Food & Wine Festivals/Conventions & Shows

Taste our Terroir in Livermore Valley, Ca. – Food-Wine Festival July 24th-27th, 2014 Preview, Tickets, Results

June 9, 2014 todd elliot

TASTE OUR TERROIR 2014 PAIRING COMPETITION RESULTS

–700 attended sold out event at Casa Real on July 24

Livermore Valley, Calif. (July 25, 2014)— Judges Sara Schneider of Sunset Magazine, Nicholas Boer of Diablo Magazine and Chef Rocky Fino, author of “Will Cook for Sex,” tasted 18 gourmet food and wine pairings at Livermore Valley’s Taste Our Terroir event on July 24 and selected the following winners:

Best Classic Pairing: Vasco Urbano Wine Company and Zephyr Grill and Bar

Vasco Urbano Wine Company, 2012 GSM “The Sheriff”, Livermore Valley (Winemaker: Collin Cranor)
House cured lamb bacon BLT (Chef: Nick Musser)

Most Innovative Pairing: Cuda Ridge Wines and Posada

Cuda Ridge Wines 2012 Cabernet Franc, Livermore Valley (Winemaker: Larry Dino)
Braised boneless pork ribs simmered in a tomatillo-cilantro sauce topped with charred creama, garnished with pickled cactus, carrots and sweet onions served atop a corn tostadita (Chef: Eduardo Posada)

Judges’ Best Pairing: Garré Vineyard & Winery and Garré Cafe

Garré Vineyard & Winery, 2010 Profound Secret, Livermore Valley (Winemaker: Wayne Re)
All natural short rib papa rellenas: Tomato and olive braised beef short rib encased in buttermilk whipped potatoes, deep fried with a panko crust and finished with a Profound Secret gastrique (Chef: Robert Sapirman)

The coveted People’s Choice Awards were given to:

Best White Wine Pairing: Longevity Wines and 1300 on Fillmore

Longevity Wines, 2013 Pink Pinot Grigio, Livermore Valley (Winemaker: Phil Long)
Barbecue Shrimp N’ Creamy Grits: Anson Mills course white grits with pan seared barbeque shrimp, topped with garlic, shallots, herbs and white wine cream sauce (Chef: David Lawrence)

Best Red Wine Pairing: Wood Family Vineyards and First Street Alehouse

Wood Family Vineyards, 2012 Big Wood Zinfandel, Livermore Valley (Winemaker: Rhonda Wood)
Molé pulled pork tacos with chipotle lime slaw (Chef: Ethan Muritori)

Taste Our Terroir 2014 was produced by the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association and sponsored by Dublin Hyundai-Toyota-Volkswagon, City of Dublin, City of Livermore, Visit Tri-Valley, Yelp, JVF Consulting, BRIX Chocolate, ImageSetters, Livermore Valley Florist and US Foods.

The Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association is a 501(c)6 organization that supports the wineries, growers and members in the Livermore Valley American Viticultural Area though educational and marketing programs. Please visit us at www.LVwine.org.

TASTE OUR TERROIR IN LIVERMORE VALLEY WINE COUNTRY JULY 24-27

The French term terroir expresses “a sense of place,” the way local conditions of land, climate,

Livermore Valley, Calif.— Livermore Valley’s premier food and wine affair, Taste Our Terroir, will

span four delectable days in 2014 as the historic region celebrates and educates wine lovers about its

unique “taste of the land” July 24-27. Over the four days, Livermore Valley wineries will offer nine

different events, including the popular food and wine pairing competition, cooking demonstrations,

wine tasting seminars and vineyard tours. New for 2014: VIP tickets grant early access to Thursday’s

food and wine pairing competition, and many wines featured in the competition will be available for

immediate purchase at the event. All event tickets are on sale now at www.LVwine.org.

Taste Our Terroir 2014 will begin Thursday night, July 24, 5-9pm, with the region’s signature event,

the annual quest for food and wine pairing excellence at Casa Real in Pleasanton. Eighteen Livermore

Valley winemakers have partnered with Bay Area chefs to compete for honors. Experts Sara

Schneider of Sunset Magazine, chef and cookbook author Rocky Fino and food editor Nicholas Boer

of Diablo Magazine (see bios below) will sample the gourmet pairings in a blind tasting before

awarding Most Innovative Pairing, Judges’ Best Pairing and Best Classic Pairing.

Guests will have the opportunity to taste all 18 pairings, bid on luxurious silent auction items, enjoy

decadent desserts presented by US Foods and cast two votes in the People’s Choice competition for

the best red and white wine pairings. VIP tickets ($125 until sold out) grant access to the event one

hour early. General admission tickets are $85 in advance and $95 after July 10 at www.LVwine.org.

This event sells out every year—there will be no tickets available at the door.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, wineries across Livermore Valley will host cooking classes,

blending sessions, vineyard tours and other unique experiences highlighting the region’s terroir.

