate tasting is sure to sell out with 80 seats for Zinposium and 175 tickets for Z After Party. Advance purchase only.

Zinfandel Weekend continues on Saturday, March 16 and Sunday, March 17 with more than 100 wineries holding their own individual events throughout Paso Robles Wine Country. Visit www.pasowine.com to search by winery, activity or day to plot a course for Zin.

The Paso Robles Wine Festival returns May 16-19, 2019 with the 37th annual celebration of everything Paso Robles wine. Wine Fest kicks-off Thursday, May 16, 2019 with Winemaker Dinners, each featuring multiple winemakers at the table with their wines paired with the cuisine of two iconic Paso Robles restaurants, Thomas Hill Organics and The Hatch. On Friday, May 17, RESERVE delights a limited gathering of wine and food lovers with Library, Reserve, White/Rosé, and Barrel Sample wines, complemented by fresh and local gourmet bites.

The following day, Saturday, May 18, begins with a Winemaker Seminar. The topic is under wraps for now but promises to be a fun discussion and tasting. The day culminates with the Wine Festival Grand Tasting in the Paso Robles Downtown City Park. This unique outdoor tasting features 70+ wineries arranged by “regions” (Bordeaux-style, Rhône-style, Zinfandel, Burgundian-style, Italian varieties, and Other Wild Wines) with wineries pouring their best. In the picnic area and gazebo, live music will provide the perfect atmosphere to enjoy a beautiful summer day sipping Paso Robles wines.

Back by popular demand, the 2019 Wine Festival will feature complimentary food tasting from the region’s best chefs and caterers. Visit www.pasowine.com often to see updates on who will be sampling their delicious creations. Creativity abounds with the return of a limited lineup of handpicked artisan merchants. These entrepreneurs will offer a selection of unique local and wine country themed products.

Sunday, May 19 of Wine Festival weekend encourages people to travel beyond the Park to explore more than 100 winery events throughout the weekend including winemaker dinners, live music, barrel samples, and so much more!

Tickets – All Zinposium, Z After Party, Wine Festival Winemaker Dinners, RESERVE, Wine Festival Seminar, and Wine Festival Grand Tasting Tasting tickets are now available on www.pasowine.com.

Vintage Paso: Zinfandel Weekend, March 15-17, 2019

Zinposium Seminar – $40
Z After Party – $40
Combo: Zinposium Seminar & Z After Party – $70
Tickets available here – https://pasowine.com/events/vintage-paso-zinfandel-weekend/

37^th Annual Paso Robles Wine Festival, May 16- 19, 2019

Winemaker Dinners – Thomas Hill Organics ($125), The Hatch ($100)
Combo: Friday, RESERVE & Saturday, Grand Tasting, Early Entry – $145 ($135 until March 15)
RESERVE only – $90
Saturday, Grand Tasting, Early Entry (12 p.m.) – $90 ($80 until March 15)
Saturday, Grand Tasting, General Admission (1 p.m.) – $70 ($60 until March 15)
Winemaker Seminar (10:30 a.m.) – $25
Designated Driver (Grand Tasting, 1 p.m.) – $25
Locals Only Ticket (1 p.m.) – $50 (until March 15)
Early Bird Pricing applied to Combo, Early Entry or General Admission Tickets only, with $10 savings
Early Bird Offer and Locals Only Ticket Expires March 15, 2019

During Paso Robles Wine Country event weekends, visitors and locals alike are encouraged to travel beyond the park to visit the more than 100 wineries that host special activities including winemaker dinners, food pairings, barrel tastings, winery and vineyard tours, and much more. Visit www.pasowine.com to plan a complete Paso Robles Wine Country experience, including lodging, restaurants, transportation, and more things to explore.

ABOUT PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY ALLIANCE
The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance represents wineries, growers and businesses in Paso Robles Wine Country. Centrally located between San Francisco and Los Angeles, along California’s Central Coast, Paso Robles Wine Country is California’s third largest wine region. It encompasses more than 40,000 vineyard acres and 200 wineries. For more information, visit www.pasowine.com. @PasoRoblesWine, @PasoWine (Insta), #PasoWine, #VintagePaso, #PasoWineFest

UNCORKED: DERBY DAYS COMING BACK WITH A NEW TWIST!

