Mark your calendars for March 1. That’s when tickets go on sale for the 2014 edition of my favorite wine-tasting event: Winesong.
All the details are in this media release…
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Celebrating its 30th year on the trend-setting Mendocino Coast, Winesong 2014 looks to continue its reputation as the premiere sure-to-sell-out charitable wine event by announcing this year’s dates.
Starting on Friday, September 5, Winesong will offer guests an insider’s view of Anderson Valley Pinot Noir as Winesong and the Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association present “An Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Celebration,” hosted by the Little River Inn.
On Saturday, September 6, guests can stroll through the captivating Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens while enjoying a marvelous array of wine and food from 100 highly acclaimed wineries and 50 top-notch Northern California restaurants. The magnificent wine celebration continues on into the auction tents for the always-entertaining live and silent auctions.
The New York Times recently released its annual “Places to Visit” list, with Mendocino County’s North Coast taking the No. 3 spot out of 52 destinations. With its dramatic coastal setting, Mendocino is quickly becoming a top wine country getaway.
Last year’s event raised more than $500,000 to benefit the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation. Highlights of the 2013 auction included the “fund a need” lot — specifically to be used to purchase a new ambulance — which brought in $116,000 in a matter of minutes.
“We continue to be amazed and extremely grateful for the generosity of our Winesong family who travel from across the U.S. and beyond to support our hospital and our community,” enthused Executive Director Jeri Erickson.
Here’s a closer look at the various Winesong events…
• An Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Celebration: Meet the Winemakers (Friday, September 5, 1-4 p.m.) — This exclusive event features Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley and tastes of Little River’s finest culinary offerings. The focus of this celebration is to provide an exclusive opportunity to talk wine with the winemakers themselves in an intimate setting. Evaluate new wines and learn how classic Pinot Noir improves with age. Savor these lush and elegant wines while you meet and mingle with the winemakers at a seaside setting overlooking the spectacular Pacific Coast.
• Wine and Food Tasting in the Gardens (Saturday, September 6, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.) —Each year, in order to offer a wide array of wines, Winesong invites 100 highly acclaimed world-class wineries to preview their new vintages. With producers coming from such diverse regions as Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma, the Central Coast, Sierra Foothills, Oregon, Washington, Italy, Chile and South Africa, the tasting is truly world-class and unprecedented in its sheer diversity. A wonderful variety of culinary fare is provided by more than 50 fine restaurants and food purveyors from Northern California. Wine and food enthusiasts can stroll through the botanical garden paths along the bluffs overlooking the majestic Mendocino Coast while sampling this bountiful fare and enjoying performances of musical ensembles — playing a variety of styles including jazz, folk, classical, zydeco and more — throughout the gardens
• Silent (11 a.m.-4 p.m.) and Live (2-5 p.m.) Auctions (Saturday, September 6) — There will be lively bidding on more than 200 lots, featuring spectacular wines and rare vintages from the most prestigious wine producers, original art from highly acclaimed artists, extravagant vacation packages, and custom-made international wine getaway packages.
VIP Tickets — with reserved seating at the auction and Celebrity Chef Lunch, and access to wine and food tasting — are priced at $225, increasing to $250 after June 1.
General admission tickets — with festival seating at the auction and access to wine and food tasting — are priced at $125, increasing to $150 after June 1.
General admission tickets for the Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Celebration are priced at $50.
For more information and to purchase tickets, click here (www.winesong.org) or call 707-961-4688.