Visit www.LVwine.org for tickets and details on all events, which include:

Friday, July 25

Cooking Demonstration with Chef Rocky Fino

11:30AM – 1PM at Page Mill Winery

Chef Rocky Fino, nationally recognized cookbook author of Will Cook For Sex, will prepare three

delectable and attainable recipes paired with Page Mill’s award-winning wines. [$60]

Wine and Music with Clark Smith,

1:30 PM – 3:30PM at Wente Family Estates

Winemaker, professor and author Clark Smith will show how wine and music can be a perfect pairing

and help guests tap into memorable peak experiences. Smith will be joined by fellow musician and

winemaker Karl Wente as they show how wine preference can be strongly influenced by music. [$50]

culture and technique combine to create wine attributes specific to a region.

Single Vineyard Cabernet Comparison and Cheese Tasting

4PM – 6PM at The Steven Kent Winery

Cabernet fans will enjoy this comparison of three Livermore Valley Cabernet Sauvignons from The

Steven Kent Winery. Learn about the distinct terroir at each of the vineyards and experience an artisan

cheese pairing, hand-selected to complement each Cabernet Sauvignon. [$45]

Saturday, July 20

Cooking demonstration with My Nguyen of My Healthy dish

11AM – 1PM at Las Positas Vineyards

With over a million Instagram followers, the creator of My Healthy Dish, My Nguyen, is on a mission

to offer healthy recipes that are simple and delicious. The chef and nutrition expert will give guests

the creative tools to add a wholesome twist to daily meals and demonstrate dishes paired with award-
winning Las Positas wines. [$60]

Secrets of a Sommelier: The art of blind tasting

1:30PM – 3:30PM at Double Barrel Wine Bar

Sommelier Gerald Gilligan from Double Barrel Wine Bar will present an interactive introduction to

blind tasting. Take a step-by-step sensory journey through six world-class grape varietals and discover

the clues that each wine holds to its true identity. By the end of the seminar, guests will have the

confidence and the opportunity to compete in a blind tasting competition. [$60]

Blending with Winemakers Studio

4PM – 6PM at The Winemakers Studio at Wente Vineyards

Guests will taste, evaluate and blend estate blocks of wine to create their very own bottle of wine.

Keep to sip with a delicious dinner or give away as a special gift. [$95]

Sunday, July 21

From Vine to Glass: Through the winemaker’s eyes

11AM – 1PM at McGrail Vineyards and Winery

Winemaker Mark Clarin will guide guests from the estate vineyard to the crush pad and into the barrel

room during this educational tour and tasting. Sip award-winning Cabernets and learn the process

involved in creating these fine wines. [$45]

Grapes, Olives and Food

1:30PM – 3:30PM Beginning at Retzlaff Estate Winery

Begin at Retzlaff Estate Winery for a private tour of the winery and the certified organic vineyards.

Then, visit nearby Olivina for a tour of the historic estate and olive oil tasting with owner Charles F.

Crohare. Savor the setting among the historic olive trees during lunch catered by Beets Hospitality

Group paired with wine from Retzlaff Estate Winery. Transportation not provided. [$60]

Tickets for all Taste Our Terroir events are available individually or in packages that offer a free

upgrade to the VIP ticket for Thursday’s food and wine pairing competition (a $40 savings). The four-
day celebration is sponsored by Dublin Hyundai-Toyota-Volkswagon, City of Dublin, City of

Livermore, Visit Tri-Valley, Yelp, JVF Consulting, BRIX Chocolate, ImageSetters, Livermore Valley

Florist and US Foods.

Taste Our Terroir 2014 Judges:

Nicholas Boer

Food editor, Diablo Magazine

Nicholas has deep culinary roots in the Bay Area. He served under three-star Michelin chef Louis

Outhier and then as an executive chef in Sausalito, San Francisco and Corte Madera. In 2000, he

parlayed his culinary expertise into journalism. He is San Francisco Chronicle’s East Bay restaurant

reviewer and the Food Editor at Diablo Magazine.

Rocky Fino

Chef & Cookbook Author

Rocky is the author of Will Cook for Sex: A Guy’s Guide to Cooking and Will Cook for Sex Again,

Again and Again. A California native, Rocky takes advantage of local, fresh ingredients and

progressive culinary ideas that his father passed down to him. His books don’t just make cooking

approachable, they add an element of good humor and fun.

Sara Schneider

Wine Editor, Sunset Magazine

Sara taught high-school English for 10 years before a love of cooking drew her to attend San

Francisco’s California Culinary Academy, where her wine interest began. In 2005, she became

Sunset’s first wine editor and is responsible for tasting panels, food-and-wine pairings, wine-related

food and travel coverage, Sunset’s International Wine Competition and the magazine’s wine club.

About Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association

The Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association is a 501(c)6 organization that supports the wineries,

growers and members in the Livermore Valley American Viticultural Area though educational and

marketing programs. The organization is dedicated to advancing, protecting and promoting the

quality wines, vineyards and experiences of Livermore Valley Wine Country. For information, please

visit www.LVwine.org