One of the absolute most exciting things about Spring on the Central Coast? That’s right, its Wine Festival Season! Not sure which one is right for you? Check out the options below, grab your sandals and sunscreen and celebrate the vine with these amazing events.
Hospice du Rhone
Hospice du Rhone is An international vintners’ association that provides promotional and educational opportunities to the wine industry, trade and Rhône enthusiasts. Each year over 1,200 Rhône lovers converge in Paso Robles, California USA for the annual Hospice du Rhône Festival. The group is a mix of Rhône producers and importers, wine industry representatives, restaurateurs, Sommeliers and enthusiasts who possess an unwavering passion for the 22 Rhône varieties. The event hosts upwards of 160 Rhône wine producers and importers, from throughout the world at the Friday Rhône Rendezvous and the Saturday Grand Tasting. These worldly Rhône wine producers and imports gathered from France, South Africa, Australia, Spain, Chile and the USA. The states represented from the USA are Arizona, California, Oregon and Washington.
Tickets to attend the Paso Robles installment are now on-sale through the organizations website! This weekend, dedicated to nothing but Rhônes, will include four in-depth educational seminars, two spirited tastings and three lively meals. Attendees should gear up for a weekend of serious Rhône fun brimming with Rhône wines, Rhône zealots and Rhône producers from throughout the world. Passes are currently on sale for the Paso Robles Installment of Hospice du Rhône taking place April 14 – 16, 2016 at the Paso Robles Event Center in Paso Robles, California. Event and Seminar passes begin at $100. To purchase passes and to learn more visit www.hospicedurhone.org.
CAB’s of Distinction Media, Trade & Sommelier Events
If you’re ready to get your CAB on, here the Festival for you! With Seminars like :Know Your Cab Clones: Learn how to differentiate the different clones of Cabernet in Paso, and how choices in the vineyard are elevating Paso Robles wines. Join this session for an opportunity to taste and compare five different Cabernet Sauvignon clones and discuss vineyard and winery practices with the winemaker panel.
And there’s a bot o’ the ol’ competish here as well. Take the final seminar – The Judgment of Paso. Just as the Judgment of Paris proved that California Napa Valley Cabernet and Chardonnay were on a level playing field with Bordeaux in 1976, we aim to show that Paso Robles has risen to a global stage along with celebrated appellations like Napa and Bordeaux in producing superior Cabernet Sauvignon. Join this session for an opportunity to blind-taste and compare eight different Cabernet Sauvignons along with a panel of top sommeliers. After each wine is tasted, and its region strategically analyzed and guessed, it will be revealed!
If you’re in the mood to sip more than study, there’s the En Primeur & Current Vintage Tasting: Be the first to sample the latest vintages from both the barrel and just-released bottle from all 22 member wineries.
Info can be found at the Paso Robles Cab Collective’s website www.pasoroblescab.com
Earth Day Food and Wine Festival
The Earth Day Food & Wine Main event delivers a top quality food and wine experience paired with a casual, low-key atmosphere, all while celebrating the passionate people behind a sustainable food movement. Nestled under the oaks at Castoro Cellars in Templeton, California on April 23, premiere entry begins at 1pm, with general admission at 2pm. Wear your boots, wear your flip-flops. Relax at VIP tables, or enjoy yourself picnic style. Event proceeds benefit educational scholarships for relatives of farmworkers and Spanish education programs of the Vineyard Team.
Borne from the desire to share sustainable wine and food with hungry eaters and caring connoisseurs, Earth Day Food and Wine has become the acclaimed culinary experience of the season. Forget the carrot sticks—these chefs, farmers and winemakers are serving up sustainable fare that dares to be delicious.
For ten years Earth Day Food and Wine Festival has set the bar for top quality food and wine experiences, with the added bonus of celebrating a sustainable food culture. Tickets begin at $75 for the Main Event. From twenty-somethings to seventy-somethings, the goal is to connect like minded folks all for the greater good!
Additional info and tickets here: www.earthdayfoodandwine.com
These amazing Events are only the beginning of a season of incredible Wine Exploration. Stay tuned to the Breakaway Blog for the latest on Wine Festival happenings around the Central Coast!