There’s no time like the fall winegrape harvest to experience California’s Livermore Valley wine country.
Each year, the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association heralds the approaching crush by staging a Harvest Wine Celebration over the Labor Day weekend, followed by weeks of special wine country activities.
Grape stomps, blending seminars, library tastings and new release parties will be taking place at many of the 40 wineries of the valley, which is about a 30-minute drive from most San Francisco Bay Area communities.
The 2007 Harvest Wine Celebration is set for Sunday and Monday, September 2-3, from 12 noon to 5 p.m. each day. For those two days, 36 wineries of the Livermore Valley will welcome guests to celebrate the season. Visitors may traverse the vineyards, tour the wineries, sample a wide range of wine types and styles, enjoy live music, and picnic in the great outdoors. Shuttle buses will be available to transport guests to wineries and other tasting venues.
The weekend offers a rare opportunity to experience the full range of the Livermore Valley wine country, from fifth-generation winemakers to newcomers. Visitors can meet the winemakers and learn how the wines were crafted.
Tickets, priced at $35 in advance or $40 on-site, are available by calling 925-447-WINE. A single-day ticket for Monday only may be purchased for $30.
