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Expanding Event Showcases Five Varietals and
Varying Wine Styles from Around The World
For the sixth year, the Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association
(AVWA) will present the International Alsace Varietals Festival – the
only U.S. event to focus on the mostly dry, white wines from Alsace,
France. The 2011 event will be held February 12-13, in Mendocino
County’s Anderson Valley – a region also known for its aromatic
Gewürztraminer, Riesling, and Pinot Gris.
Producers will pour five highlighted varietals – Riesling, Gewürztraminer,
Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Muscat – during the two-day
celebration. Festival events include a technical conference, a grand
tasting, a winemaker dinner and winery open houses.
“The continued success of this event is proof of increased interest
in these varietals among both consumers and the trade,” said Milla
Handley, winemaker at Handley Cellars, who has been producing
Alsace-style white wines for almost 30 years. “With their food friendliness,
lower alcohols and reasonable price tags, these wines have a lot
going for them and it’s about time people took notice.”
The technical conference on Saturday morning will examine the
differences in Old World and New World techniques and trends in
WINE COUNTRY THIS WEEK | MENDOCINO/LAKE COUNTIES
Anderson Valley Winegrowers Host Annual
International Alsace Varietals Festival
winemaking and grape growing for these varietals, with talks by
industry experts and winemakers from France, Germany and various
regions of the United States.
The Alsace Varietals Grand Tasting on Saturday afternoon will
showcase aromatic white wines from approximately 35 producers.
Live music and fantastic small bites, including fresh oysters, will be
paired with the wines. Participating wineries include: Alderbrook
Winery, Bowers Harbor Vineyards, Breggo Cellars, Brooks, Chateau
Grand Traverse, Claiborne & Churchill, Claudia Springs Winery,
Domaine Charles Baur, Domaine Shlumberger, Domaine Weinbach,
Esterlina Vineyards & Winery, Foris Vineyards Winery, Foursight,
Graziano Family of Wines, Greenwood Ridge Vineyards, Hagafen
Cellars, Handley Cellars, Husch Vineyards, Lazy Creek Vineyards,
Londer Vineyards, McFadden Farm, Navarro Vineyards, NY Finger
Lakes Wine Alliance,New Zealand Winegrowers Assn., Phillips Hill,
Philo Ridge Vineyards, Robert Sinskey Vineyards, Thomas Fogarty
Winery, Toulouse Vineyards, Valkenberg, Zina Hyde Cunningham and
more...
The winemaker dinner in the elegant private dining room at
Scharffenberger Cellars on Saturday evening will focus on Alsace-style
wines (including Pinot Noir) produced by participating wineries. The
gourmet, sit-down meal will offer attendees a chance to meet and get
to know each winemaker and taste their favorite wines.
On Sunday, local wineries will host open houses that include live
music, vineyard tours, food and wine pairings, and more.
A detailed schedule for the weekend and additional information
about the event can be found at the Anderson Valley Winegrowers
Association website at www.avwines.com, or by contacting the Association
via e-mail at info@avwines.com, or by phone at (707) 895-
WINE. Tickets are available for sale on the AVWA website.
The Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association operates with the
goal of supporting the region’s grape growers and wineries, as well as
promoting the region’s wines. In addition to acting as a resource for its
members, the association aims to better its community by donating
funds every year to local nonprofit organizations. To-date, more than
$180,000 – raised at the association’s events – has been given to local
charities. For more information about the association, its board of
directors, or for a list of association members, visit www.avwines.com.
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