2nd annual Barbera Festival is June 9

(PLYMOUTH, California) – Wine aficionados take note.

Tickets for the 2nd Annual Barbera Festival, scheduled for Saturday, June 9 at Cooper Ranch in Plymouth, California (Amador County), will go on sale March 1. The inaugural event was a complete sellout with more than 1,800 attendees taking part, and raised more than $10,000 in net proceeds for the Amador County Foundation, the event’s fiscal sponsor.

“Last year’s celebration proved that there is an overwhelming interest in Barbera,” said Event Organizer Brian Miller of The Barbera Festival. “We actually had interested parties the day of the event camping out by the entrance and good naturedly displaying signs that read ‘Need Tickets.’ Others took to Craigslist hoping to score tickets. It was fantastic, especially for a first-time festival.”

This summer’s alfresco event, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., will host more than 80 wineries from the Sierra Foothills, Paso Robles, Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake County, the Santa Cruz Mountains, Ventura County, Lodi and the Bay Area, as well as 10 of the region’s top restaurants and chefs, which will offer a variety of gourmet dishes (a significant increase from six food purveyors last year).

What hasn’t changed is the ideal event location. Cooper Ranch in Shenandoah Valley will again host the Barbera Festival among its vineyards and rolling hills. The scenic venue makes sense as Dick Cooper, of Cooper Ranch, is known in the wine industry as the godfather of Barbera and supplies numerous vintners with Barbera grapes.

Also consistent with the inaugural event will be the exquisite works of artists and artisans, including jewelry, paintings, pottery, metal work, as well as locally crafted olive oils – all displayed in tents throughout the festival and adjacent to participating wineries.

The live music lineup this year will feature the popular Bay-Area based band, Brothers Comatose. This bluegrass quintet gets crowds dancing and stomping their feet at every show and has an ever increasing following.

Barbera originated in the Piemonte region of northern Italy. In California, about 7,000 acres of Barbera are planted. Louis Martini, a legend in California wine history with a prestigious winery in St. Helena, California, was the first to produce a varietal Barbera in 1954. Today, nearly 200 California wineries produce Barbera wines.

Barbera is known for its generous acid structure. There are differing styles of Barbera ranging from brighter versions with flavors of tart cherry, raspberry, and spice, to riper styles with flavors of black cherry, blueberry, blackberry, and vanilla.

The Barbera Festival is a Green Event and has taken measures to minimize the environmental impact of the festivities, including using biodegradable/compostable bags, cups, plates, napkins and cutlery, as well as giving attendees the opportunity to add $1 to their ticket price to help offset the carbon footprint of the event (100% of these contributions will go to purchase carbon offsets with offset retailer Terrappas).

Tickets will be available March 1 and are $40/person in advance. Ticket price includes admittance, wine tasting, commemorative wine glass and free on-site parking. Food is sold separately. Attendees must be 21 years or older and show valid ID as proof of age upon entering the festival. This is a non-smoking event and can accommodate service pets only at this time. There is also a special Designated Drive ticket for $20/person in advance, which includes event admittance and free non-alcoholic beverages.

For more information about the event, a list of participating wineries, map and directions, along with local lodging and tasting tips, click to the official website at www.BarberaFestival.com. Sponsorship opportunities are available.

—Pettit Gilwee, Pettit Gilwee Public Relations

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