November 4, 2018 by evebushman

Uncorked Wine festivals is partnering up with the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club to bring you Uncorked: Derby Days at the race track.

Del Mar, CA – Ladies, wear your hats. And gents, grab your bow ties! Uncorked Wine Festivals is bringing its national wine tour back to CA. The third Uncorked: Derby Days Wine Fest will take place on Saturday, November 17th at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. This is more than just your average wine tasting. This event features over 100 wines to sample, a Champagne bar, gourmet food trucks, live music by the California Feetwarmers, best “Derby Dame and Dapper Dan” contest (with amazing goodie bags for the winners sponsored by several of our wineries), special seating in the grandstands and a fun atmosphere trackside where you can enjoy your wines while the horses race past you.

There are two ticket options to choose from. VIP admission at 12pm, providing an extra hour to taste, an exclusive tip sheet from DMTC and features special wines to be poured during only that hour. General admission begins at 1pm and the event ends at 4pm. Admission is $75 for VIP and $65 for general admission, and includes all wine tastings with food sold separately.

This event is 21 and over only.

www.uncorkedwinefestivals.com

The Garagiste Festival Wins ‘Best Wine Festival’

October 1, 2018 by evebushman

PASO ROBLES, Calif. (PRWEB) – The Garagiste Wine Festival has been named the US’ “Best Wine Festival” in USA Today’s 10Best Readers Choice Awards.

Launched in 2011 in Paso Robles, the Garagiste Festival was the first to define, and shine a spotlight on, the American “garagiste*” wine movement and features the wines of commercial artisan winemakers who make under 1500 cases. At its festivals across California – from Paso to Los Angeles to Sonoma to Solvang – The Garagiste Festival has introduced hundreds of outstanding under-the-radar California artisan winemakers to thousands of passionate wine consumers, members of the trade and media.

“When we came up with the idea eight years ago, we were pretty sure we had lightning in a bottle, but at that point it was just intuition,” said Doug Minnick, Co-founder of The Garagiste Festival. “Fortunately, there was an amazing core of people who understood our vision – from the wineries who poured, the sponsors who supported us, the volunteers who helped make it happen and the fans who bought tickets to what was then an unknown event. We sold out that first festival – and every festival since then.”

Dubbed “tasting nirvana” ‘strange and wondrous,’ and “one not to miss” by the LA Times, the Garagiste Festival is renowned for its renegade spirit, passionate winemakers, handcrafted wines and rules-breaking, ‘no snobs allowed’ ethos. The non-profit festival, which celebrates its 21st festival in Paso Robles in November, has raised over $125K to support the education of future winemakers through the Garagiste Festival Scholarship fund of the California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo Wine and Viticulture Department.

“We are eternally grateful to our supporters, a network that has continued to expand and which has had a real impact not only on the wine world, but also, through the Garagiste Scholarship Fund, on the future of winemaking,” continued Minnick.

A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. Experts Jill Barth, a Provence Wine Master; Karen MacNeil, one of the foremost wine experts in the U.S.; and June Rodil, a Master Sommelier were chosen for their knowledge of wine and the American wine scene.

“We have always been focused on quality and pushing the boundaries of convention, and we have never lost our healthy dose of irreverent optimism,” said Garagiste Festival Co-founder Stewart McLennan. “Thank you to everyone who voted for us as the Best Festival in the US for validating that optimism, and to the 10Best Editors for nominating us. The Festival, like the wineries who participate in it, sprang from humble beginnings and has flourished as a true labor of love.”

The US’ Best Wine Festival marks its 21st festival, and 8th anniversary, at its home base in Paso Robles, November 9th through the 11th, with three days of events, including a Grand Tasting that showcases over 60 micro production winemakers (20% pouring at the festival for the first time), tasting seminars, a Rare and Reserve tasting, a Keep It Rockin’ After Party, and more. Tickets are on sale now at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-8th-annual-paso-garagiste-wine-festival-tickets-49769338431?aff=web.

For full schedule details, go to http://californiagaragistes.com/2018-paso-fest. For special discounts and updates on Garagiste Festival events and news, sign up for The Dirt at http://garagistefestival.com/sign-up/, or follow us on Twitter (@GaragisteFest) or Facebook (http://on.fb.me/1rgBC80).