Tasting Notes

FOOTHILLS CELEBRATION
Now in its 18th year, the Foothills Celebration in downtown Grass Valley is one of the region’s premier wine and food events.

On Saturday, March 2, from 1-4 p.m., participants gather to sip wine from foothill wineries while sampling chef specialties and sweets from local restaurants.

Attendees also can shop at the clothing boutiques, art galleries, jewelry stores, home design stores and antique emporiums in the historic downtown. The annual event is hosted by the Grass Valley Downtown Association and Sierra Vintners.

The event is ideal for a weekend getaway, where visitors can stay at one of Grass Valley’s hotels or B&B inns, eat dinner at a downtown restaurant and watch a movie at the historic Del Oro Theatre.
Early bird discount tickets are available for $40 before February 25 ($50 afterward).

Sierra FoodWineArt magazine is proud to return as title sponsor of the 2019 event. DowntownGrassValley.com, SierraVintners.com

WORKING TOGETHER: SIERRA STARR AND COOPER VINEYARDS
We’re glad to see two of our favorite winemakers collaborating for a new release wine — in this case Sierra Starr in Grass Valley making a barbera with grapes from Dick Cooper’s famed vineyard in Amador County.

“Fruit for this bottling came from the epicenter of the Sierra Foothills barbera movement — Cooper Ranch in Amador County,” according to Jackson Starr, the winery’s assistant winemaker. “The wine is loaded with dark cherries and spice. Smooth, supple tannins coat your palate and impress with refinement.”

Sierra Starr’s other releases include a 2016 Super Nova Petite Sirah; 2018 Solstice Sauvignon Blanc; a 2018 Fume Blanc (its first); and Sun Spot Rose of Sangiovese (“electric strawberry cream in a glass”). SierraStarr.com

ANDIS CRAB FEED
Join Andis Winery for its annual crab feed and winter wine release at the Broderick Event Center in Carmichael on February 16.

Taste new releases of sauvignon blanc, semillon and rosé. Enjoy an all-you-can-eat Dungeness crab dinner including fresh bread, Caesar salad and pasta. AndisWines.com

LOYALTY CARDS
The Sierra Vintners’ newest offering is loyalty cards. Cardmembers receive discounts and perks at member wineries for the year.

Each quarter the wineries release new offerings to loyalty cardmembers. Cards are sold for $40 at member tasting rooms. For more information, visit SierraVintners.com.

Lucchesi Vineyards & Winery has tempting releases planned in the new year. The wines include a 2016 cabernet sauvignon, 2017 cabernet franc, 2017 zinfandel, and 2018 sauvignon blanc, according to owners Mario and Linda Clough. LucchesiVineyards.com

(Photo: Rick Love)