Upcoming Event: Winesong 2011

When it comes to northern California wine country, everyone knows about Sonoma and Napa counties, but there is a third, lesser known, county that is really starting to make a name for itself. Becoming increasingly well-known and popular, Mendocino County is one of the oldest grape growing areas in California and is home to the smallest AVA in North America. A laid back and casual wine growing region, Mendocino is full of family wineries that offer a non-intimidating approach to wine. With many wineries focusing on organic and sustainable winemaking, including America’s first carbon neutral winery, Parducci Wine Cellars, Mendocino County is known as California’s greenest wine region.
Admittedly, I have not really spent any time in Mendocino County exploring the great wineries they have to offer. That is why I am so excited to be covering the 2011 Winesong! event taking
place on September 9-10th.

On Friday September 9th, visitors will spend their afternoon at the Little River Inn barrel tasting the acclaimed Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley region. Each winery will be pouring a new vintage alongside an older, already released vintage, giving a chance to see how wine ages, develops, and changes over time. Tickets for Friday Barrel Tasting are only $40 and you’ll have the chance to meet and mingle with the winemakers at a beautiful location overlooking the Pacific Coast.

Saturday features two events for wine loves. The first event is a true Feast for the Senses as Winesong! invites 50 restaurants and food purveyors from Northern California to join and pair food with 100 wineries from wine regions up and down the West Toast, *cough, cough* I mean, the West Coast, as well as international producers from South Africa, Italy, and Chile. As a lover of both California coastal Pinot Noir and Oregon Pinot, I am looking forward to some side-by-side tasting. While strolling through the breathtaking Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, participants can sip delicious wines, eat delicious food, and enjoy live music while overlooking the Mendocino Coast and smelling the delicious salty air. Yep...pretty sure we’ll have sensory overload on this one. Just be sure to take time to stop and smell the roses.

(Is there a more beautiful place to enjoy great food and wine?)

Second, and perhaps most importantly, Winesong! auction serves as the primary fundraiser for the Mendocino Coast Hospital. I know I have said it before, but I love being a part of a wine country that gives so much back to the community. Entering its 27th year, the auction has raised over $4 million to aid the Mendocino Coast Hospital in providing quality health care and equipment.

It’s true that Mendocino may not be the first location thought of for a wine country getaway, but an event like Winesong! will feature some of the most hand-crafted and unique wines in California and beyond. And, instead of staying in a big hotel, stay in one of Mendocino’s many boutique bed and breakfasts or seaside inns and make this event part of a wonderful getaway, even if you live just down the road. I know that’s what Katie and I will be doing for 2011 Winesong!

Check back about a week after the event for my thoughts on this highly-anticipated event!

Cheers!