Wine and food tasting abounds in Placer County and Nevada County CA this summer
For savory eats and award-winning wines, these festivals offer eclectic tastings, hands-on cooking demos with imaginative chefs, and breathtaking venues:
SIERRA VINTNERS
SUMMER REGIONAL WINE TRAIL JULY 18 AND SEPTEMBER 26
A premier wine tasting experience from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on “roads less traveled” in Nevada and Placer Counties. The trail includes wineries that are relatively near one another, reducing the driving time. The wineries are offering gourmet food pairings to go with their wines and music.
Sierra Vintners are situated between Sacramento and Reno with easy access off I-80.
The wineries on the July 18 wine trail are near Grass Valley and Nevada City: Double Oak Vineyards & Winery, Katoa Cellars, Lucchesi Vineyards & Winery, Nevada City Winery, Smith Vineyard and Solune Winegrowers.
The vintners on the September 26 wine trail are in South Nevada County or North Auburn: Bear River Winery, Fawnridge Winery, Lone Buffalo Vineyards & Winery, Mt. Vernon Winery, Naggiar Vineyards, Sierra Knolls Vineyards & Winery and Viña Castellano Winery.
The wineries are in picturesque settings, where you can see wildflowers, coveys of quail and other wildlife. Sierra Vintners produce a wide variety of vines, with over 45 planted varietals, ranging from Chardonnay, Merlot, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Sauvignon to Cabernet Franc, Barbera, Sangiovese and Tempranillo.
For tickets and more information, visit SierraVinterns.com.
NEVADA CITY UNCORKED AUGUST 29
Uncorked is a walk-about-town style format from 1-4 p.m. that includes 20 venues throughout downtown. Each location, whether it is a retail shop, restaurant, winery or tasting room, will includewine tasting and food sampling.
This year’s event features a farm-to-table theme between the local farmers and participating restaurants and caterers who will transform the fresh products into signature dishes. The wineries will highlight their newest release of the season in celebration of the upcoming harvest.
For tickets and information, visit NevadaCityChamber.com.
SAMPLE THE SIERRA, SEPTEMBER 6
The 6th annual Sample the Sierra at Bijou Community Park in South Lake Tahoe from noon-5 p.m. brings together the region’s top chefs and restaurants with neighboring growers and farms to create delicious samples paired with the appropriate wine or craft brew.
The festival marketplace includes locally made goods such as jam, soap, honey and olive oil along with specialty products created in the county, such as fine art, jewelry and crafts.
Sample the Sierra also features the Sierra Chefs Challenge, a cook-off between three regional chefs cooking with locally sourced ingredients. Watch them prepare delicious meals and enjoy tasting them.
The weekend is full of festivities including winemaker dinners, music, live entertainment and art, all culminating with a fireworks extravaganza over Lake Tahoe.
For tickets and more information, visit SampleTheSierra.com.
LAKE TAHOE AUTUMN FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL, SEPTEMBER 11-13
The 30th annual Lake Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Festival at Northstar California Resort will pair epicurean adventures with Northern California’s finest in regional food and wine delicacies.
Master chefs and winemakers invite foodies to enjoy three days of cooking seminars and demonstrations, culinary competitions, wine tastings and food-themed experiences in The Village and on the mountain at Northstar, as well as in The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe.
The Autumn Food and Wine Festival is the premier culinary event in Lake Tahoe, bringing with it renowned chefs and food experts crafting delicious food and wine pairings, and teaching spectators to recreate various gourmet dishes on their own.
Guests will also enjoy family entertainment areas featuring lawn games as well as a marketplace centrally located in The Village at Northstar, displaying food-themed offerings, artistic and local merchandise.
For a listing of events and to purchase tickets, visit NorthstarCalifornia.
DOWNTOWN TRUCKEE WINE, WALK & SHOP, OCTOBER 3
Now in its 12th year, The Downtown Truckee Wine, Walk & Shop is one of Truckee’s preeminent events. This annual favorite from noon-4 p.m. brings nearly 1,000 locals and tourists to historic downtown Truckee to sip wine, taste food samples and enjoy shopping.
Attendees will receive a commemorative wine glass to sample wine at more than 30 locations, food tickets and a program with a map to all participating locations.
For more information, visit TruckeeWineWalk.com.