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More than 100 vintners will gather for the 14th annual event March 26, 27
The Rhone Rangers are excited to announce that the14th annual
grand tasting is set to take place in San Francisco on March 26th and
27th at Fort Mason’s Festival Pavilion. This is the largest American
Rhone wine event in the country. More than 2,000 consumers and
members of the media and trade are expected to attend and will have
the opportunity to taste over 500 of the best American Rhone wines
from at least 100 Rhone Rangers member wineries.
The Rhone Rangers Winemaker Dinner will take place on the
evening of Saturday, March 26th from 6 to 10 p.m. at Dog Patch
Studios in San Francisco. Fifteen wineries will participate in the winemaker
dinner, which also features a live auction. The dinner will be
catered by Sonoma’s The Girl & the Fig Restaurant (famous for its
“Rhone Alone” wine list) and offers ticket holders the opportunity to
share a meal with fifteen leading Rhone Rangers winemakers.
Following dinner, a live auction will feature wine, unique wine
country experiences and travel packages donated by the host winemakers.
Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Rhone Rangers
Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships to help educate the
next generation of American Rhone winemakers. Tickets for this
special evening are $125.
The Grand Tasting will take place on Sunday, March 27 from 2 to
5 p.m. and will feature more than 500 of the best American Rhone
wines from more than 100 Rhone Rangers member wineries. More
than 2,000 trade and consumer attendees will also sample gourmet
foods from 30 specialty food purveyors, including cheese, bread,
olive oil, charcuterie, fruits and chocolates. Attendees will also have
the opportunity to bid on silent auction items, including wines and
wine-related packages donated by the Rhone Rangers wineries.
Tickets for the Grand Tasting are $45.
In addition to the Grand Tasting on Sunday March 27, the
program includes three diverse tasting seminars:
• Saturday, March 26 – “Green” Rangers – A discussion among
sustainable, organic and biodynamic producers. Taste wines from
WINE COUNTRY THIS WEEK | WINE COUNTRY NEWS
Rhone Rangers’ Grand Tasting Coming To San Francisco
each as we explore how and why Rhone producers sit at the forefront
of sustainability in American wine.
• Saturday, March 26 – Mourvedre on the Move – Long known
for its ability to add structure and age-worthiness to blends, American
Rhone producers are pushing Mourvedre to new heights, both on its
own and in its traditional blending role. Taste six different
Mourvedre-based wines and learn why Mourvedre is on the move.
• Sunday, March 27 – Wild Wines and the Inside Stories on
How They Came to Be – Rhone Rangers producers are pushing the
envelope in a myriad of ways. Taste unusual wines and unique varietals
from eight winemaking pioneers as they share with you the
inside stories on their wildest wines and how and why they headed
off into uncharted territory.
The public is invited to purchase tickets for the Saturday Seminars
($45), Winemaker Dinner ($125) and Sunday Seminar & Grand
Tasting (combined ticket $100 includes early VIP entry to the Grand
Tasting). Grand Tasting tickets are $45. New this year, a $150
weekend pass includes all three seminars and VIP admission to the
Grand Tasting. Weekend pass does not include the Winemaker
Dinner.
For further information or to purchase tickets, or call 1-800-467-
0163 or see www.rhonerangers.org. Credentialed members of the
wine trade and media can register online or send an email to
info@rhonerangers.org for further information.
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