The Sonoma County Harvest Fair is a favorite of devoted wine lovers and kids of all ages. From September 30 to October 2, it will serve up award-winning wines and food for discriminating adult palates while providing hands-on, old-fashioned fun for families.
The Grand Tasting (Sept. 30, 5:30 to 8 p.m.) takes fairgoers on a non-stop gastronomic tour of some of Sonoma County’s best wine and food. An all-inclusive price of $60 in advance or $70 at the door includes a glass, tasting plate and unlimited tastings of food and wine (one-ounce pours) and admission to the fair that day. Wine and food tasting continues from noon to 5 p.m. on October 1 and 2. For $12, you get a glass and four taste tickets (each good for one food or wine sample). Additional tickets are $2.50 each or four for $8.
If beer’s your pleasure, try the microbrew tasting on October 1 (1 to 5 p.m.). A $15 ticket includes a pilsner and four taste tickets; additional taste tickets are $3 each. Chocolate and port pairings are also available on both days from noon to 5 p.m. ($4 per paired taste).
Chief among the family-friendly attractions is the annual world-famous Championship Grape Stomp. Also on tap are agricultural-themed activities designed to give kids a sample of “life on the farm.” These include honey tasting, wagon rides, varietal apple tasting, pumpkin carving, a cow-milking contest, scarecrow building, sheep dog trials, and an Easy Bake bake-off, as well as a llama show and sheep, cattle and goat displays. Please visit http://harvestfair.org for more information.
Harvest Fair’s new Food and Wine Marketplace
Lovers of fine wine and fresh, local food will have a field day at the new Harvest Fair Marketplace, which will debut at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair this year (Sept. 30-Oct. 2 at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds). The fair is an ode to the county’s agricultural abundance, with food and wine tasting, farm-themed events for the kids, the World Champion Grape Stomp and many more activities.
For 2011, what in the past has been known as the Retail Wine Store has been expanded and renamed the Harvest Fair Marketplace. There, fairgoers can buy—at substantial discounts—bottles or cases of wines named best of class or gold medal winners in the fair’s professionally judged wine competition. And this year, for the first time, community food retailers will provide samples of their best local products, including olive oil, jams and jellies, bread, jerky and more.
Among the other attractions that food and wine lovers may want to experience is the new “Grand Tasting” on Friday, Sept. 30, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. While tasting gold medal-winning wines and cuisine, attendees will get to mingle with vintners and food experts. Tickets to this event provide unlimited tastings of the award-winning wines (one-ounce pours) and cuisine, as well as entrance to the Harvest Fair that day.
For more information, please go to www.harvestfair.org.
New Harvest Fair Event All About Great Food and Wine
The Sonoma County Harvest Fair is introducing a new way for attendees to sample the fair’s gold-medal winning wines and food. Called the “Grand Tasting,” the new event will take place on the first day of the fair, Friday, Sept. 30, 2011, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. (The three-day fair runs Sept. 30 through Oct. 2.)
During the Grand Tasting, all of the wineries and food purveyors whose entries earned Best of Class or Gold medals in the Harvest Fair professional wine and food competitions will on be hand to serve unlimited samples.
The Grand Tasting replaces both the public awards night and Friday varietal tasting events that were part of the Harvest Fair in previous years. The new event promises an intimate, informative look at the special qualities of each wine and food item, because the pouring and serving will be done by professionals who can provide recommendations on preparation, pairing and presentation of their offerings. People will get to mingle with key winery and restaurant representatives (owners, winemakers, chefs and other top positions) and hear insiders’ stories about ingredients, philosophies and inspiration.
Tickets to the Grand Tasting are $60 in advance, $70 at the door (or $50 each when purchased in blocks of 10 or more) and include unlimited tastings of the award-winning wines (one-ounce pours) and cuisine, as well as entrance to the Harvest Fair that day. Those interested in attending the Grand Tasting are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance because the event is expected to sell out prior to the event date.
Throughout the Harvest Fair, there will also be opportunities to taste award-winning varietals. And attendees can always enjoy the popular World Championship Grape Stomp, try other beverages at Saturday’s microbrew tasting, and take part in family-friendly “Ag-tivities” for children and adults. For more information, please visit www.harvestfair.org.
New Activities Announced for Sonoma County Harvest Fair 2011
Perhaps no single event better showcases Sonoma County’s world-class wines, produce and cuisine than the Sonoma County Harvest Fair (September 30 through October 2, 2011). With a new generation of connoisseurs looking for a fresh approach to sampling the good life, the Harvest Fair board has retooled key elements to give people even more reason to gather with friends at this premier event.
