FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 AND SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2009 6:00 P.M.
Winemaker Dinners are held both Friday and Saturday evening and are $160 per person, Specialty Dinners are $175 per person. Tickets are non-refundable.
Winemaker Dinners are held at wineries throughout Sonoma County. Click the "Located in" links to check out a map of the appellation for the hosting winery. Information graciously provided by Sonoma County Winegrape Commission.
Winemaker Dinners fill up quickly, so purchase your tickets today!
If you are a Visa Signature cardholder and the dinner of your choice is noted as SOLD OUT, please call 800.939.7666 to determine availability.
Friday Specialty Dinners
Monte Rosso Vineyard Zinfandel Dinner
Hosted by Rancho Zabaco Winery in the Vineyard
Co-hosted by Amapola Creek Vineyards & Winery and Rosenblum Cellars
6:00 p.m. | 4 seats available
No discussion of great Sonoma Zinfandels is complete without mentioning the incredible Zins from the historic Monte Rosso Vineyard. Winemakers who have been fortunate enough to work with this rarified vineyard often wax poetical about its potential, referring to it as “a gem” and “magic.” Come to understand the allure of this revered place by enjoying a meal among the vines while taking in its expansive and magnificent views. Three top producers who are privileged enough to make wines from the legendary Monte Rosso grapes will be at your service to pour their favorite Monte Rosso wines and to share in their words what makes them so unique. When perfectly paired with the incredible cuisine for which Sonoma is known, and served among the vines, these wines will linger in your memory long after the evening ends.
Located in the Sonoma Valley Appellation
Cabernet Sauvignon Varietal Dinner
Hosted by Rodney Strong Vineyards
Co-hosted by Chateau St. Jean, Hidden Ridge Vineyard and Souverain
6:30 p.m. | 13 seats available
Come enjoy dinner with four premiere cabernet producers a-top Rodney Strong’s Alexander’s Crown, where Sonoma County’s first single vineyard cabernet sauvignon was grown in 1974. Celebrating the winery’s 50-year anniversary and 30 years of winemaking at Rodney Strong, winemaker Rick Sayre partners with Hidden Ridge Vineyards, Chateau St. Jean and Souverain to host an evening of delightful food and delicious cabernets from around the county. Sweeping views of Alexander Valley will set the stage while Elaine Bell and her catering staff pull out all the stops to complement wines from Sonoma Valley and the mountains above, as well as Russian River and Alexander Valleys. Opening acts will include wonderful whites and lighter style reds, but rest assured, the show stopper will certainly be King Cabernet. Click here for the menu.
Located in the Alexander Valley Appellation
Pinot Noir Varietal Dinner
Hosted by Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards
Co-hosted by Dutton-Goldfield Winery, MacRostie Winery and Vineyards, Papapietro Perry Winery, Roessler Cellars and Sand Hill Wines
6:00 p.m. | 1 seat available
Fragile, mysterious and treasured, the Pinot Noir grape flourishes in Sonoma Wine Country’s cooler AVAs, creating world class wines of great distinction. Join six producers responsible for some of Sonoma’s most stunning Pinot Noir for an evening where you’ll discover exquisite wines perfectly paired with a five-course meal designed by Chef Matthew Bousquet of Windsor’s Restaurant Mirepoix. Served al fresco on a welcoming patio with sweeping views of vineyards, this dining experience is not to be missed.
Located in the Russian River Valley
Friday Winemaker Dinners
B.R. Cohn Winery
6:00 p.m. | SOLD OUT
Host Bruce Cohn and San Francisco Chef Robert Fair invite you for an evening immersed in culinary excellence. You’ll begin your experience in Bruce's private kitchen working side-by-side with Chef Fair to learn flawless techniques for successful wine and food pairings, as well professional tips for gorgeous food presentations. Then sit down and relax with Bruce, Chef Fair and your new friends around Bruce’s family table to savor the meal you all helped prepare, paired with the award winning wines of B.R. Cohn.
Located in the Sonoma Valley Appellation
Balletto Vineyards
6:00 p.m. | SOLD OUT
Join proprietors John and Terri Balletto as you enjoy a relaxing evening of gourmet food and award winning wines. You’ll sip and savor on the Balletto Vineyards patio overlooking the estate vineyards which serve as the gateway to the Laguna de Santa Rosa, Sonoma County's richest area of wildlife habitat. As you watch the sunset, K & L Bistro, recent Michelin Star honorees, will prepare and present a roasted pig gourmet dinner, with wine pairings flawlessly created to enhance the entire experience of dining with a group of people that are as passionate about wine as you are. The ambiance of a string trio will add to the unforgettable memories that are created from this unique winemaker dinner.
