Carneros Heritage Fest / 2nd @ Sonoma, CA
The Carneros Wine Alliance will host its Second Annual Carneros Heritage Fest on June 1 and 2, 2007 at the rustic ranch and vineyards of The Donum Estate in Sonoma, CA. Showcasing the premium and ultra-premium Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and sparkling wines for which the Carneros region is known, as well as cool climate Merlot, Syrah and other new varietals, the Fest’s “Picnic in the Pasture,” will feature wines paired with barbequed lamb from local artisan producers, Rancho Gordo Beans, artisan breads and cheeses and other local culinary treats.
While innovative cuisine and renowned wines will take center stage at the event, guests will also partake in journeys into unexplored Carneros (including vineyard tours led by some of the region’s most well-known winemakers and grape growers), and enjoy marsh visits and environmental activities and tours, and live music and entertainment. Sheep herding and falconry – and the role these creatures play in vineyard management – will also be demonstrated.
Proceeds from the Fest will support Napa and Sonoma Farm Bureau “Ag in the Classroom” programs and Vineyard Worker Services programs in both counties.
The event is presented by the Carneros Wine Alliance and co-hosted by The Donum Estate and Buena Vista Carneros, in partnership with the American Lamb Board and the Napa and Sonoma County Farm Bureaus.
Intimate, multi-course dinners, with some of the region’s most well-known winemakers and chefs collaborating to pair artisan lamb with special wine selections, will take place at several wineries and restaurants on Friday evening, June 1.
Festival activities on Saturday, June 2 will take place from noon to 4 p.m. at
The Donum Estate at 24500 Ramal Road, Sonoma, CA. Tickets are $60.00 per person and are available through www.carneros.com. Information about the Friday night dinners is also available on the Carneros Wine Alliance website.
A short (45 minute) drive from San Francisco, Carneros is a unique region encompassing “a little bit of Napa and a little bit of Sonoma,” spanning the southern portions of both counties. A rustic, wind-swept agricultural area, Carneros was one of the first wine regions to be designated an American Viticulture Area (AVA) based on climate rather than political boundaries. Carneros, which means “the Ram” in Spanish, is a fully independent, federally-designated “cool climate” appellation.
What: 2nd Annual Carneros Heritage Fest
When: June 1 & 2, 2007
Who: The wineries and growers of the Carneros Wine Alliance
Where: The Donum Estate, 24500 Ramal Road, Sonoma, CA 95476
Cost: $60.00 per person, Saturday Fest; various prices, Friday dinners