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The 28th annual Harvest Wine Celebration will return to Livermore this Labor Day weekend but with some changes, organizers announced.
Taking place Sunday, Sept. 6 and Monday, Sept. 7 from noon and 5 p.m. and produced by the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association (LVWA), this year’s event will feature a festival-like atmosphere at Robertson Park, which in past years has been the meeting place to pick up shuttle buses to the wineries.
A total of 21 wineries will be pouring their wines both days at the park, featuring live music, arts and crafts vendors and food vendors. Live bands will perform on two stages at the Harvest Village, including Finding Stella (Sunday noon-2 p.m.), salsa band El Desayuno (Sunday 2:30-5:30 p.m.), Georgie and the Rough Week (Monday noon-4 p.m.) and Lane Coker and the Big Delta Blues Band (Sunday 12-5 p.m. and Monday noon-4 p.m.).
Those who would like to venture out to the wineries for tastings, there will be another 20 wineries pouring at their winery locations across Livermore Valley on both days. Each winery will offer a unique experience including samples of their latest releases, music, arts and crafts vendors and food for sale prepared by a local caterer or restaurant.
Shuttle buses, included in the price of admission, will transport guests between each of these wineries on Sunday only. As in past years, the shuttle bus hub will be Robertson Park,
where there is ample free parking.
More than 20 shuttles will serve three different routes, stopping at their specified wineries along each route. Celebration guests will receive a map outlining the three different shuttle routes, so they can choose which one to take. In addition, two routes will cross so celebrants can transfer and visit another group of wineries, if they choose. All shuttles return to the hub at the end of their route.
The new ticket structure is as follows: $50 for a two-day (Sunday/Monday), $75 on day of event; $45 for a Sunday-only ticket; and $40 for a Monday-only ticket. Non-drinking tickets (required for children over 12) are $10 and are valid for both days.
Tickets are available online at www.LVwine.org and at all participating Livermore Valley wineries, the Wine Steward in Pleasanton, First Street Wine Company in Livermore and all PW Markets stores. Funds raised from this event benefit the LVWA.
During the Harvest Wine Celebration, the more than 40 participating wineries are open only to ticket holders with event wristbands. No outside food is allowed into the wineries or at the park. For more information, visit www.lvwine.org or call 447-WINE. In addition to online, tickets will also be sold at The Wine Steward in downtown Pleasanton.
Wineries pouring wine at the Harvest Village (located at Robertson Park) on both days include:
Bodegas Aguirre Winery
Cedar Mountain Winery
Concannon Vineyard
Cuda Ridge Wines
Deer Ridge Vineyards
Eagle Ridge Winery
Eckert Estate Winery
el Sol Winery
Elliston Vineyards
Fenestra Winery
Les Chênes Estate Vineyards
Little Valley Winery
Longevity Wines
Occasio Winery
Page Mill Winery
Ruby Hill Winery
Ryhan Estate Vineyards
Tenuta Vineyards
Thomas Coyne Winery
Wente Vineyards Estates
Westover Winery/Palomares Vineyards
Wineries pouring at their winery location on both days (shuttle buses will transport guests to these wineries on Sunday only) include:
Chouinard Vineyards
Bent Creek Winery
Big White House
Charles R Vineyards
Crooked Vine Winery/Stony Ridge Winery
Garré Winery and Café
La Rochelle Winery
Livermore Valley Cellars
McGrail Vineyards
Mitchell Katz Winery
Murrieta’s Well
Retzlaff Estate Winery
Rodrigue Monyneaux Winery
The Singing Winemaker
The Steven Kent Winery
Tamás Estates
Wente Vineyards TR
White Crane Winery
Wood Family Vineyards
Wonder why the festival in the park instead of doing all the tasting at wineries? Seems like it’ll be just a big drunk fest without creating any of the memories of Livermore wine country that the event is supposed to do. Nobody brings their wife back a few weeks later to hang out in a park.
William, please let the organizers know. Many of us feel the same way and are willing to give it a try this year but . . . . . you are right, it sounds like a drunkfest in the park with huge crowds.
promote and Market our local wine region, it’s a wonderful place! we can always enjoy the typical wine festvals throughout the year, in and around the bay area, BUT NOT LIKE THIS! this is unique, tour each winery, get to know the intimacy and beauty of each winery, wine makers and wines! The wine association blew it with this one (and more), in my opinion. Promote the region, increase local commerce, not many people know we have almost 50 wineries here…. hmmmmm I wonder why!!!
I failed to mention above, pouring at the park STINKS! Get folks out to the wineries!!!!!!
I plan to go. I’ll probably stop by the park, but then head out to the wineries. I agree it’s the winery experience that is memorable. In Livermore Valley you can still meet the wine maker at many smaller places and get to know how they do things.
Please…no drunk drivers!
I think it is a great idea….the busses (just as in the past)will still be conducting the tour, and those of us who wish to have fun, dance, listen to great music, can still enjoy over 20 wineries at the park.
Choice is a good thing…