View As PDF - Wine Country This Week
View As PDF - Wine Country This Week
View As PDF - Wine Country This Week
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
soNomA vALLeY | WiNe CoUNtRY tHis WeeK<br />
7th annual california's artisan cheese festival March 22-24<br />
tickets now on sale for weekend's events including local farm tours,<br />
grand tasting events, beer & wine pairings and cooking demonstrations<br />
Be it brie, chèvre, blue, crescenza or Dry Jack, one thing’s for<br />
certain: California’s Artisan Cheese Festival will celebrate all things<br />
cheese for the seventh year in a row March 22-24, at the Sheraton<br />
Sonoma County in Petaluma. The United States’ premier cheese and<br />
wine event, the festival brings together artisan cheesemakers,<br />
brewers, wineries and guests for three days of cheese tasting and<br />
appreciation. A lively weekend lineup features top artisan cheese<br />
experts, authors, chefs and winemakers conducting seminars,<br />
pairings, tastings, farm tours, cheese-making classes and cheesefocused<br />
demonstrations. Tickets are now on sale and available<br />
through www.artisancheesefestival.com.<br />
Friday, march 22<br />
Farm tours & Lunch – Back by popular demand are several intimate<br />
farm tours where guests are guided on walking tours of various area<br />
farms to meet the cheesemakers, see how the cheeses are made and,<br />
of course, taste the fruits of their labor. A three-course, sit-down<br />
lunch is included in the tours to Nicasio Valley Cheese Company<br />
and Keller Estate <strong>Wine</strong>ry with guest chef Mayet Cristobal, executive<br />
chef for Bon Appétit at the Getty Center in Los Angeles and the<br />
Getty Villa in Malibu; and Cowgirl Creamery and Point Reyes Farmstead<br />
with guest chef Lizzie Binder, currently a contestant on Bravo’s<br />
Top Chef: Seattle. ($75/$135, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.)<br />
58<br />
meet the Cheesemakers Reception – More than 20 participating<br />
cheesemakers will offer samples of their products, along with artisan<br />
wineries and breweries at this informal walk-around reception to<br />
kick off the weekend. ($35, Sheraton Sonoma County, 5-7 p.m.)<br />
saturday, march 23<br />
seminars, Cooking and Pairing demonstrations – A variety of seminars<br />
giving guests the opportunity to learn from industry experts as they<br />
discover new cheeses, learn how to make cheese, cook with<br />
different cheeses, experience diverse wine and beer pairings with<br />
cheese and more. The seminars include a catered lunch. During the<br />
lunch break and after the afternoon seminars authors will be available<br />
for book signings. ($65-95, Sheraton Sonoma County, Seminars<br />
9:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m., with lunch provided at<br />
12 p.m.)<br />
grand Cheese tasting and Best in Cheese Competition – In the ultimate<br />
culinary challenge, guests taste their way around this event, sampling<br />
dishes from 25 of the Bay Area’s best chefs and caterers, each of<br />
whom incorporate their favorite cheese into a dish for attendees.<br />
Guests cast their vote for their favorite, “cheesiest” dish. Artisan<br />
wineries and breweries are on hand to pair their wine or beer with<br />
each dish. ($75, Sheraton Sonoma County, 6-9 p.m.)<br />
sunday, march 24<br />
sparkling <strong>Wine</strong> Brunch and Cooking demonstration – Join local chef<br />
Mark Stark of Stark Reality Restaurants for Sunday brunch celebrating<br />
cheese at every course and a live cooking demonstration.<br />
Tickets include brunch, sparkling wine and coveted early entry into<br />
the Artisan Cheese Tasting and Marketplace at 11 a.m. before it<br />
opens to the public at 12 p.m. ($115, Sheraton Sonoma County,<br />
9:30-11 a.m.)<br />
Artisan Cheese tasting & marketplace – The grand finale of the<br />
festival, the Marketplace brings together more than 75 artisan<br />
cheesemakers, winemakers, brewers and chefs to sample and sell<br />
their products directly to attendees in this feast for the senses.<br />
Guests can discover the next wave of local, hand-crafted cheeses,<br />
boutique wines and artisan-brewed beers as well as interesting<br />
cheese products, books and recipes. Each ticket includes entry to<br />
the Marketplace, an insulated cheese tote bag and a signature wine<br />
glass. ($45 for adults; $20 for children 12 and under, Sheraton<br />
Sonoma County, 12-4 p.m.)<br />
Complimentary Cooking demonstrations – In between tasting and<br />
buying cheeses at the Marketplace, guests are invited to watch<br />
several cooking demonstrations conducted by local chefs and cheese<br />
experts. (Admission is free; Sheraton Sonoma County; demonstrations<br />
are at 1-2 p.m.; 2:15-3:15 p.m.; and 3:30-4:30 p.m.)<br />
Look for updates on Artisan Cheese Festival on Facebook and<br />
Twitter. All events are priced separately and the Sheraton Sonoma<br />
County – Petaluma is offering special discounted rates on rooms for<br />
festival-goers.<br />
For more information, visit www.artisancheesefestival.com.<br />
Follow us on twitter @<strong>Wine</strong><strong>Country</strong>tW
Change language