By Barrie Cleveland, The Winery Advisor
Spring is fast approaching in the wine country and that means lots of great wine events to attend. Along the central coast we have plenty to choose from over the next couple of months. Here are six events to check out before summertime.
Paso Robles is presenting the 20th annual Zinfandel Festival March 16 – 18th. Celebrate all things Zinfandel with winery open houses, wine dinners and the Wine Country Auction - a complete Zin experience to commemorate two decades of Zin Fest. There is a lot going on at this event including the grand wine country auction on Saturday March 17th. To learn more visit www.pasowine.com.
On March 31st the10th Annual Cal Poly Wine Festival will commence from 1 to 4pm at the Margarita Vineyards. This celebration is under the big tents out at the ranch and is always a very popular party for the college crowd, Cal Poly alumni and the wine industry folks not working their own booths. There is a BBQ and educational tasting the evening before.
In Pismo Beach you can enjoy a three-day event starting April 20-22 with wine, food, music, and much more at the 8th Annual Taste of Pismo, held overlooking the ocean at Dinosaur Caves Park. The weekend begins at 5:30PM with “Farm to Street: Pismo Beach ” - an evening of global food & drink you will not forget. On Saturday enjoy the Premier Wine & Culinary Event - showcasing top rated local wines, delicious food pairing from some of the outstanding Pismo Beach restaurants, and wine from over 30 wineries. On Sunday, enjoy a pancake breakfast hosted by the Pismo Beach Firefighters Association benefiting local charities. This event sells out so get your tickets soon. See video.
The Earth Day Food & Wine Tasting at Pomar Junction Vineyard & Winery takes place April 21st. Over 200 purveyors of sustainably produced foods and wine will be on hand for a truly unique event: growers, vintners, and chefs coming together to serve out-of-this-world pairings of award-winning wines with one-of-a-kind dishes made with locally-sourced fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, olive oils and chocolates. Enjoy live music, dancing, and great food and wine.
Also in April is the 20th year celebration of the Hospice du Rhone wine event on April 26-28, in Paso Robles. For the past 20 years, three-days in the late spring have been reserved for an exclusive weekend surrounding all things Rhône. Throughout the weekend, tip your glass with worldly Rhône wine producers, tasting the largest international collection of Rhône variety wines, then savor exceptional cuisine while taking in the inspiring and spirited Rhône community.
May 31st is the start of a three day event Wine, Waves & Beyond, where Pismo Beach combines the laid back atmosphere of our local wine industry and unique surf culture. For four days there are numerous events including surf contests, surf movie premieres, the popular Brew Masters Dinner and the Barrel to Barrel wine tasting. All proceeds go to support the Association of Amputee Surfers. Make plans to attend and soak all that Pismo Beach has to offer.