Located in the Russian River Appellation
Forth Vineyards & Winery
6:00 p.m. | SOLD OUT
The expressive wines of Forth Vineyards & Winery begin their evolution in 10-acres of organically farmed Cabernet and Syrah Vineyards nestled in the hills above the Dry Creek Valley. You’re invited to share in the Forth’s belief in the magic that is created when wine, food and great people gather for a shared meal. Served al fresco on the rustic stone terrace overlooking the vines, this memorable culinary experience will be prepared using seasonal, organic ingredients by the same four hands that create the wines you’ll savor with each dish. Experience a journey into the heart and soul of the wine country. You may begin the evening among strangers, but you will depart as friends.
Located in the Dry Creek Valley Appellation
Francis Ford Coppola Winery
6:00 p.m. | 7 seats available
Enjoy a festive celebration filled with wine, food, laughter and music from the Susan Comstock Swingtet all under the stars in a historic oak grove. You’ll dine at a family-style table set amidst the vineyards and surrounded by hundreds of candles and under the glow of Italian string lights. You could be one of the first to sample newly created offerings from the menu of Francis Ford Coppola’s renovated restaurant at this unmistakably Coppola event. Note to guests, please wear appropriate foot wear for walking in the vineyard, and dress for a festive evening outdoors.
Located in the Alexander Valley Appellation
Lambert Bridge Winery
6:00 p.m. | 12 seats available
Spend an evening at the rustic and elegant Lambert Bridge Winery where you'll be greeted with warmth and escorted into their beautiful Mediterranean-style gardens. Surrounded by redwoods and vineyards, you'll dine al fresco on a meal of fresh local foods expertly prepared in Mugnaini Tuscan wood-fired ovens. You'll savor small lot, artisanal Bordeaux blends and varietals as you take in the rolling hills of Dry Creek Valley. And you'll make new friends as Greg Wilcox shares the joys and challenges of creating the very wines on your table. As a small-family owned winery, Lambert Bridge is passionate about great wine, paired with great food shared by great friends.
Located in the Dry Creek Valley Appellation
Paul Hobbs Winery
6:00 p.m. | SOLD OUT
Join pioneer, trendsetter, trailblazer and prospector Paul Hobbs for what promises to be an entertaining dinner at his winery’s Lindsay House private hospitality venue. After becoming one of the first California winemakers to focus on single vineyard wines, Paul further challenged himself to craft unfiltered, unfined wines fermented with their native yeasts. His wines are distinctly California, and they shine when paired with the culinary treasures of Sonoma County. Mediterranean cuisine will be paired with wines from Paul Hobbs Winery in California and Vina Cobos, his winery in Mendoza, Argentina. Live Flamenco music will serve as the soundtrack for this evening of incredible wines and gourmet delights. Click here for the menu.
Located in the Russian River Valley Appellation
Viansa Winery & Marketplace
6:00 p.m. | 26 seats available
To spend an evening dining with Viansa’s Owner Lloyd Davis and Winemaker Ron Goss while savoring Viansa’s delicious artisanal delicacies is to experience the pinnacle of Sonoma Wine Country graciousness. Join them on the spectacular patio where you’ll take in magnificent views of the Wetlands Preserve while indulging in hors d’oeuvres paired with Viansa’s California and Italian Varietals. The feast, perfectly paired with Viansa wines, will be served in the intimate candlelit Wine Cellar, accompanied by live music for an evening of memories you’ll always treasure.
Located in the Sonoma Carneros Appellation
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Honorary Chair Dinner
Sangiacomo Family Vineyards, Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa
6:00 p.m. | 65 seats available
Three generations of the Sangiacomo Family have set the standards for excellence in grape growing in Sonoma Wine Country. Meet the entire Sangiacomo Family at this unprecedented gathering, where, for the first time in our history, we are celebrating a grower family as our Honorary Chairs.
No other Sonoma Wine Country grower family has earned this distinction more than the Sangiacomos. The wines created from their meticulously farmed vineyards have won many awards and are proof positive that world class wines begin in world class vineyards.
Join the Sangiacomo Family in the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa Harvest Pavilion where Fairmont’s award-winning Executive Chef Bruno Tison will be at the helm for this remarkable dinner, lending his signature culinary style to fresh and seasonal dishes. Winemakers who have made acclaimed wines from Sangiacomo Family Vineyard grapes will be honoring the legendary family as they present their prized wine and share their experiences working with them. It will be an unforgettable evening highlighted by impeccable cuisine, distinguished wines, and steeped in the tradition of a true Sonoma heritage family.
