Avenue Vine

What: 3rd Annual Carneros Heritage Fest
When: Saturday May 31, noon to 4 p.m.
Where: The Donum Estate (24520 Ramal Road in Sonoma) in the Los Carneros American Viticultural Area 40 minutes north of San Francisco, 30 minutes from Marin County, the East Bay and 60 minutes from both the South Bay and Sacramento.
How: All inclusive tickets are $75 per person, Children under 12 (accompanied by parent) are free. Tickets are available from the Carneros Wine Alliance website, www.carnerosheritagefest.com, or by check from Carneros Wine Alliance, P.O. Box 178, Vineburg, CA 95487.

The event partners the Carneros Wine Alliance with the Sonoma County Winegrape Commission, which will also co-sponsor a Winegrape Growers Pavilion, the American Lamb Board, the Napa and Sonoma Farm Bureaus, and the California Department of Fish and Game.

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Proceeds will benefit the Carneros Land Stewardship Foundation, dedicated to the conservation and preservation of habitat in the San Pablo Bay wetlands adjacent to the Carneros region. The Carneros Lamb BBQ, under the direction of Mark Rasic, Executive Chef, Google Inc. will be grilled by members of the Napa County Farm Bureau with the lamb supplied by renowned artisan lamb purveyor, Niman Ranch.

Participating wineries previously have included: Acacia, Artesa, Bouchaine, Buena Vista Carneros, Ceja Vineyards, Clos Du Val, Cuvaison Estate Wines, Etude, Gloria Ferrer Caves and Vineyards, Havens Wine Cellars, Madonna Estate, MacRostie Winery, Merryvale Vineyards, Nicholson Ranch, Patz & Hall, Ravenswood, Donum/Robert Stemmler, Saintsbury, Schug Carneros Estate Wines, Talisman Wines, and Toad Hall Cellars.

The Carneros Heritage Fest will also feature a Sheep Herding Exhibition, Artisan Wool Boutiques, music by the Back Burner Blues Band (comprised of Napa Valley Chefs led by BAY TV personality Joey Altman), vineyard walks, marsh talks, and other activities and exhibitions by
the California Department of Fish and Game.

Friday evening, May 30, a series of dinners will be held at wineries and restaurants throughout the region. Multi-course lamb dinners with specially-designed menus paired with wines selected for the dinners have been created by some of the region’s most well-known chefs.

About The Carneros Wine Alliance:
The Carneros Wine Alliance is an association of vintners and growers in the “Los Carneros” AVA. A short drive (45 minutes) from San Francisco, Carneros is a unique region encompassing “a little bit of Napa and a little bit of Sonoma,” spanning the southern portions of both counties. A rustic, wind-swept agricultural area, Carneros is one of the world’s premier winegrowing regions. A cool climate appellation, Carneros has long been known for its Chardonnays, elegant Pinot Noirs and its world-class sparkling wines. Los Carneros – which means “the Ram” in Spanish— has also been recognized for the quality of its Syrah, Merlot and new varietals now grown throughout the appellation.

For more information, please visit www.carnerosheritagefest.com or call (707)253-2678.