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Local wineries and restaurants will showcase their best food and wine this fall during a long weekend of tastings, gourmet pairings, classes and more.
Set to take place from Oct. 17-20, TASTE: The Livermore Valley Wine Experience is meant to spotlight wine and cuisine in the Livermore Valley.
“The goal for it is to bring some people in that believe that Napa and Sonoma are the only wine regions in California and to show them that Livermore Valley is fantastic,” said Heather McGrail, chair of TASTE and president of McGrail Vineyards and Winery.
The event will begin on Oct. 17 with Taste Our Terroir, an annual competition where 15 teams of the Livermore Valley’s wineries and restaurants will compete for the best pairing at Bella Rosa Event Center.
Three professional, guest judges will determine the Best Classic Pairing, Most Innovative Pairing and Overall Best Pairing based on blind tastings. Attendees will also get the chance to crown the pairings with the People’s Choice Awards: Best White Wine Pairing and Best Red Wine Pairing.
The Cheese and Wine Pairing will follow on Oct. 18, in the Del Valle Winery Barrel Room from 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Three wineries including Del Valle Winery, Fenestra Winery and Garré Vineyard & Winery will present two wines each to pair with cheese from Brandon Wood from the Cheese Parlor. Guests can expect a thorough discussion of the cheese, wine and how they combine.
Taste 92 is also set for Oct. 18, at Cuda Ridge Wines from 3-5 p.m.
At this intimate event, guests will be guided through a formal tasting of several premier wines of the region and some matching “library wines” — which are vintages of wine stored past their time of debut. This means guests will be able to compare wines through time to see how they age.
Puppies, Wine & Yoga, Oh My! will kick things off on Oct. 19, at Fenestra Winery from 9-10:30 a.m.
In a playful combination of morning yoga and puppies, attendees will start the day with exercise amidst adoptable dogs on the lawn of Fenestra Winery. Later, wine will be served. Guests are welcome to continue playing with the animals and all will be adoptable through Family Dog Rescue.
Livermore Valley’s Signature Tasting arrives from 4-6 p.m. Oct. 19 at McGrail Vineyards & Winery.
Guests will be able to sample more than 30 different award winning wines at this informal event on the vineyard’s patio. They can mingle and talk with wineries and wine makers about the tastings.
Bougie Brunch & Beats is the highlight of the final day, at 3 Steves Winery from 12- 3 p.m. Oct. 20.
This lively event kicks off with sparkling wine and upbeat music played by a DJ. Later, guests will be served chicken and waffles by New Tradition Kitchen.
“It’s the best weekend for wine country,” McGrail said. “You get to meet some wonderful people, make new friends, learn something new and indulge in two of my favorite things: food and wine.”
Tickets are available for purchase at lvwine.org. Most events are expected to sell out, according to organizers.