Located in the Sonoma Valley Appellation
Saturday Winemaker Dinners
Benziger Family Winery
6:00 p.m. | 2 seats available
Sonoma’s Benziger Family Winery has raised the bar on sustainable, organic and biodynamic practices for the entire industry by not only adhering to its mission of pure farming practices, but also by taking the lead on educating the public about these fascinating issues. Join the Benziger family for a uniquely elegant wine and food experience on their Sonoma Mountain Estate. Take a relaxed, guided tram tour through their picturesque vineyards with a stop at the Parthenon for a tasting of their award-winning estate wines. Estate Winemaker Mike Benziger will lead you through the tasting with an informative discussion of whys and hows of Biodymanic® farming – and the results will show in the glass! Feast on a gourmet dinner under the stars featuring produce from Benziger’s own biodynamically farmed garden – a fresh and flavorful adventure not to be missed!
Located in the Sonoma Mountain Appellation
Captûre Wines
5:30 p.m. | 6 seats available
High atop Pine Mountain, hovering above the Alexander Valley, sits the historic Tin Cross Vineyards, which nurtures grapes for Bordeaux-style Captûre Wines, and is home to groves of old oak trees, wild birds and animals. Enjoy a rare evening tour of this 40-acre vineyard and 200-acre estate with famed Captûre Winemaking team, Denis and May-Britt Malbec, formerly of Château Latour in Bordeaux, and partners Ben and Tara Sharp. After your walk through the vineyard, you will enjoy a dinner paired with Captûre Wines on the outside terrace, while taking in the majestic views of Sonoma County.
Located in the Alexander Valley Appellation
Deerfield Ranch Winery
6:00 p.m. | 16 seats available
The San Francisco Chronicle recently tagged the Deerfield Ranch Winery's incredible cave and subterranean tasting room in Kenwood a "don't miss". Join PJ and Robert Rex, owners of the Deerfield Ranch Winery for a dinner in Kenwood in the Grand Room as they take a step back in time. Winemaker Robert Rex will host you on a tour of this incredible cave, after which PJ and Robert will lead a lively discussion about the food and wine pairing over a sumptuous meal served underground. This is a truly unique experience of enjoying an intimate and romantic setting deep within the earth, drinking world class wines and savoring Sonoma's most exciting fare. Click here for the Menu.
Located in the Sonoma Valley Appellation
Emery Estate Vineyards & Winery
6:00 p.m. | 16 seats available
One of Sonoma County’s newest stars, Emery Estate Vineyards and Winery, invites you to their spectacular organic estate for an elegant evening highlighting their three compelling Cabernet Sauvignons: Emery, a Bordeaux style; Deborah Factor, a more fruit-forward sip; and Unbridled, a complex blend of different vineyard blocks. The delicious fare of Executive Chef Norman Owens of Café La Haye and Chef Addie Gaumer of Boon Fly Café will be brilliantly paired with each wine and served on the Corinthian-columned terraces designed to enhance the already spectacular, sweeping views of San Francisco and beyond.
Located in the Sonoma Valley Appellation
Lancaster Estate
6:00 p.m. | SOLD OUT
Set within the hillsides of the Alexander Valley, family owned Lancaster Estate is a Cabernet lover’s paradise. They’ve achieved worldwide acclaim for their Estate grown, bottled and produced wines through an unwavering commitment to cultivating and integrated approach to winemaking. At this beautiful event, taste a selection of award-winning wines, each singularly identifiable as Lancaster Estate. Chef Tim Bodell carefully pairs local seasonal cuisine from the estate gardens with Lancaster Estate's remarkable current releases for a picture-perfect evening of sumptuous food, luxurious wines and spectacular surroundings.
Located in the Alexander Valley Appellation
Nicholson Ranch
6:00 p.m. | SOLD OUT
Built and founded on the property purchased by Greek émigré Socrates Nicholson in 1962, Nicholson Ranch combines form and function to make wines of great distinction. Proprietors Ramona Nicholson and Deepak Gulrajani invite you to join them in a celebration honoring these roots with a Greek feast in their elegant Great Room in the cave 45 feet below the ground. Enjoy spirited conversation over their expressive wines paired with the delectable foods of Chef Bruce Riezeman of Park Avenue Catering for a truly memorable event.
Located in the Sonoma Valley Appellation
Quivira Vineyards & Winery
6:00 p.m. | SOLD OUT
Join Sonoma County’s biodynamic and organic pioneers for a dramatic five-course, farm-to-table dining experience featuring food and wine prepared from Quivira’s estate garden. Chefs Joe and Susanna Reuter of Windsor’s GreenGrocer will expertly pair Quivira’s award-winning wines with a meal created from the freshest produce imaginable, harvested that day from the very garden in which you will dine. Quivira Winemaker/Winegrower Steven Canter, Farm Manager Andrew Beedy and General Manager Nancy Bailey will be in attendance to present the wines along with engaging and informative insights into their winemaking and biodynamic/organic philosophies and farming practices. Each guest will leave with a special gift bag that includes a jar of Quivira’s Estate Wildflower Honey, a selection of produce with the recipes from the dinner, a tour and tasting gift certificate for two and a logo wine glass.