It’s almost here! Livermore Valley’s premier wine event of the year is just around the corner. So much to like, so it’s time to get your tickets. Last year’s event was amazing and this year looks even better. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your entire event weekend!
Taste Our Terroir 2018 will kick off on Thursday night, July 26 at 6:00 with the annual Quest for Food and Wine Pairing Excellence. Twenty Livermore Valley winemakers have been paired with Bay Area chefs to present their very best at Casa Real in Pleasanton. This year’s expert judges are Jim Gordon of Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Ellen Fort of Easter SF, and Ian White of San Francisco Magazine. The coveted awards include: Most Innovative Pairing, Judges’ Best Pairing and Best Classic Pairing. Guests can taste the pairings, bid on some luxurious silent auction items and vote for the People’s Choice Awards in both red and white wine pairings. An incredible dessert selection is presented by Sysco.
VIP tickets ($125 until sold out) include a sparkling wine reception at 4:30pm, with wineries pouring on the patio, plus early access to the pairings, beginning at 5pm (one hour early). General admission tickets are $85 in advance and $95 after July 1st at www.LVwine.org. This event sells out every year, so don’t delay!
Friday’s Events
WENTE LUNCH IN THE GARDEN
10:30am – 1pm at Wente Vineyards
Join Wente Vineyards Winemakers and Master Gardener Diane Dovholuk as they take you through an experience like none other. Sip on wines created from the very vines you are standing among as you are guided though the vineyards. Afterwards, rest your feet and feast on a delectable meal made with fresh ingredients from Wente Vineyards’ on-site organic herb and vegetable garden. [$115]
COOKNG WITH CHEF CHAD WELSH
12pm – 2pm at Mitchell Katz Winery
Meet us at Mitchell Katz winery for a food curing demo by Chef Chad Welsh. Chef Welsh will present a live demonstration on how to cure two different varieties of Salmon; one with fresh dill and black pepper, and one with beets that give the fish a great color. [$50]
WINEMAKER CONCERT WITH MARK CLARIN AND DANE STARK
6pm – 9pm at Chandler Vineyards
Join us for a special night at Chandler Vineyards. Experience the terroir of the vineyard through a rare comparative tasting of Page Mill Winery and McGrail Vineyards’ Chandler Vineyard Chardonnay wines. Winemakers Mark Clarin and Dane Stark will share their musical talents throughout the evening. Spend your night wine tasting, dancing and dining on delicious hors d’oeuvres. [$100]
A WELL AGED EVENING
7pm – 9pm at Rios Lovell Estate Winery Banquet Hall
Guests will begin the evening in the banquet hall of Rios Lovell Estate Winery with a short lecture dedicated to Ports and Port making. The night will continue with Port tastings from the barrel, paired with delicious chocolates and an array of fine cheese. [$45]
Saturday’s Events
YOGA IN THE VINEYARD
10am – 12pm at Retzlaff Vineyards Lawn
Start your morning off with some relaxing Yoga on the lawn at Retzlaff Vineyards. Your yoga instructor will guide you through an hour of stretches, followed by a tasting of wines from Retzlaff Vineyards, Page Mill Winery, Nella Terra Cellars, Omega Road Winery and Nottingham Cellars. Guests are asked to bring their own mat, towel and water. [$30]
BEES AND BEADS AT EL SOL WINERY
1:30pn – 3:30pm at El Sol Winery
Join the Sol Sisters at el Sol Winery for a fun and creative jewelry making experience – all skill levels welcome. Tools and supplies are provided for you to make your choice of a lariat, choker, bracelet or ear rings. After handcrafting your jewelry, enjoy honey tasting and a bee keeping demonstration with a live, working colony. [$45]
CONCANNON VINEYARD’S 135th ANNIVERSARY LANDMARK TOUR
4pm – 6pm at Concannon Vineyard
Join Fourth Generation Vintner John Concannon for this fun and fascinating winery experience which includes a walking tour of the stunning 135-year-old landmark vineyard estate and unique topiaries that Ernesto, chief landscaper, has been carefully curating for over thirty years. You will enjoy a special tasting of four award-winning Reserve wines while learning why Concannon is a wine pioneer in California Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah. Complete this memorable tasting experience in a historic setting where Estate Sommelier LeeAnn Kaufman will guide you through a featured wine paired with an exquisitely prepared small bite. [$55]
FROM PAST TO PRESENT, A SPIRITS TASTING
6pm – 7:30pm at Eckert Estate Winery and Artisan Spirits
Step back into the 1800s with a live, educational demonstration of the process of spirit distillation. Eckert Estate Winery and Artisan Spirits invite you to engage in a historical overview of the distilling process of brandy, gin, absinthe and liqueur productions. Admire rustic 100-year-old props and tools that were used to produce a number of unique spirits and partake in three different aroma bars and tastings. Challenge your palate in a new way, and see which spirit is your favorite. [$40]
SUNSET LOBSTER DINNER
6:30pm – 8:30pm at Darcie Kent Vineyards
Start your evening by sampling Livermore Valley award winning wines from Darcie Kent Vineyards, McKahn Family Cellars, Fenestra Winery, Wente Vineyards and Page Mill Winery while watching the preparation of a typical East Coast Lobster Bake. The table will be filled with fresh Maine lobster, prawns, sausage, corn on the cob, garlic, artichokes, potatoes, bread and lots of butter. Put on your lobster bib and dig in! [$115]
Sunday’s Events
BOOTS ON THE GROUND, WINE IN YOUR GLASS
10am – 12pm at Murrieta’s Well
Guests will experience true “boots on the ground” hiking through the vineyards at Murrieta’s Well. Wear your hiking boots or a pair of comfortable walking shoes and get ready to see some amazing views of the Livermore Valley. After the hike, guests will taste through estate-grown wines and sample some small bites from the Murrieta’s Well culinary team. [$75]
MICROCLIMATE TASTING OF LIVERMORE VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON
1:30pm – 3:30pm at The Steven Kent Winery
Experience a rare micro climate comparative tasting of cabernet sauvignon in The Steven Kent Winery Reserve Room. Multiple Livermore Valley Wineries will be pouring their cabernets for you to sample side by side. Join us to decide which microclimate terroir your palate prefers. [$65]
A LITTLE TASTE OF ITALY
3pm – 5pm at Garré Vineyard and Winery
Conclude your weekend with an escape to Italy. Garré Vineyard and Winery is hosting an afternoon featuring special Italian varietal wines, bocce ball and antipasto prepared by Garré Café. You will sample wines from Garré Vineyard, Charles R Vineyards, Rios Lovell Estate Winery, Rodrigue Molyneaux and Mitchell Katz Winery. The event will be located outside near
Garré’s picnic tables and Bocce Ball Courts. [$55]
See you there!
About the Author: John grills a mean steak and is always in the market for another wine fridge. Believes that if a winery has more than 10 employees, it's probably too big. Buys wine faster than he drinks it, but who cares?
