Join Livermore Valley Winemakers and Bay Area Chefs for a delectable evening of wine and food pairings showcasing the Valley's bountiful "terroir" (a french word for soil and is pronounced "ter-wah"). Each winemaker and chef team has worked hard to create innovate wine and food pairings for guests to enjoy. Guests can cast their vote for People's Choice Award as they taste all 16 of the creative pairings. In a blind tasting, our Culinary and Media Judges for the evening will present awards for Most Innovative Pairing, Judges' Best, and Best Use of Local Ingredients (Awards announced at 8:15pm). Guests can also enjoy live music on the patio and bid on silent acution lots.
2009 Award Winners:
Best Expression of Local Ingredients:
Wente Vineyards & The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards
2007 Nth Degree Pinot Noir, Arroyo Seco
House-Cured Duck Prosciutto with Fregola Pasta Salad, Brentwood Corn, Garden Basil, Sweet Red Onion, Dried Tomato, and Goat Cheese
Most Innovative:
McGrail Vineyards & Campo Di Bocce
2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Livermore Valley
Cherry and Olive Tapenade with Lavender on a Gorgonzola Puff Pastry
Judges’ Best:
Ruby Hill Winery & Casa Real at Ruby Hill
2007 Estate Reserve Zinfandel, Livermore Valley
Summertime Braised Pork with Blueberry-Chipotle BBQ Sauce and Carrot-Ginger Slaw
People’s Choice:
Murrieta’s Well & Hap’s Original Steakhouse
2007 Muscat Canelli, Livermore Valley
Tostones with Sweet Chili Prawn, Whipped Cream Cheese, Pineapple Habanera Jelly, and Cilantro
Most Creamaginative: (Creative & Imaginative):
Mitchell Katz Winery & Palm Event Center in the Vineyard
2007 Sangiovese Reserve, Livermore Valley
Hearty Muffuletta style Empanada with Artisan Mortadella, Toscano Salumi and Piquant Ollye Relish
2009 Judges for the Food & Wine Competition:
Evan Goldstein - Master Sommelier and Author
Evan is one of the nation’s most prolific food and wine industry veterans. In 1987 he became the eighth American and youngest ever at the time to pass the prestigious Master Sommelier examination. Evan is the author of the critically acclaimed, Perfect Pairings: A Master Sommelier’s Practical Advice for Partnering Wine with Food and other books.
Sara Schneider- Sunset Magazine Wine Editor
Sara Schneider is Sunset’s first-ever wine editor, responsible for tasting panels, food-and-wine pairing in the test kitchen, wine-related food and travel coverage and the magazine’s wine club.
Jessica Yadegaran - Bay Area News Group Wine Writer
Jessica Yadegaran is a wine writer, educator and judge who believes wine is the true marriage of art, science and spirit. Her work has appeared online and in newspapers and magazines around the country for the past 10 years.
2009 Restaurant & Winery Teams:
Charles R Vineyards & Bosco Bones & Brew
Concannon Vineyard and Patrick David's Restaurant
Eagle Ridge Vineyards and Blue Agave
Garre Vineyards & Winery and Garre Winery Cafe
La Rochelle Winery & Casa de Cobre
Les Chenes Estate Vineyards & Poppy Ridge Grill
McGrail Vineyards & Campo di Bocce
Mitchell Katz Winery & Palm Event Center
Murrieta's Well & Hap's Original Steakhouse Restaurant
Ruby Hill Winery & Casa Real at Ruby Hill Winery
The Steven Kent Winery & Terra Mia
Tamas Estates & Amarone Restaurant
Wente Vineyards & The Restaurant at Wente Vineayards
White Crane Winery & Fuzio Restaurant
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