Wine Festivals Not Only For Elite
Travel In Wine Country Offers More Than Wine Lesson
"Winemakers want wine to be accessible to everyone," says Betsy Fischer, owner of Winespeak, a wine consulting and education firm based in Sonoma, Calif. "The time has come for Americans to learn that wine is not a mysterious subject with a secret language. Attending a wine festival or wine-tasting event is a good first step in 'demystifying' wine appreciation."
For travelers, wine festivals and wine-tasting events can be an ideal introduction to the cuisine and history of the place they are visiting.
"Lots of people make their travel plans around wine festivals, because they know that they're a good place to go to get a snapshot of the local restaurant scene," Fischer says. "They're also great places to learn about things like cycling and hot air balloon trips in the wine country, and other area attractions.
"And best of all, you'll meet locals and other travelers who share your interests, and that always makes a vacation more memorable."
Although most of the nation's premier wine events are held in autumn, plenty of good ones are held at other times of the year. Here's a preview of events still to come this year and into the new millennium:
California
Year-round, the celebrated wineries and restaurants of Sonoma, Napa Valley and Monterey participate in dozens of wine festivals and events, ranging from intimate to expansive in size and scope. These Web sites are your best bet for finding them:
In Southern California, the annual Grape Stomp Fest in Julian, a gold-rush era town located about 60 miles east of San Diego, is no highbrow event. Visitors get to hop into barrels, stomp "until they're purple," drink some wine, and pick up a bottle or two of "Chatoe LaFeet." For information, call (760) 765-1857 or visit the Web site.
Oregon
Harvest season grape stomps are held at various wineries around the state. But the biggest event for which wineries and wine lovers in the region gear up is the Thanksgiving weekend wine festival. Most of Oregon's 156 wineries open their doors -- even if they are closed the rest of the year -- for this casual weekend wine fest. This year's event will be held in November. To receive a guide, call the Oregon Wine Advisory Board at (800) 242-2363, send them an e-mail, or visit their Web site for links and info on individual wineries.
Hawaii
More than 50 wineries from around the world will participate in the Ninth Annual Winter Wine Escape, slated for November at the Mauna Kea Resort on the Big Island of Hawaii. This year's theme is a comparison of Old World versus New World wines. For information, call the Mauna Kea Resort at (808) 880-3023.
Nevada
In Las Vegas, Odyssey 2000: A Celebration of Wine, Food and Art, will feature world-class vintages specifically selected by master sommeliers, gourmet dinners and cooking demonstrations by some of the nation's finest chefs. Highlights of the three-day event, held in October, include an uncorking of vintage wines, a symposium on Californian and Oregonian pinot noirs; a discussion and tasting of high-end cabernets by Master Sommelier Greg Harrison, and the Masters Dinner, Auction and Celebration. For information, call (877) 370-9182 or visit the Web site.
Texas
The San Antonio New World Wine and Food Festival, held in October, features wines from Texas, Italy, Spain, Chile, Argentina, and the Bajas of California and Mexico. Festival events include a Meet-the-Winemaker reception and "Texas in Tuxes," a black-tie dinner featuring celebrity chefs Mark Miller (Coyote Cafe in Santa Fe, N.M. and Red Sage in Washington, D.C.), Stephan Pyles (Star Canyon in Dallas) and Grady Spears (Reata Restaurant in Alpine and Fort Worth, Texas and Hollywood, Calif.). For information, call (210) 518-1155 or go to the San Antonio CVB's Web site and click on the link to the Festival.
Vermont
Guests of The Equinox resort in Manchester Village can learn about wines directly from the winemakers during a Food and Wine Weekend scheduled for this fall. Wineries include Banfi Vintners (Italy), Chateau and Estate and Fredrick Wildman (France), Mertin Ray (Graton, Calif.), Chateau St. Michelle (Washington State), Clos du Bois, Kenwood Vineyards and Valley of the Moon (Sonoma, Calif.), and Sterling, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars and Trefethen (Napa, Calif.). Events include a welcome reception with the vintners, educational seminars, a grand wine tasting, a wine auction and a winemaker's dinner gala. Phone The Equinox at (800) 362-4747.
Virginia
From January through March, the Boar's Head Inn in Charlottesville will hold a series of 3-day, 2-night wine tasting weekends. Activities include a cocktail reception with the vintners, a wine appreciation seminar, a cooking demonstration by the Inn's chef, and a "behind the scenes" tour and barrel tasting at one of three local wineries. For information on dates and package rates, call (800) 476-1988, or visit the Web site.
