Harvest time in Livermore yields the riches of the vineyards Harvest time in Livermore yields the riches of the vineyards (September 02, 2005)

Two-day Harvest Wine Festival opens Sunday offering tours and tastings
by Jeb Bing

The 24th annual Harvest Wine Celebration gets underway at noon Sunday for a two-day opportunity to visit 24 winery open houses and sample some of the best wines in the country.

A total of 28 wineries at 24 winery tasting rooms and the First Street Wine Company of Livermore will each host a slate of events that include wine tastings, seminars, entertainment, foods, arts and crafts. In keeping with the 24th anniversary, 24 live bands have been commissioned to play during the two-day event with music from country and rock to jazz and reggae.

"We're expecting thousands of wine lovers from around the Bay to join us for this Harvest Wine Celebration," said Lynn Wallace, Executive Director of the Livermore Winegrowers Association. "It's a once-of-a-kind opportunity to meet winemakers, growers, chefs, musicians and local craft artisans."

The wineries are located in Pleasanton, Livermore and Castro Valley. Visitors can park and start their adventure at any winery, or at the main transportation hub in Robertson Park, and travel via shuttle buses between participating wineries.

This annual celebration of the grape harvest takes place from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and on Monday, Labor Day. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 on the event days. They can be reserved by calling 447-9463 or visit the association's Web site at www.livermorewine.com. Tickets also are available at:

* The participating wineries

* First Street Wine Company, 2211 First Street, Livermore

* Vino Cellars, 1772 First Street, Livermore

* Wine Steward, 641 Main Street, Pleasanton

* PW Markets throughout the Bay Area

Participating wineries are as follows: Pleasanton's Mitchell Katz Winery at Ruby Hill, Bent Creek Winery, Big White House, Bodegas Aguirre Winery, Cedar Mountain Winery, Chouinard Vineyards, Concannon Vineyard, Crooked Vine Winery, Eckert Estate Winery, Elliston Vineyards, Fenestra Winery, GarrŽ Winery & CafŽ, John Christopher Cellars, Little Valley Winery, Livermore Valley Cellars, Murrieta's Well, Retzlaff Vineyards, Rios-Lovell Estate Winery, The Steven Kent Winery, Stony Ridge Winery, Tam‡s Estates, Tenuta Vineyards, The Singing Winemaker, Thomas Coyne Winery, Wente Vineyards Estate Winery, Westover & Palomares Wineries, White Crane Winery and Wood Family Vineyards.

Wallace said that while sipping and nibbling, guests will be able to peruse the jewelry, pottery, glass and metal craft of many local artisans at the various wineries, taste the abundant olive oils from the Livermore Valley region, enjoy fine art displays and take in winery education and special history exhibits.

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